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Correspondence (private letter)
King, Edward Hammond to Carnarvon, Earl 24 July 1858, CO 305:9, no. 7288, 615.

Abstract
Correspondence (private letter). Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
King informs the CO that he gave notice of [his] intention to resign from his current employment and will be ready to leave England at the shortest notice.
The minutes regret that King quit his job on the strength of a Letter which held out to him no promise of employment. The CO decide, in future, to craft their letters more clearly to avoid this kind of misapprehension.
Enclosed is a draft from Carnarvon to King pointing out that their previous letter had conveyed no assurance of an appointment, and cautioning him not to be too optimistic about his chances of employment.
King to Under-Secretary of State
Carmarthen, South Wales
24th July 1858
Sir
In reply to your letter of 14th inst. informing me that my name is recorded on [the] list of Candidates for Employment in Vancouvers Island, and in returning my most sincere thanks to the Right Honble The Secretary for the Colonies for the honor and favor he has thereby conferred upon me, I beg respectfully to intimate that upon Receipt of the above mentioned letter I gave notice of my intention to resign my present appointment and I am prepared to leave England at the shortest notice, and should the services of an efficient body of Police be required I could without any difficulty procure them.
I have the honor to be Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
E. Hammond King
Superintendent
Carmarthenshire
Constabulary
The Right Honble The Under Secretary of State
Colonial Office
Downing Street, London
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Lord Carnarvon
Observe to this Gentleman that in telling him that his name wd be recorded on Sir E. Lytton's list of Candidates no assurance of an apptment was conveyed: & that Sir Edward regrets he has taken so premature a step as that of announcing his intention of resigning his present situation on the strength of a Letter which held out to him no promise of employment.
ABd 26 July
Annex draft at once. We must in future be careful in such letters to add a proviso that prevent[s] misapprehension.
C July 27
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Draft, Carnarvon to King, 29 July 1858, pointing out that their previous letter had conveyed no assurance of an appointment, and cautioning him not to be too optimistic about his chances of employment.