Colonial Despatches

I have the honor to enclose herewith a memorial on behalf of Mr C.W. Franks. Your Grace will I hope allow me to draw your attention to the fact that the gentlemen who have signed this document have all known Mr Franks more or less intimately during a long series of years. I believe that the memorial might have been more numerously signed, but it was thought better that those only should be asked to sign it who from personal acquaintance are best able to express a reliable opinion on Mr Franks' capacity & disposition.

Speaking for myself, & without impugning your Grace's recent decision, I can only repeat that it is my conscientious belief that if Mr Franks is permanently excluded from the Government service, the Government would lose the services of a capable and intelligent public servant, & that I should be quite prepared, if it were possible, to accept any responsibility that might attach to his reinstatement.

Whatever be the result of the present application, for which we ask your Grace's favourable consideration, we think that it may be of service to Mr Franks, under present circumstances, & in view of the fact that there are no official accusations against him which he can openly meet, that some of those who think highly of him should state their opinions on some permanent record that may be hereafter referred to.

As Lord Lyttelton has not yet returned from New Zealand I append a letter from him dated Dec 1/67 relating to the memorial.