“That you had reasons for not accepting the proposals made in both my official letters of the 24th and 25th inst., Nos. 88 and 91;
“That you had desired a previous confidential communication;
“That you do not approve of my transactions described in both those letters;
“And lastly, some orders.
“I have now the honour again to assert, as I did verbally in the meeting of the day before yesterday:—
“That I fully respect the legality of your power as regards deciding whether to accept my proposition or not:—
“That the orders received shall with exactness be obeyed—with self-sacrifice, if need be, as if you were present to witness all I do or say, or, more properly, all I do not do or do not say.
“I know that you place confidence in my good faith in this matter.
“But I take the liberty solemnly to protest against the least semblance of disapprobation of any action, any word, any phrase, done, spoken, or written by me in this matter. I am convinced that I have done my duty:—in my object and in the manner of executing it quite my duty;—nothing but my duty, without the least deviation.
“I have long pondered before acting (that is: before examining, reporting, and proposing), and if I have been
