§ COLONEL SYKESsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Mr. M'Leavy Brown, ex Chinese Secretary to the Legation at Pekin, and Private Secretary to the British Minister, and now in charge of the Chinese Embassy to Europe, resigned his office or is still in the service of the British Government; and, if so, whether on the return of the Chinese Embassy to Pekin he will be permitted to resume his place in the British Service?
MR. OTWAYreplied, that Mr. Brown, on being appointed Secretary to the Embassy of Mr. Burlinghame, offered his resignation to Sir Rutherford Alcock, who declined to accept it, leaving the matter to be settled by the Secretary of State. Sir Rutherford Alcock, however, granted him leave of absence for a certain time. The Secretary of State approved of this proceeding, and ultimately Mr. Brown was informed that, without prejudice to 263 his position in the British Mission, and, of course, without pay, he might remain with the Chinese Embassy until such time as the Secretary of State should feel it necessary to call on him to resume his duties.