Confidential

I deem it my duty to direct your attention to Proceedings of
Executive Council transmitted by this Mail pages 7, 9, 10, and to the
letters dated 11th and 12th August 1865 in the Appendix thereto,
relative to the suspension of Mr Wootton, Postmaster and Harbour
Master of this Colony.

The outline of this case as given in the proceedings will speak for
itself.

I could not entertain a doubt of Mr Wootton's drunkenness on the
occasion referred to—a habit he is well known to indulge in—and it
seems incredible that a medical man would prescribe and a chemist
administer a dose that would deprive a full grown man of his senses
and the power of locomotion in a few minutes. I am therefore driven
to the painful conclusion that the Witnesses (who were unsworn)
brought forward in Mr Wootton's defence made a false statement to
save a friend from the consequences which they knew would result if
the charge of drunkenness were proved.

Though I entertain an indifferent opinion of Mr Wootton (who is an
ex-master in the merchant service) both as to character and capacity
I thought it expedient to suspend him when the whole of the Members
of Council voted against it.