Egerton to Buckingham

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.