sorrie objections to its provisions on the part of the Attorney General, the Council "felt little reluctance to deferring the operation of the Ordinance beyond the 10th November for further consideration, but the memorial (Enclosure No:D) presented by a deputation of the Merchants, on the 30th October, contained expressions so disrespectful towards the Government that it was returned with the reply no: 2:
Early on the following day another address, no. 3, was received from the same deputation, and as its tenor seemed unobjectionable, it was resolved to notify to the Public, that the Ordinance in question should be suspended (or rather, as it had not yet come into operation) postponed for further consideration.
I must not omit to mention that, according to the official report of the Police Magistrate, some of the more ill-disposed of the English community had been busy among the Chinese population, and got up a sort of passive resistance in the shutting of shops, and the suspension of labour, which lasted throughout the first day, but which the mere necessities of the respective parties dissolved towards the conclusion of the second. One riotous demonstration in the Bazaar occurred on the 31st October, but it was promptly suppressed by the Police under the Assistant magistrates; Mr. Fearon, and the Superintendent, Captain Bruce, whose prudent and vigorous conduct on this occasion I have much pleasure in noticing to Your Lordship.
An address was received from the empowered...