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the absence of the accused; does Carol even give his authority; nor does it appear that he brought the reports to the notice of any Colonial Officer. If such reports did exist
I believe them to have been entirely groundless as regards any Officer of Government:
The Opium Farm was sold by Public Auction, and there was great competition for it by European and Chinese bidders, so that any person could therefore obtain it who chose to bid for it; and comply with the condition of sale, which was simply, security for payment of the license duty. The only protection afforded to any was that of the law as contained in The Opium Ordinance No 3 of 1845, and the Regulations dated 12 July 1845 - copies of the Ordinance and Regulations will be found in Appendix A. My sec: 6 of the Regulations no seizure can be made without special Warrant from a Magistrate.
Mr. Matheson (since dead) and Mr Jardine, at present an Auctioneer at Victoria, were the Europeans who held the Opium Farm, I was then Chief Magistrate. Mr. Matheson previous to the sale brought a letter to my address from Mr. Alexander Matheson of the firm of Jardine Matheson & Co. . I then expressed to