(Very cleverly, the official report from Mr Tarrant dated 3rd July 1847, I forwarded it to Sir John Davis, with a request that His Excellency would be pleased to order a most strict searching into the whole matter. The Acting Attorney General (Mr. Campbell) received his instructions direct from the Governor, and that officer's investigation, on oath of twenty witnesses, together with his opinion thereon, was forwarded to The Right Honorable Earl Grey in Despatch No. 87 of the 9th August, 1847.
The examination before Mr Johnston (one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for this Colony) which took place on the 27th, 28th, and 29th days of July 1847, and was at my instance, thereof is clearly shown in the examination (a copy of which is attached) forming enclosure No. 2 of the Despatch 87 already alluded to. On this examination, Mr Tarrant made his defence, he was committed for trial by Mr Johnston, and here ended all responsibility, my responsibility, as it is obvious that I could not have acted or done any part further, after it had passed into the Supreme Court. The indictment was drawn up by Mr Campbell as Acting Attorney General, with whom the case rested from that period. The subsequent release of Mr Tarrant from the charge was a matter of some surprise to me, but