European for Murder, and 32 Chinese for Murder, Burglary, Piracy, and Kindred crimes, all of them of a capital nature. The Causes in Calendar numbered 13.
The full power of punishment allowed by Ordinance without the Sanction of the Governor, had already been exercised, and under these circumstances I did not feel myself justified in delaying the Sessions to the needless detention of witnesses and probable injury to the prisoners, especially as the health of the Chief Justice was such as to make it difficult to determine at what precise time he would be enabled to resume his duties.
I accordingly put the office of Chief Justice in Commission for this occasion, nominating as Members, Mr. Bridges, Acting Attorney General, being President, and Mr. Mercer, Colonial Secretary, and Lieutenant Colonel Goughurn, Commanding the Forces. And I nominated Mr. Kingsmill, the Senior Barrister in the Colony (next to Mr. Bridges), to perform temporarily, the duties of Attorney General.
The first gentleman was appointed to the Commission in right of his professional position, and the other two as the resident Members of the Executive Council.