November.
In this latter Despatch I mentioned a probable difficulty in the re-appointment of the Commission. I have since had to refix consequence of the continued inability of the Chief Justice to preside, and the accumulation of Committals, I found it impossible to postpone again the holding of these Sessions, and accordingly I was compelled to nominate the Commission as before.
The difficulty I have alluded to lay in the case of Mr. Keenan, the United States Consul, charged with arson, the details of which are fully given in my Despatches No 157 of the 7th, and 165 and 167 of the 14th November last. M. Bridges, President, and Mr. Mercer, two of the members of the Commission, had already been officially concerned in this case, and it was therefore not meet to arraign Prisoner before them as Judges, due to the respective capacities of Attorney General and Colonial Secretary.
The obstacle, however, was met as follows. On the opening of the Court, M. Kingsmill, who, as before, acted as Prosecutor on behalf of the Crown, was able to point out that it could be of public convenience, and was not...