who acted at the Council called on
the Chinese who
Mad
with me, cont
started that yesterday, at the close
of the examination, the stairs of the Government Offices, be asked the foreman Long-ling the following question: "This is a very important affair, involving the lives of so many, men.
Do you really think they are all guilty?" To this Long-ling replied that he believed this prisoner Thong Chew and the bricklayer Tea-a-king to
be innocent, and that he was prepared to say so, and should be glad if they were let off.
"If I had not gone over to see Your Excellency, this morning I should have been able to communicate this
to you at once.
93
Whilst the Interpreter said
that he being employed in the service of the Government did not think it right for him to go and communicate this, but that any
other
might converse with
Young-ling, and would receive the
same statement.
"Of course he acted
very wrong in not reporting it at once, but I beg to bring it before your Excellency, as my friend and colleague, in the ministry who reported it to me!
I remain, &c.,
(Signed) "E. Legge".
The Governor then stated that considering the grave character of the outrage, the consideration of which