The Rt. Honble Henry Labouchere, M.P.
Governor Sir John Bowring
9th September, 1856.
1 enclosure.
N145-
Petition submitting Correspondence with the non-official Justices contrary to Law.
Certain magisterial decisions, of the Peace on the subject of PINE Mr. Merroute. This abatement of His Excellency's at any rate! I hope the Governor has taken the most effectual means of getting the Justices to repeal the Act - I think myself that what must be virtually regarded as a public censure is scarcely the best way to persuade them to repeal.
W. Ball
This correspondence threatens to end ill, & seems to me extremely damaging to the influence of the Colonial Govt. in Hong Kong. That Sir J. B. is fundamentally in the right I have little doubt, but in thus brandishing Memoranda and "minutes" against the "proceedings" of the Colonial magistracy, he is diminishing the force of his own cause, wearying the Secy of State with matters quite beyond his cognizance.
I think strictly speaking that the Justices are in the right in their complaints against Sir J. Bowring's dictations to them in their judicial capacity (p.57.d.) his language there is certainly intemperate & rather provoking.
It seems to me...