OVE
371
(90)
The whole therefore of these seven charges may, I trust, be considered as having been satisfactorily met and answered; and should such be the case, the evidence brought forward by my accusers in support of the remaining charges will, if proceeding from the same parties, and got up in a similar manner, be viewed I think with considerable suspicion.
I will now proceed to consider the charges arising out of what may be called the Ma-chow Wong branch of this inquiry, and which in fact embrace all the remaining heads of accusation, except the first and the two last.
It will simplify the matter, if I make two preliminary statements,—one regarding my own early life in China, the other as to my connection with Ma-chow Wong.
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I left Singapore for China for the first time (not being quite seventeen years of age) in July, 1834, under the charge of Captain Clevely, and carrying with me a letter of introduction from Messrs A. L. Johnston & Co., of Singapore, to Messrs Jardine, Matheson & Co. We arrived during Lord Napier's troubles, and I remained for a few weeks at Lintin on board Jardine, Matheson & Co.'s receiving ship the Hercules. While there, Mr W. Jardine introduced me to Mr Keating, in whose employ I remained until his death at Macao, in the early part of 1837. I then became Book-keeper to Mr Innes until the autumn of 1838, when I left him in consequence of the violent language he used to me on a Chinaman absconding, to whom I had sold some Turkey hankerchiefs. About this time the disturbances commenced regarding the Opium trade, and I went to Macao; shortly after this all the foreigners left Canton, and I then took charge, as Accountant for Mr Markwick, of the Isabella, a storeship lying with the Opium receiving ships, until my health broke down in the latter part of 1839, and I went to reside on shore at Macao. Mr Innes, hearing that I was ill, sent Dr Anderson to attend me, paying his account himself. My illness lasted some time, and in February, 1840, I went down to Singapore in the Angelica. I returned to China in June 1840, attached to the Commissariat of the Expeditionary Force, and was stationed at Chusan until the expedition renewed its operations against Canton in 1841. I remained in the department until the conclusion of hostilities there. With the assistance of some friends I then purchased and sailed a brig called the Thistle, until the latter end of 1842. In January 1843, I entered Government employ; my conduct since then has been stated by the Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor.
What portion of this career has been particularly selected by the Attorney General as passed among Chinese outlaws and pirates, I am at a loss to say.
While I was out of Government employ, I was engaged in three several pecuniary transactions with Ma-chow Wong. The first, a speculation to the West Coast, for which I chartered seven Chinese vessels to carry cargo; one of these belonged to Ma-chow Wong, and all of them during the time of their charter carried the Eaglet's flag, but at no other time. There were four partners in this speculation—Siemssen & Co., the Tai Cheong Hong, Ma-chow Wong (who begged me to allow him to have a share), and myself; and it was terminated at the end of 1855.
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Page 371 (91)
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Mr Anstey having himself proved that he had incorrectly stated the charge against me, as to procuring the release of 25 men, I should simply confine myself to the remark that, when an Assistant Superintendent of Police is called and recommends the discharge of suspected persons, it is hardly fair to accuse the Registrar General of guilt in concurring, supposing him, as I certainly then was, to be also satisfied; but I feel it necessary to call the attention of the Commission to the disingenuous manner in which Mr Grand-Pré's name is introduced.
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