£6742/19
The Petition
To the
Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
in Council.
227
of the Inhabitants of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and its Neighbourhood in Public Meeting assembled Humbly Sheweth
That in the month of November, 1858, an Information William Tarrant publisher of the Hong Kong newspaper called the "Friend of China", was filed in the Supreme Court of Hong Kong by the Government of that Colony.
That the Information charged the said William Tarrant with unjustly and maliciously printing and publishing a certain scandalous and malicious libel of and concerning the said Government of Hong Kong to the effect that the said Government had destroyed certain public papers and records for the purpose of securing one of the officers of the Government, Daniel Richard Caldwell, Registrar-General of the Colony, from conviction on a grave and scandalous charge; and had pronounced sentence against him... to the effect that he need not be put on trial with Machow "long" Wong: and had perhaps connived at his acts of piracy.
That the said William Tarrant pleaded not guilty, and a Justification, to the effect that William Thomas Bridges the then Colonial Secretary by connivance with Sir John Bowring usurped the said Government, and during such usurpation did cause certain public papers and records to be destroyed to prevent the truth or falsity of the criminal charges against the said Daniel Richard Caldwell being established; and that the publication was for the public benefit, in order to the lawful punishment of the said William Thomas Bridges and others.
That the Jury impanelled to try the said Information, after hearing the evidence for the prosecution only, returned a verdict for the defendant on both pleas; thus establishing the truth of the charges brought against the said Government of Hong Kong, and that it was for the public benefit that those charges had been printed and published.
That the presiding Judge awarded costs against the said Government.
That the said Machow Wong was convicted in September, 1857, of piracy, and transported for life to the penal settlement of Labuan.
That under a commission appointed by the said Sir John Bowring on the 4th day of May, 1858, previously to the said trial, to inquire into and report upon certain charges brought against the said Daniel Richard Caldwell, it was proved that a long and intimate connection had existed between the convict Machow Wong and the said Daniel Richard Caldwell.
That it was also found, by the said Commission, that the said Daniel Richard Caldwell had, until very recently, been a partner with the said convict in a Corfu, and the minutes of the said Commission further showed that the said Daniel Richard Caldwell admitted that a like partnership had existed between him and the said convict in at least seven other instances, and that a number of persons in their employ had been, at various times, guilty of piracy.
That the evidence given under the said Commission was privately printed and circulated by the Hong Kong Government, but without the documentary evidence taken under the said Commission, and contrary to the protest of the members thereof, as was stated on oath by the chairman of the said Commission on the said trial of the said William Tarrant.
That attempts were made by the said Daniel Richard Caldwell, after the conviction of the said Machow Wong, to obtain his pardon.
That amongst other duties entrusted to the said Daniel Richard Caldwell, he is especially charged with that of setting Her Majesty's cruisers in motion against persons whom he alleges to be pirates, and against all vessels which he alleges to be pirate, and against all places where he alleges pirates to be.
That it is the habit of Her Majesty's commanders to act upon the sole, uncorroborated, information of the said Daniel Richard Caldwell, in all such cases of alleged piracy.
That since the signing of the late Treaty of Peace with China, invasions of the Chinese coast, in violation of the Treaty, have been directed by the said Daniel Richard Caldwell.
That the three following cases occurred in the months of March and April last, in each of which it appears by the despatches of Her Majesty's naval Officers employed, they acted on the sole and unsupported allegations of the said Daniel Richard Caldwell:-
1. An expedition in the month of March last against a town and squadron at Kulon, near Macao, where great slaughter and cruelties were committed, and from which one thousand dollars were extorted.
2. An expedition in the same month of March against the city of Namtao, in Junon, which, after a cannonade of the city, resulted in the payment of one thousand dollars in money, and security for the payment of three thousand dollars more within ten days into the hands of the said Daniel Richard Caldwell, as compensation for losses alleged to have been practically occasioned to his Chinese Shroff or money agent, the truth of which allegations was not investigated before the Canton Consul, as it should have been; and who expressed his readiness to adjudicate on the case, until it now appears from the official authentication of the Chinese customs authorities at Canton, that the alleged piracy was the result of a judicial condemnation and confiscation of the said Shroff's or money agent's property, and an illegal attempt to smuggle salt into the said district.
3. An expedition against the town of Hu-Tung, one hundred and twenty miles distant from Hong Kong, and burning the said town within five hours, extorted from the people compensation to a Chinaman of Kupchi (entirely unconnected with the British dominions) for property alleged to have been taken from him by a pirate (Machow Wong), but without any proof, or attempt of proof, to connect the said town with the said alleged piracy.
That notwithstanding the said verdict in the said trial of "The Queen v. Tarrant", and the publication of the said Commissioner's Report, the said Daniel Richard Caldwell still continues to hold his offices of Registrar-General and Protector of Chinese, and Justice of Peace.
That Your Petitioners are informed that the public press at Hong Kong teems with the gravest charges against Her Majesty's local Government, arising out of the acts of the said Daniel Richard Caldwell, without any steps being taken to arrest it, and which cannot fail to reflect upon Her Majesty's Government at home.
That Your Petitioners are further informed that a public officer of known character and ability has resigned his office in consequence of the acts of which Your Petitioners complain having been suffered to remain unredressed, and that other resignations are likely to follow.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray Your Majesty that the said Daniel Richard Caldwell may be immediately suspended from exercising his said offices of Registrar-General and Protector of Chinese, and Justice of Peace, and that Your Majesty will further institute such an inquiry as will vindicate the Honour of Your Majesty's Crown, and do Justice.
And Your Majesty's Petitioners will ever pray-
On behalf of the Public Meeting held on the 20th day of June, 1859.
Jos Layrock Magor