To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, in Council.
The Humble Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Sheffield, Public Meeting assembled...
1st That in the month of November last,
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information against William Tarrant, publisher of the Hong Kong newspaper called the "Friend of China", and filed in the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, by the Government of that Colony...
2nd That the information charged the said William Tarrant with 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 or put away papers and records for the purpose of screening one of the officers of the Government, Daniel Richard Caldwell, Registrar-General of the Colony, from conviction on a "grave and scandalous charge", which had been performed against him, to the effect that he had been a partner with one or had participated in his acts of piracy.
3rd That the said William Tarrant pleaded not guilty, and a justification...
to the effect that William Thomas Bridges, the acting Colonial Secretary, by connivance with Sir John Bowring, usurped the said Government, and that such usurpation did cause certain public papers and records to be burnt, to prevent the truth or falsehood 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 punishment of the said William Thomas Bridges.
4th 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; the establishing the truth of the charges brought against the said Government of Hong Kong, and that it was for the "public benefit" that the charges had been printed and published.
5th That the presiding Judge awarded costs against the said Government.
Your Majesty's Memorialists, therefore, humbly pray that your Majesty will recall the said Sir John Bowring, William Thomas Bridges, and Daniel Richard Caldwell, and that your Majesty will cause immediate investigation to be instituted by Your Majesty's Right Honorable Privy Council; and that Your Majesty will also cause such punishment to be awarded against the guilty as shall maintain your Majesty's honor, and the supremacy of the law.
And Your Majesty's Memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
Signed by order and on behalf of the Meeting
Pelham Wellesley: Chairman
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M. Merivale. It is best not to attempt to put this young-headed Society right as to the facts of the case or to engage in a correspondence with it. If the C. confine itself to its communications it would be the best policy, I trust.
Most Apr 5
Perhaps this may be the best.
Confidential
83.574.
Page 263
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Page 263
4 APR 1859.