I am not liable to action in this matter; and that notice has been served upon me, rather than the Acting Chief Magistrate, who it appears made a commitment under the Council's informal warrant. (Contrary to its tenor, and so his duty. The act recites in its preamble "that it is expedient to protect Justices of the peace in the execution of their duty", and) there can be no doubt as to the date of the ordinance being concerned, on the Judge's decision turned with the deliberate intention of harassing a Public Functionary, by actions one of those "Vexatious acts done by them in Execution of their office - for which the Legislature has made especial provision in the 11th and 12th Vict. C. 44 intituled "An Act to protect Justices of the peace, &c." In such circumstances, it is the business of the Government to defend me as a Public Servant, assailed in the performance of my duty.
The policy and justice of this provision can never be more necessary or expedient certainly, than in these distant regions of the East, where lawless subjects are always to be found, endangering not only the peace and security of whole Communities, but great national interests and the relations of states for peace or War - such acts must be repressed at whatever Cost, and it is in view of this necessity that Her Majesty's Government moved the Queen, and with the advice of her Privy Council, to invest certain Public Functionaries,