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"I beg to remark that during the whole of the investigation, and after I had given my evidence, I was not permitted by the Magistrate to remain in Court, Mr. Tarrant having requested that I should not; but I overheard the questions and answers above mentioned.—I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
"The Honorable The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY."
"Submitted.-18/8/58."—" W. T. B."
"D. R. CALDWELL."
"I do not suppose Mr. May's critical appreciation of Mr. Caldwell's Chinese acquirements goes for much, and if no worse word than "Impostor" was used by Mr. Tarrant, Mr. Caldwell comes off better than most of us. Mr. Caldwell will have opportunities for self defence, and the depositions will be examined in good time."-“ J. B.”-18/8/58.
"No. 59."
£6
"OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 2nd September, 1858."
SIR,-Having been favored by you by placing in my hands for perusal, with permission to report thereon, a letter from Mr. Caldwell referring to evi- dence given by me at Police Court touching the matter of a Criminal Informa- tion against the Editor of the Friend of China newspaper for libel; in which evi- dence, in answer to queries put to me by Defendant, Mr. Caldwell complains that I stated that, in my opinion, he-Mr. Caldwell had not sufficient ability to trans- late a Chinese document; and that, when Mr. Caldwell was subordinate to me in the Police Department, that I never employed his services to translate Chinese documents, which answers, Mr. Caldwell states, are untrue, and that I knew they were untrue.
"I gladly avail myself of the permission given to report on the said letter, and request that you will, if you consider necessary, be pleased to take opportu nity to submit my report to His Excellency the Governor. I do not precisely recollect what answers I gave, but my belief is that Mr. Caldwell's version is substantially correct, because such, at the time of my giving evidence, was my impression, and that impression would still maintain in its full integrity, had I not, by the perusal of Mr. Caldwell's letter, ascertained that that Gentleman con. siders himself qualified to translate, and althougth such opinion is doubtless cor- rect, yet no one instance has come to my knowledge in which Mr. Caldwell has really translated a Chinese document.
"It is three or four years since that our relative positions placed it within my observation what were the qualifications of Mr. Caldwell in this respect, and it was then a frequent subject of expressed regret by Mr. Caldwell, (as he con- sidered that it impeded his advancement in IIer Majesty's Service) that he had but a limited knowledge of the written character.
"I was examined on oath and my evidence is consequently a matter of con- scientious belief in its truth. It does not however necessarily follow that my evidence was the truth, and Mr. Caldwell has the power of requesting to be re- examined and to state on cath any matters of fact which he knows to be other than that which I supposed it to be; as I never heard Mr. Caldwell make any pretensions beyond a limited knowledge, and in fact have frequently seen him practically disavow the ability to translate, by making reference as to documents in Chinese to Chinese Teachers and Clerks, I could never have placed any docu- ment in his hands with other intent than that he should get it translated by some person who was competent, and most certainly never with the thought that he translated it himself.
"Mr. Caldwell was, as he states, out of Court (as were all witnesses) and portions of his letter are consequently somewhat incorrect, especially as to the asserted deduction made by the Defendant from my evidence.
"I earnestly regret that there is this occurrence again to give His Excellen cy trouble in matters personal to myself and Mr. Caldwell, and as earnestly hope
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(as it is my intent to avoid cause) that this may be the last instance of the kind.
-I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,
"The Honorable FRED: FORTH, Esq.,"
"Provisional Colonial Secretary."
MEMORANDUM.
*
"C. MAY," Superintendent of Police."
"Submitted: amongst several Papers handed over to me by Dr. Bridges as undisposed of" was a letter of Mr. Caldwell complaining of some evidence given by Mr. May at the Police Office, on the 13th ultimo, (Mr. Caldwell's complaint is dated the 18th.)
any
"Mr. May having called at my Office I seized the opportunity of conveying to him my serious regret at what had taken place at the Police Office a few days before. Mr. May expressed his surprise, and was not aware, he said, of complaint having been preferred against him on the subject alluded to: I then allowed him to peruse Mr. Caldwell's letter-he assured me he had never seen or heard of it before and requested leave to be allowed to submit a reply for His Excellency's consideration, which I now do.
"I pointed out to Mr. May how pested His Excellency had been by the repeated misunderstandings of several public officers, and I informed Mr. May of my determination to put a stop to such a scandal by every means in my power: I also assured Mr. May I should endeavour to protect him from any interference with his Department, which determination would, so long as I remained in office, I trusted remove all subject for complaint on his part,-as whatever I should com- municate to him would emanate from His Excellency, whose mouth-piece I should consider myself without assuming any authority beyond that sanctioned by the head of the Governinent.
"His Excellency will be gratified to receive in the enclosure Mr. May's assur- ance and hope that this may be the last instance of any disagreement with Mr. Caldwell.
"3rd September, 1858."
"FRED. FORTH,” "Provisional Colonial Secretary."
Mr. Caldwell stated he had no further evidence to bring forward or any more Charges
to make against Mr. May.
Mr. May then called on Mr. Caldwell to explain to whom he meant to allude in the fol-
lowing passage in his "Vindication
"Mr. Anstey himself admits in his letter to the Secretary of State that bribes had more than once been offered to himself, and there are some wealthy officers still in the police who are not strangers to the latter practice."
Mr. Caldwell said he did not in this passage refer to Mr. May. There were in the Po-
lice other persons who might be described as wealthy.
Mr. May denied that there were other persons to whom the term wealthy would be understood to apply, and to himself it could only be applied comparatively; and he asserted that it was supposed by every one in the Colony that Mr. Caldwell meant to allude to him alone.
Mr. Caldwell again denied that he meant Mr. May, but declined to state whom he
did mean.
His Excellency called Mr. May's attention to the following passage in the "
which accused him of owning Brothels :-
Vindication,"
"But it was notorious and the fact is not denied by Mr. May that he was himself previous to the passing of the Ordinance, the owner of several houses in the Colony which to his knowledge were used as Brothels."
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