[88]
quarrel, the Council considered that Mr. May's view of the character of Mali- chow Wong was the correct one, and that he (Mr. May) rendered very valuable services to the Colony in prosecuting to conviction-notwithstanding the power- ful opposition he had to contend against-that notorious offender who had for so many years, by the unscrupulous exercise of the means at his disposal, contrived to escape the punishment due to his crimes.
The Council entirely concurred in the view expressed by the Executive Council in the 2nd Resolution of the Minutes of the 25th October, 1858, already referred to, as to the great value of Mr. May's long and meritorious public services, and ex- pressed their unanimous opinion, that his removal from Government employment would be a great loss to tlie Colony.
* Letter from Mr. Davies above referred to.
STEAMER Imperatriz, HONGKONG HARBOUR, MONDAY, 12th November, 1860.
SIR,-I have the honor to request you to lay this letter before the Executive Council, Had my health permitted me to offer myself to the Council for examination in re- ference to the Civil Service Inquiry in which they are now engaged, I should have done so ; but I am quite unable to leave this ship, which sails for England to-morrow.
I learn however from Mr. May that some of the ancillary subjects of the Inquiry in- volve either directly or by implication charges against him, "firstly, of acting in a hostile spirit (I presume maliciously) towards Mr. Caldwell, and secondly, of withholding from government valuable information touching Mah-chow Wong's guilt, which he nevertheless furnished to the newspapers.
I trust therefore that I may not be considered presumptuous or impertinent, if, in com- pliance with Mr. May's request, I offer to the Council this any written testimony on the above charges.
I was Chief Magistrate of the Colony for two years and seven months; I was a mem- ber of the Caldwell Inquiry Commission, and I was the committing Magistrate in the case on which Mah-chow Wong was tried and convicted. I have had therefore the fullest opportunities of becoming acquainted with Mr. May's character generally, and especially in reference to the proceedings against Mr. Caldwell and Mal-chow Wong
My opinion of Mr. May's character and conduct is fortunately on official record in the printed Minutes of evidence of the Caldwell Inquiry Commission (last paragraph of page 87 and first paragraph of page 88), and in a letter written by me as Chief Magistrate (No. 4 of the 11th October, 1858) to the Colonial Secretary; and as regards the latter I may mention that it was written without the solicitation, suggestion, or knowledge of Mr. May. It will be sufficient for me now I hope to state, that I most strongly and confidently re-enunciate the opinions expressed in the documents referred to. Recent experience has only strengthened my belief in their correctness. Mr. May has doubtless in word and deed often shewn strong disapproval of the acts of which he supposed Mr. Caldwell to be guilty and no honest man, in his position in relation to Mr. Caldwell, so believing, could have done otherwise; but he never, to my knowledge, exhibited malice or vindictiveness.
With every feeling of respect for the Council-I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,
To the CLERK OF COUNCILS,
&c., &c., Fc.,
Hongkong.
The Council adjourned sine die.
II. TUDOR DAVIES.
7874 Horn Hong
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