Conviction & judgment.
course after these 3 steps were taken
Of
• Nothing wd remain that
La Cleiness Ex
Except the Criminal a the Executioner. He wd be tried by other laws & modes of sanctioned in China; be acquitted or convicted in like contradiction to all the Established Laws of Evidence, as these exist, resting on inunemorial usage;
L finally whether released or executed, after a mock trial in the his own Eyes of his own nation, he wd be disposed of neither according to the Laws of his own Country nor those of great Britain, but under a hybrid system made up of contradictory Elements & wanting in all the conditions essential to the administration of justice in either the one or the other.
I have viewed fully into the whole question because I am convinced it is impossible to give Effect to the suggestions Emanating from the Admiralty or the governor of Hongkong, that there are but two alternatives open to H. M. Govt, to refuse the Condition of Criminals taken in the China Seas by trial in the Court at Hongkong, notwithstanding the inconveniences attending such a course as indicated in Enclosure's letter.
or to content ourselves with the Engagement of the Chinese Govt to Except such Criminals from Execution by the ding-chick; an Engagement who I feel no doubt whatever will be faithfully kept, without any offensive supervision by British Authorities; that if the Commandant for prisoners at the Ports where they are delivered up, should desire to have notice of the sentence passed & the time of execution, no objection wd be taken to the request, or to his being present on the spot, if it were deemed desirable.
I shall at all Events await J. L.'s instruction before taking any further step, & in the meantime forward...