THE
247
others who seemed to think that the
provisions which I maintained soon after my arrival for the better Registration of shipping and prevention of Piracy by
the "Harbor and Coast Ordinance" could be No 6 of 1866. greatly promoted by Mr Caldwell's aid. I found a very general impression that (although he had been extremely injudicious "in his "long
and intimate connection with
The Mr. Chow. Wong alluded to by the Memorialists, to which is really the main fault brought home to him by the Commission of Inquiry, and
never denied by him,) he was rather the dupe than the confederate
and that he had not been
a dishonest
or neglectful Public servant. I myself
doubted whether in one or
two respects
Mr Caldwell had been rightly judged
14. On the whole I was for a short time not disinclined to consider the
suggestion of the Council if approved by the Secretary of State, but soon found no need for Mr Caldwell's services either directly or indirectly, because the working of the new Registration
Ordinance under the
able superintendence
of Mr Cecil Smith, who is also a competent Chinese scholar, speedily relieved me of any apprehension as to the ability of Government to meet the exigences of the position,
15.
Mr Caldwell, however, is to this day professedly ignorant of the impression, which the appeal of the Council made