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many and unungst novel and important provisions, among them that of vicarious responsibility within certain limits, as for example making Registered Householders responsible for payment of fines incurred, by residents, lodgers, for certain offences more especially gaming in houses.
Even then Householders are given a remedy if they can catch the original offenders, but to go further would, I apprehend, be too inconsistent with existing constitutional principles, in conformity with the Legislation formerly permitted, and which would be considered as harsh as torture and other Chinese enormities of the present day.
48. It is also probable that a much more extensive application of the principle would so overshoot the mark as to render Legislation of that kind impracticable and inoperative, side by side with English laws and usages, for such antagonistic principles could scarcely be worked harmoniously in English courts.
44. In proof of this, I have already reminded H.M's Government of the marked discontent of the principal Chinese at the provision in question, whereby any responsibility is imposed on Householders by the acts of others, their tenants, over whom they must be admitted to have some control. Vide Encl. 2, Para 17.
45. It may, however, be considered