& Note. Last note.
16.
A
A
their duty in that respect. The paragraph cited in the margin shows what in Governor Sir Hercules Robinson's judgment, had been ascertained by the Commission of Enquiry on the following points.
Mr. Caldwell and a Chinaman, Wong, were from very soon after the beginning of the Colony, two of its inhabitants. They had engaged in piratical ships, and other disreputable adventures. Mr. Caldwell had placed his "great influence and power as a principal subordinate of Government at his partner's disposal." This lasted until the latter was convicted of piracy and transported in September one thousand eight hundred and fifty.
Mr. Caldwell retained all his power as sole Magistrate or Protector General of the Chinese until the twenty-fourth September one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one when he was dismissed from all his Office upon proof of his above connections with Machow Wong. During the whole of the time of their partnership, "Pirates and other ruffians (resorting to the Island) were provided with professional assistance when charged with offences against the law." "Complainants or witnesses were intimidated"; and "the great influence" which the Chinese confederate possessed through the English confederate, was so exercised as frequently to obstruct or pervert the course of justice.
In addition to those instances of the guilty practices of Machow Wong, his Excellency further describes him as "an extortioner, a recipient of bribes from gambling houses, a confederate of pirates, and a receiver of stolen goods," and adds that "Chinese of standing and property would not appear against him on account of their evidence" and "they were in terror of their lives."
17.
This striking illustration of the rest of the case will be better appreciated, if your Memorialist reminds Your Lordships that only four years had elapsed from Mr. Caldwell's fall when the first draft of the Gambling Houses Ordinance was laid before the Legislative Council—that the only Ordinance then in force for the proposed prevention of the crime of Gambling was the original Ordinance of 1844, whose lamentable defects and errors had always been notorious.
Your Memorialists most respectfully request Your Lordship to take their Memorial into your consideration, and allow them the honour of an interview with Your Lordship for the purpose of explaining and enforcing their statements and complaints. And Your Memorialists will ever pray.
Ernest Pears
General Secretary.
10 Aug