237
20 Vitime, to Uctions to the 5th Instant. -
5. Those Reports are extremely interesting, as illustrating the puzzles, and imbanker attitude of the Gambling portion of the Chinese population, at the sudden revocation of the Licenses and the announcement that, except for suppression of Street gambling, (which would be necessary in any case if it were only to prevent obstruction of the thoroughfares) the Police are not invested with any special authority over Gamblers, and that the right to enter and suppress Gaming Houses is vested in the hands of the Police and the Registrar General alone, supported by a small but efficient body of Chinese detectives.
3. In Mr. Smith's Report of the 5th instant, he encloses translation of a Proclamation, which I ordered to be prepared and extensively posted in Chinese characters. That Proclamation frankly states the position of the Police at present in reference to the Gamblers, and renders hopeless the formation of a league or understanding between the two, as in former times.
4. I have good reason for thinking that the fact (of which there seems little doubt) of the Licensed Houses being closed for 16 days without one Gaming House being opened, arises from the insecure feeling...