has been unable to obtain the opinion of the Attorney General on the point saved. I can quite understand therefore that it might be improper for HE the Governor to forward it to My Lord without that legal advice thereon which he is constitutionally bound to be guided by.
I think my remarks have not been forwarded, because time has strengthened the case for stringency in suppressing the crimes which I have denounced. I forward Inclosure No. 1 - an Extract in number from the Criminal Calendars of convictions being in total 1178/1922/32(III) during the first three months of this year. I also forward Enclosure No. 2 reports from the newspapers of my observations on some of the prisoners convicted comprised in Inclosure No. 1. The Cases of kidnapping present very little novelty, except perhaps in numbers convicted, owing more to prompt denunciations by Chinese men and women.
It is a very hopeful sign – Considering the special waste of life in Brothel Life and the general want of new importations to keep up the Bondage Class of 20,000 in this Colony, the cases of kidnapping detected cannot be one half percent of the Children and women Kidnapped.
The two cases of brutal treatment of young girls by purchasers, their "adopted mothers" (one little girl having had her leg broken by kicking her, and the other having been shockingly and indecently burnt, both weakened for life) illustrate the evil passions which ownership of human beings engenders here, as it has done elsewhere.
In a case now before the Magistrate, brothel records show that a girl 13 years of age was bought by a brothel keeper for $200, and forced at that age by beating and ill-treatment into that course of life in a Brothel licenced by Law. Subject as these houses are to surveillance by Law, it seems to me that such Slavery may be easily suppressed.
In a few remarks after passing sentence on 31st March, in Inclosure No. 2, I have renewed my views of the present state.
I have now concluded my judicial labours in reference to these cases.
I take this opportunity to repeat what I have very frequently said, that I am grateful for the sympathy which His Excellency has honoured me with in most of my views; but I can well understand that the questions involve many considerations of expediency which naturally weigh with him in opposition to judicial views, and that political and legal considerations naturally influence him. But I feel grateful to him for the generous way in which he has treated this matter, and for that general courtesy, as well when we have differed as on the more frequent occasions when it has been my pleasing satisfaction to concur with him.
I ever since my arrival here have had the honour to be,
most obediently,
John Smale, Chief Justice