13 men remained the greatest part of the time in this Colony for more than two years not committing any offence, gaining honestly their livelihood and happy of being in a place where justice is done, and not the might but the right is reigning. But last month some of them, with others, who were not among the former thirteen, were taken up and put into Victoria Jail. The case was discussed at the Police Court and after some other were set at liberty, the eleven left were offered prison, but let go out. As soon as they were out of the jail, they were taken up again. Your Excellency's hands to let them be handed to the Chinese Authorities if Your Excellency thinks it convenient.
We know that the men are innocent. The evidence of guilt is only prima facie evidence, and we are sure that if those wretched people should be committed to the Supreme Court they would be acquitted. Our Missionaries are just in the spot where the case took place and we therefore are in a position to know the whole matter as it is. It is a mere act of tyranny of a mighty and powerful party that pursues them. Every one possessing any knowledge of the Chinese of the Southern Provinces, and specially of those districts of the Canton Province near Hong Kong, knows how common are those clans and family feuds with all their horrors. Might is right. There is no chance for the most sacred right and justest causes against the united forces of a powerful clan of wealthy and literary positions; the weaker party have either to submit to their oppressors or to meet with almost certain death. The prosecutors are of the same clan as the prosecuted, but divided.