I am obliged to do so by some action of his, and I do not seek to obtain any control over him-- I submit that I can fully justify the steps I have taken in this matter and the advice which I gave to the Government under the circumstances of the case.
I will deal first with the letter of the 25th February, 1857, and show why it was written. In the beginning of last year, the Chinese Government claimed the rendition of one Chang Chi on a charge of piracy and murder; the investigation into this case was commenced before de Wise, who was then Police Magistrate, and was not closed when he was appointed acting Registrar of the Supreme Court.
Mr. Mackian, who was warned to act in de Wise's stead, reopened the enquiry on the 16th March 1886, and on the 27th March, he committed Chang Chi to await the order of His Excellency the Governor. The Governor in Council having decided that the charge against him was not sufficiently proved, the Chinese Government entered a second charge against him, the enquiry into which began in May 1886 and ended on the 16th August following: there had been 14 sittings for the examination of witnesses and 16 postponements.
The long delay which took place was the subject of representations and complaints by the Chinese Government and the Taotai addressed to the British...