the forsul at Shanghai might be laid before the Jury as evidence,) and the result that after an interval of two hours the Jury returned into Court having ignored the Bill.
Presuming, My Lord, the same evidence to have been given by Captain Pitman and the others, as they deposed to on oath before Mr Alcock at Shanghai, and subsequently before Mr Hillier, the Chief Magistrate, at this Colony, with the Log-Book of the "Spy" before them, it is impossible for me to conjecture the grounds on which the Grand Jury came to this conclusion, but it is in my opinion manifestly contrary to the evidence that an attempt at an explanation may become necessary.
The only reasons, which suggest themselves to my mind, for the finding of the Jury, are, first a Bias in favour of the Service in which the "Spy" was engaged, and secondly a misunderstanding of the duties of the office they were called on to perform.
As regards the first reason I can say that, as I have already reported to your Lordship, the whole Coast between Hongkong and Shanghai is infested with pirates who make constant attacks on the Junks engaged in Trade, and that this evil prevails to such an extent, that it is a common occurrence for a fleet of Trading Junks to hire armed European Vessels to proceed with them as Convoy or escort for their protection, and as the practice is conducive to the General Trade, it naturally finds favour in the eyes of the Mercantile Community, and hence that they are indisposed by any act of theirs to discountenance the convoy system.
This, My Lord, is I feel an imputation, that, if unqualified, would much misrepresent my feeling towards the Gentlemen who composed the Grand Jury of this Colony, all of whom are generally…
Page 135
the forsul at Shanghai might be laid before the Jury as evidence,) and the result_ that after an interval of two hours the Jury returned into Counts having ignored the Bill.
Presuming, My
Lord, the same
evidence to have been given by lastain Pitman and the others, as they deposed to on oath before Mr Alcock at Shanghai, and subsequently tofore _!! Hillier, the Chief Magistrate, at this Kimy, with the Log-Book of the Spee before then, it is impossible for
me to conjecture the grounds on which the brand Sury came-
#
to this conclusion, but it is in my opinion
• manifectly contrary to the cordence that attempt at an explocation may-
come
nece seary. -
The only reasons, which suggest themselves to my mind, for the finding of the Jury, are, first a Bias in favour of the "¿ervice in which the "Spee " was engaged, and secondly a misunderstanding of the duties
of the office they
were called on to perform.
135
1 only As regards the first reason I can saw that, as I have already reported to your Lordship, the whole Coast between Houghing and
with pirates who make
Shanghae
Zwamms
in
constant attacks on the Funks engaged Trade, and that this evil prevails to such an entent, that it is a common occurrenel
2J
a fleet of Trading Funkes to hire armed European Vessels to proceed with them Convoys
es or concorts for their protection, and
for
aj
the practice is conducive to the General Trade, it naturally finds favour in the eyes of the Antrcantile Community, and hence that they are indisposed by any net of theirs to discountenance the convoy system.
This, My Lord, is I feel an imputation. thats, if unqualified, would much misrepresents my feeling towards the Gentlemen who composed the Grand Jury of this folow, all of whom are generally -
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