CO129-066 - Public Offices - 1857 — Page 464

OUR attention has been called to a re- markably clever letter in the Straits Guardian of 22d August, on the subject of Hongkong affairs, and addressed to "The Right Honourable the Earl of Har- rowby." The doenment, which occupies. six and a half columns of the paper, is a strange admixture of truth and falsehood, so ingeniously worked up together, that

it would be almost impossible to separate

the wheat from the chaff. But were it:

worth while, it would be no difficult matter

for those maligned by it to found thereon an action for libel; and hence evidently has it been published in Singapore, and not here. Though anonymous, its origin we think is easily traceable, both from omission and commission, to a certain dilapidated individual in Hongkong,” whose talents are undeniable, but whose character is at least as questionable as that of any of those attacked by him, even of the notorious Charles Gordon

that I am There can be no question about me being the party referred to, because our truculent Attorney General, in one of the splenite offersions that he converted the Supreme Count into a

arena for indulging in, designated me by

#

Calling me a "delapidated individual? I cannot

for a moment presume to inflect Your Lordship

Hobiforth himself, one who has preferted with any extenuation of this gross libel, but

H.

to be considered by his fellow-colonists a "start man," rather than an honest trader." Governor Sir John Bowring is the first on whom he has vented his malice then Lieut-Colonel Caine-then the late Gaoler Collins-then ex-Sheriff Hold- forth-next ex-Treasurer Rienaecker--- then Mr Mercer, our present Colonial Secretary Dr Bridges Mr Anstey- Mr Cooper Turner-Mr Caldwell,—all indeed against whom the writer is known to have an ill-will. Some of these he mentions by name, others he points out by innuendo, but all are slashed at in a most spitefully malicious manner.

Had the letter bean a little more truth.. ful, we might have found room for it; but even as it is, we have little doubt it will find vent somewhere.

I must beg of your Lordship & discard any impressions made upon your mind as to its falsenews or the veracity, and I must request Your Lordship to Confine yourself to the simple, fact, that a most gross and palpably madision

libel was committed

I accordingly applied at the Office of the Chief Mugestrate for a summons against the Editor of the mail, in order that he might be indicted Criminally. I was referred to the Essectant magistrate, who made all sorts of objections, which, having taken legal advice I easily overruled. I was rather urgent because Ser john had to Macas knew perfectly well that unless the

gone Simmons were issued before he came back it would never be issued at all. The assistant mayestrate, who was just as determined to pro crastinate as I was to proceed, then suggested that I should address a letter to the Editor affording him the opportunity of denying that I was the party he referred to, promising at the same time that unless the reply were satisfactory, the summons should be granted me upor my filing the required information. I wrote the Editor as suggested, waited two days for a reply, but failing of course to receive one, I lodged the information as directed, leaving the names of several parties to be served with subpoenas, who were enabled to testing beyond doubt, that I was the person unmistakeably referred to - appeared in order, but Ser John having unfortunately, comes back

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463

I received lar: the rest day the affixed rose refusing the summons I wish to avoid troubling your Lordship with

my opinion on sevent matters, but you cannot fail to observe that our thejectincy has no pretensions to independener.

A few days afterwards I received the affixed letter from the Land Office, alleging that owing to Certain Encroachmenté committed upon a lot of land which has been untouched for-

I stand mulcted in the annual cum of £16. 8. 34. de years. rent of the entire lot being only t.

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in a commercial

the

circular-ifened by me called the "Overland Trade Report" published a few days subsequently, I made the following remarks regarding the Government of this Colony.

As for the affairs of this port, notwithstanding the numerous advantages enjoyed by Hongkong, from its excellent harbor, from mple protection afforded by H. M. forces, naval and military, from its being the centre of all communication, and the residence of the pal Foreign mercantile houses,--still such is the want of confidence in the Government of the Colony (evinced by Foreigners as well as hinese) arising from the mutable and incongruous system of legislation and taxation adopted, combined with the abuses and extortion ised by the Police, that no Chinese merchant of standing can be induced either to trust his family or open an establishment here. At ame time Macao, lacking all these advantages, but possessing a legislature who have the interests of the settlement at heart, is being ed to by respectable Chinese merchants in such numbers as to render it difficult for them to procure places of business. True, Macao er situated than Hongkong for the reception of some Export articles, whilst for others Hongkong is quite as convenient, and in many eces much more so. Yet it may be safely affirmed that the Chinese take all their produce to Macao for sale, although it is mostly ased by parties resident here, and either transhipped to this, or vessels are sent from this place to load there. No less than 5 steamers us maintained running between Hongkong and Macao. If respectable Chinese could be induced to settle here, which their distrust in overnment of the Island alone prevents them doing, and not thro' any apprehensions of the acts of their own Government-this Trade; be directed to Hongkong. In illustration of the reckless and ruinous course persisted in by the Government of this Colony, it needs only ationed, that articles of goods for Foreign consumption have latterly nearly doubled their price, partly owing to hostilities having in- ted communication, and partly to the large number of vessels of war on the station. Yet this is the juncture selected for putting into new market ordinance, having for its object an increase of revenue at the sacrifice of private and vested interests, and the operation: ch involves such annoying surveillance and harassing penalties, that its effect must be to drive away market produce from the Colony, further detriment of its trade and prospects.

after this

Three days, I received another letter from the Land office (also affixed) singing the same dong in a much louder vorce to the time of £65.8.11 pannum. ( not pe simple My Lord). This second case is most Indrecously unjust, but to long a story to tell Your Lordship _ I would merely point out to Your Lordship that the Governor is supreme in the Land offere also, and I pearlessly assert that althe numerou dcts of spoliation, misappropriation, desregard of vested rights. have been perpetrated by that department, shill in no cast have the sufferers ever dared to seek for redress in our Courts of law hat have submitted in a meeker manner than darn capable of

I am imitating.

I am, Right Homeres,

East & Harrowly

My Lord,

Your

most obedient Meble semant

44 Murrow