CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12] — Page 500

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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The whole therefore of these seven charges may, I trust, of giving me the most valuable information. I will particu be considered as having been satisfactorily met and answered; larize, for instance, among many others, the attempt to cu and should such be the case, the evidence brought forward off the steamer Hongkong, in 1851, and as to the complicity by my accusers in support of the remaining charges will, if of Tong Achik (the brother and predecessor of Tong Aka proceeding from the same parties, and got up in a similar as Interpreter at the Magistracy,) with pirates, which led to manner, be viewed I think with considerable suspicion. his dismissal from Government employ. I always had the most thorough reliance in him as far as one can have in any Chinaman, and I must repeat to this Hon'ble Commissions what I have already notified to the Government, that it wa owing principally to Ma-chow Wong, that I have bee enabled to render those services, for which I have been over and over again thanked by my official superiors.

I will now proceed to consider the charges arising out of what may be called the Ma-chow Wong branch of this inquiry, and which in fact embrace all the remaining heads of accusation, except the first and the two last.

It will simplify the matter, if I make two preliminary statements,—one regarding my own early life in China, the other as to my connection with Ma-chow Wong.

I do not pretend or even wish to moot the question o Ma-chow Wong's innocence or guilt-now that point ha been decided; but I do most respectfully point out to the Commission, that as Protector of Chinese, and as a private individual, I violated no law, and was in no way deficient in duty to the Government, in bringing the Petition in Ma chow Wong's favour to the notice of His Excellency the Governor, and in exerting myself in a legal manner on hit behalf. I only did what any man might I think do for an assistant of tried usefulness.

I left Singapore for China for the first time (not being then quite seventeen years of age) in July, 1834, under the charge of Captain Chevely, and carrying with me a letter of introduction from Messrs A. L. Johnston & Co., of Singapore, to Messrs Jardine, Matheson & Co. We arrived during Lord Napier's troubles, and I remained for a few weeks at Lintin on board Jardine, Matheson & Co.'s receiving ship the Hercules. While there, Mr W. Jardine introduced me to Mr Keating, in whose employ I remained until his death at Macao, in the early part of 1837. I then became Book- While I was out of Government employ, I was engaged keeper to Mr Innes until the autumn of 1838, when I left in three several pecuniary transactions with Ma-chow Wong him in consequence of the violent language he used to me The first, a speculation to the West Coast, for which I cha on a Chinaman absconding, to whom I had sold some Turkey tered seven Chinese vessels to carry cargo; one of these be handkerchiefs. About this time the disturbances com-longed to Ma-chow Wong, and all of them during the time menced regarding the Opium trade, and I went to Macao; of their charter carried the Eaglet's flag, but at no other time shortly after this all the foreigners left Canton, and I then -There were four partners in this speculation,-Siemssen & took charge, as Accountant for Mr Markwick, of the Isabella, Co., the Tai Chaong Hong, Ma-chow Wong (who begged me, a storeship lying with the Opium receiving ships, until my to allow him to have a share,) and myself; and it was termi health broke down in the latter part of 1839, and I went nated at the end of 1855. It is out of this single transac to reside on shore at Macao. Mr Innes, hearing that I was tion, mentioned by me to Mr May in the confidence of pri- ; ill, sent Dr Anderson to attend me, paying his account him-vate intercourse, that he has concocted the evidence appearing self. My illness lasted some time, and in February, 1840, I at page 40, as to my being a partner with Ma-chow Wong went down to Singapore in the Angelica. I returned to in a carrying trade carried on in many vessels, and has in- China in June 1840, attached to the Commissariat of the vented the statement as to my granting the Eaglet's flag as Expeditionary Force, and was stationed at Chusan until the a pass of protection. expedition renewed its operations against Canton in 1841. The Second, I employed Ma-chow to build five houses for I remained in the department until the conclusion of hos-me in Taipingshan, and provided him with the funds as they tilities there. With the assistance of some friends I then were required from time to time. The entries in the books purchased and sailed a brig called the Thistle, until the in which Mr May mentions my name as occurring, and latter end of 1842. In January 1843, I entered Govern- which have been more ingeniously than truthfully attemp ment employ; my conduct since then has been stated by the ed to be made out, both by him and Mr Anstey, to be pay- Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor.

ments to me, had reference to this transaction, and were pay ments from, not to me.

What portion of this career has been particularly selected by the Attorney General as passed among Chinese outlaws and pirates, I am at a loss to say.

The Third,-Ma-chow Wong wanted $500, to lengthen the Kee-Loong-Poo-on, his own lorcha. I advanced him this

I will now proceed with the second statement, as to my money, and to secure myself took out papers for her in my own connection with Ma-chow Wong.

name, giving him a share of the profits. Subsequently the Up to the time that I resigned Government service in balance of account being in his favour, I restored the lords. July 1855, and since I returned to it in November 1856, I to him in the end of October 1856, and ceased to have any never had any commercial or pecuniary transaction with further interest in ber. Mr Anstey has stated, that at Ma- Ma-chow Wong, except one or two trifling loans made by chow Wong's trial, I deposed to still having an interest in me to him. He had been for years continually in the habit I this vessel. The notes of the Chief Justice will be the best

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possible evidence as to this invention, and I respectfully re- as to the substance of the parties. Ma-chow Wong was quest the Commission to consult the notes of the Chief Justice (if they have them) upon it, as affording another re- markable instance, if more be wanted, of the insufficient grounds upon which the Attorney General ventures to make

serious statements.

Since Ma-chow Wong has been in Gaol, I have never, ex- cept in the presence of the Acting Colonial Secretary, or the Governor of the Gaol, or by order of the former, seen or spoken to Ma-chow Wong, with three exceptions, and these were as follows-once for the purpose of ascertaining with certainty regarding his being committed for trial at the Supreme Court in 1847, when he was either acquitted or bill found; and twice while visiting the Gaol as Visiting Justice in my regular turn. Mr Inglis has made one mis- take on this point, as will appear from the note which I here -hand in. [1]

When I further add that Ma-chow Wong can neither read nor write beyond just marking his name, and that there is not, nor ever has been, any affinity by adoption of any kind whatsoever between him and any member of my family, or any person in any way connected with me, I shall have con- cluded my general statement as to my connection with Ma- chow Wong.

afterwards held to bail, I think for using threats, and the Chief Magistrate requested my attendance at the Magistracy on the subject. Sze-kai was one of the four bail on this oc- casion, but without my having heard a word on the subject, and he had not been in any way in my employ since I returned to Government service. The Hon'ble the Chief Magistrate has stated, that on another occasion, when Ms- chow Wong was brought before him, I procured the bail for his appearance within six weeks. I beg leave most respect- fully to deny this. I was present at the Magistracy at the time on other business, and never left it; bail was tendered and referred to me on the bench, and I approved it. This was my sole action in the matter.

Mr Anstey having himself proved that he had incorrectly stated the charge against me, as to procuring the release of 25 men, I should simply confine myself to the remark that, when an Assistant Superintendent of Police is called and recommends the discharge of suspected persons, it is hardly fair to accuse the Registrar General of guilt in concurring, supposing him, as I certainly then was, to be also satisfied; but I feel it necessary to call the attention of the Commission to the disingenuous manner in which Mr Grand-Pré's name is introduced. Mr Grand- So much extraneous matter has arisen in the course of Pre was not in any way my subordinate then; he was totally this inquiry, that I should not be dealing fairly to myself or lisconnected with me, and appeared simply as a Police offi- to the Commission were I to confine my reply to the evi zial. As a further instance of this style of accusation, I dence brought in support of the specific charges in this second would point out the passage in Mr Anstey's statement in hranch of the case; I must therefore, at the risk of wearying

page 71.

"I did not then know the fact of his (Eli Boggs') the Hon'ble Commission, pick out, item by item, everything || connection with the Eaglet or Mr Caldwell" Mr Anstey which appears worthy of remark, and deal with the several matters successively. I, however, omit from this list all statements, which have no further support than the "it is said" of my accusers.

lid not then know it for the same reason that he does not know it now, and that is, because such fact never had any existence save in his own imagination, as has been most satisfactorily proved in the course of this enquiry.

The only other "fact" which Mr Anstey has brought against me, of his own knowledge, the deportation of Mr Cooper Turner's clients, has broken down in an equally re- markable manner. Mr May has, strange to say, destroy- ed his friend's fabric, for if these Chinese were impró- perly deported, I, who had nothing to say to the mea-

Document (Q) was handed in by the Attorney General as * proof of my having, in his opinion, committed an illegality, in giving a pass to a Chinese vessel. I was directed by His Excellency the Governor, in consequence of an arrangement come to with His Excellency the Admiral for the protection of honest traders during the hostilities on the Canton River, to give passes to boats bringing provisions here. I received sure, could not certainly be blamable. But so far from these instructions as Registrar General, for the Attorney | my having got them out of the way, as is poetically asserted, General knows full well that I was Registrar General long I was very much pained to hear that Mr May had, without

before the Ordinance he refers to passed, and I put my official seal to the pass in accordance with the instructions I received.

I am charged with having procured bail for Ma-chow Wong-such bail being a servant of my own. Although this charge is utterly false, and has not been supported by any evidence, some explanation may be useful on the subject. Ma-chow Wong was held to bail twice. On the first occa- sion-by order of the Chief Justice in a heavy sum-his securities were Loo Aqui of the Lower Bazaar, and Loong Ach, formerly the P. & O. Company's Comprador. I was in to way consulted on the subject, not even in the usual manner,

any reference to any one, included them in the list, and McKenzie the Jailor has related to the Commission my com- plaints on the subject, which had reference to these very two men. I may here take the opportunity of observing that, in the same manner as I objected, and successfully, I am glad to say to the Rebel chiefs being included in the deportation, (Mr Wade's letter will bear me out in this), po also I made my respectful remonstrance against what I conceived to be the impolicy of sending the 72 men taken by the Niger to the authorities at Cowloong.

The Acting Colonial Secretary, who differed from me, will, however, I am aure, if required, still further confirm the evidence he has

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