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certainly before the month of May. When Mr Wade returned the books and papers to me, he did so without any observations; there was no letter from him. He never sent to the office any certificate or report upon them, or anything in the nature of a report. I never heard him say that he was investigating, or had investigated them. There is not now a single book or paper sent me to be examined, in existence. I cannot recollect seeing, when I was examined at the Council, any manuscript papers in His Excellency's hands, nor do I remember His Excellency referring to any such. I told His Excellency the way in which I examined the books, but I do not recollect using the word cursory. I am quite certain that Mr May was not in the room when I was examined, and I did not go to the Council room again.
that, on the offer being made, Mrs Caldwell said she did not want it, and that she would tell Mr Caldwell when he came back. I saw Mr Caldwell after, and told him that the Commissariat people did not know me, and that Mr Caldwell and I had been long here, and that Mr Caldwell knew whether I was good or bad, and that if he thought I was good to write so and recommend me.
Mr Caldwell said he would recommend me according to what was true. I said nothing to him about the $1000; this was two or three days before my mother saw Mrs Caldwell. I also went the second day after my mother had been to Mrs Caldwell, and asked if that business had been settled. Mr Caldwell said he did not know,—it was Commissariat business. There was not on that occasion anything said to Mr Caldwell about the $1,000. On the first occasion when I went to Mr Caldwell, I said I would give him some present according to politeness. Mr Caldwell replied "O! I don't want it." Mr Caldwell had been ordered by the Commissariat to enquire after the men's characters, and I know he did write to them. I did not obtain the contract. I never paid the $1,000, or any part of it, nor made any present. I did go to Mrs Caldwell on the morning of the day on which it was to be decided who should be the contractor, and I alluded to the promise of my mother as to the $1,000, for which Mrs Caldwell said there was no necessity. I also mentioned that the tenders had been decided on, and that I had not obtained the contract. Mr Caldwell did on the first occasion tell me he had already made a report to the Commissariat about me and my securities, and could not write any more.
CHARLES MAY,-Recalled.
After reading my evidence given at last meeting, on the subject of what took place at the Executive Council, and hearing Mr Mongan's evidence now given to the Commission, I adhere to the statement I then made. As a minor incident, I may mention that Mr Mongan did not sit down, but stood at the Governor's elbow, and answered the questions he put. Mr Dixson did not say one word while Mr Mongan was in the room.
PANG WA-PANG,-Recalled.
I adhere to my statement before made, that no promise was ever made to Mr Caldwell that this money would be paid, and I never told Inspector Roberts that such promise had been made. I now say, that before the steamer went out, I said to Mr Caldwell that I would make him some polite present, to which Mr Caldwell replied, "that is not right, that is not right." This was the answer I gave to Roberts. Although I did not think Mr Caldwell would receive it, I was so very grateful, and the Chinese custom is so strong on that point, that I went again to offer Mr Caldwell the $100; half of this was on account of Achong. I am acting partner with Achong in the lorcha business and I told him before I was going to do it. Achong told a man in his employ to give it to me, which he did. No one accompanied me when I went there. I carried the money in my own handkerchief. I am quite certain I did not take the money back with me, and that it has never been returned to me since.
Cross-examined,——I remember that I went to Mr Caldwell, and that my mother went to Mrs Caldwell, with a request that Mr Caldwell would write to the Commissary General, and obtain for me the contract for supplying the troops with provisions. I sent my mother to Mrs Caldwell to offer her $1,000 if I obtained the contract. I did not order her to go, nor did I know before that she was going, but when she came back she told me she had done so. In my evidence, at page 56, I did not say I sent my mother. I replied to my mother, "If you said so, let it be so." My mother told me that she had been to Mrs Caldwell.
Re-examined,-The first visit of my mother to Mrs Caldwell on the occasion referred to, was on the 4th month of this year (May). My mother went to ask Mrs Caldwell because it was an affair between women, and that was in accordance with Chinese custom. I did not think she had any power to get the contract. She went to her instead of my going to Mr Caldwell, because it was more convenient as I might not find him in, and she was to tell Mr Caldwell what my mother had said. It is not the custom for Chinese women to go to Mrs Caldwell, when they want anything from the Government. It is sometimes the case, but not a fixed custom, that Chinese women offer money, or a present, or valuables to Mrs Caldwell on such occasions. Mrs Caldwell does not accept these offers, nor does she, properly speaking, assist them in getting what they want, but they only go to speak with her about it. She is not in the habit of using her influence with Mr Caldwell for this purpose, but I mean that people go to her that she may tell Mr Caldwell what they say. I have not had any conversation with Mr or Mrs Caldwell on this subject since my last examination. I have not seen Mrs Caldwell since, and only saw Mr Caldwell as he was going home that evening. They have neither of them sent to me nor desired me to come to them. I did not offer the $1,000 because Mrs Caldwell had accepted the $100 on the previous occasion. Had my tender been accepted, I should have made some present, but not have given the $1,000, as that had been refused. I never made or offered any present to Mr or Mrs Caldwell, except on these two occasions.
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KWOK ACHONG, P. & O. Co.'s Comprador.-Called and examined.
I know the last witness,--he never was my partner at any time. I had a half share in a lorcha three or four years ago; the other half was owned by several others. Last witness is not agent for me nor the other owners; he had a lorcha of his own.
I remember both these lorchas-mine and his-being captured by pirates. My partner and last witness got the assistance of a man-of-war which brought the lorchas back; I did not go to Mr Caldwell. The last witness never came to me about paying expenses incident on the recapture. He never spoke to me about a present to Mr Caldwell.
I had a conversation with Mr Dixson on the subject of the strange and mysterious interest which had been exhibited in favour of Ma-chow Wong, and expressing my inability to account for it. Mr Dixson said, "Why, other government officers have had trade with Ma-chow Wong as well as Mr Caldwell." I said, "I dare say that is true, I suppose you allude to somebody much bigger," in a significant manner; I said nothing in return. I have no knowledge of my own of any other Government officer than Mr Caldwell having trade with Ma-chow Wong. I know that about two or three months back, a Chinaman, who, from all I had known bore an honest character,--he was called on board the men-of-war "honest Jack," or some such name.
CHARLES MAY-Recalled.
I know that a Comprador for Her Majesty's Ships, was apprehended by Mr Caldwell. I know that on the occasion of his apprehension, the Acting Colonial Secretary and Mr Caldwell, without any Warrant from the Magistrate, and having taken the Police without any authority, went over with them to the mainland, and searched a house there with reference to the same case. I do not know the immediate cause of the apprehension, but a watch was found which was claimed by Mr Lapraik, who had lost it some years previously. The case was disposed of, and the man discharged. Another charge against him was brought forward supported by the evidence of convicts. I think it can be ascertained by the Commission, that an examination was held in the Gaol by the Acting Colonial Secretary and Mr Caldwell, with reference to the charge against this man. I believe that Police Inspector Roberts was examined by the Acting Colonial Secretary within the Gaol, and gave important testimony as to the falsity of the charge. I am not certain whether his evidence was upon a second charge or upon a third charge, got up by convicts. To the best of my recollection, the same convicts who gave evidence against this man gave evidence in the false charge against Tong Akú as well.
The Chief Magistrate, who investigated both cases, can give certain evidence on this head. In reference to the reason why this man was accused, it was told me—and I believe you will get direct evidence of it from Assow, the Police Court Interpreter, and I think Roberts and Lyons—that the man had incurred the enmity of Ma-chow Wong.
About February or March, 1857, an English merchant (name handed into Chairman) put into my hands a Chinese letter, which he requested I would take the best means of getting interpreted, without letting the contents be known, because it was one of a series of letters of which he trusted ultimately to become the possessor, involving a charge of a grave nature in reference to Ma-chow Wong and Mr Caldwell through his family. I got the letter translated, and it appeared from that translation to relate to a seizure of tea by one of Her Majesty's Ships, and contained reference to a demand for services rendered by Ma-chow Wong and Mrs Caldwell in causing the restoration of the tea to some claimant.
The Merchant who gave me the letter mentioned the name of the person who had given him the letter, and that is the name handed in. I desire to bring to the knowledge of the commission a matter, so that it may not be said I have abstained from giving them any information within my knowledge.
I had a conversation with the Attorney General, as stated by him about the communication from Mrs Caldwell to certain parties that they were to state that they have not given presents. I shall, in the course of the investigation, endeavour to ...
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certainly before the month of May. When Mr Wade returned the books and papers to me, he did so without any observations; there was no letter from him. He never sent to the office any certificate or report upon them, or anything in the nature of a report. I never heard him say that he was investigating, or had investigated them. There is not now a single book or paper sent me to be examined, in existence. I cannot recollect seeing, when I was ex- amined at the Council, any manuscript papers in His Excellency's hands, nor do I remember His Excellency referring to any such. I told His Excellency the way in which I examined the books, but I do not recollect using the word cursory. I am quite certain that Mr May was not in the room when I was examined, and I did not go to the Council room again.
that, on the offer being made, Mrs Caldwell said she did not want it, and that she would tell Mr Caldwell when he came back. I saw Mr Caldwell after, and told him that the Commissariat people did not know me, and that Mr Caldwell and I had been long here, and that Mr Caldwell knew whether I was good or bad, and that if he thought I was good to write so and recommend me.
Mr Caldwell said he would recommend me according to what was true. I said nothing to him about the $1000; this was two or three days before my mother saw Mrs Caldwell. also went the second day after my mother had been to Mrs Caldwell, and asked if that business had been settled. Mr Caldwell said he did not know,—it was Commissariat business. There was not on that occasion anything said to Mr Caldwell about the $1,000. On the first occasion when 1 went to Mr Caldwell, I said I would give him some present according to politeness. Mr Caldwell replied "O! I dont' want it." Mr Caldwell had been ordered by After reading my evidence given at last meeting, on the
the Commissariat to enquire after the men's characters, and subject of what took place at the Executive Council, and hearing Mr Mongan's evidence now given to the Com-I know he did write to them. I did not obtain the con- tract. I never paid the $1,000, or any part of it, nor made of the day on which it was to be decided who should be any present. I did go to Mrs Caldwell on the morning
the contractor, and I alluded to the promise of my mother as to the $1,000, for which Mrs Caldwell said there was no necessity. I also mentioned that the tenders had been decided on, and that I had not obtained the contract. Mr Caldwell did on the first occasion tell me he had already made a report to the Commissariat about me and my securities, and could not write any more.
CHARLES MAY,-Recalled.
mission, I adhere to the statement I then made. As a
minor incident, I may mention that Mr Mongan did not sit down, but stood at the Governor's elbow, and answered the questions he put. Mr Dixson did not say one word while Mr Mongan was in the room.
PANG WA-PANG,-Recalled.
I adhere to my statement before made, that no promise was ever made to Mr Caldwell that this money would be paid, and I never told Inspector Roberts that such promise had been made. I now say, that before the steamer went out, I said to Mr Caldwell that I would make him some polite present, to which Mr Caldwell replied. "that is not right, that is not right." This was the answer I gave to Roberts. Although I did not think Mr Caldwell would receive it, I was so very grateful, and the Chinese custom is so strong on that point, that I went again to offer Mr Caldwell the $100; half of this was on account of Achong. I am acting partner with Achong in the lorcha business and I told him before I was going to do it. Achong told a man in his employ to give it to me, which he did. No one accompanied me when I went there. I carried the money in my own handkerchief. I am quite certain I did not take the money back with me, and that it has never
been returned to me since.
Cross-examined,——I remember that I went to Mr Cald- well, and that my mother went to Mrs Caldwell, with a request that Mr Caldwell would write to the Commissary tieneral, and obtain for me the contract for supplying the
froops with provisions. I sent my mother to Mrs Cald- well to offer her $1,000 if I obtained the contract. I did not order her to go, nor did I know before that she was
going, but when she came back she told me she had done 56, I did not say I sent my mother. I replied to my mother, "If you said so, let it be so." My mother told me
Re-examined,-The first visit of my mother to Mrs Caldwell on the occasion referred to, was on the 4th month of this year (May). My mother went to ask Mrs Caldwell because it was an affair between women, and that that was in accordance with China custom. I did not think she had any power to get the contract. She went to her instead of my going to Mr Caldwell, because it was more convenient as I might not find him in, and she was to tell Mr Cald- well what my mother had said. It is not the custom for Chinese women to go to Mrs Caldwell, when they want anything from the Government. It is sometimes the case, but not a fixed custom, that Chinese women offer money, or a present, or valuables to Mrs Caldwell on such occasions. Mrs Caldwell does not accept these offers, nor does she, properly speaking, assist them in getting what they want, but they only go to speak with her about it. She is not in the habit of using her influence with Mr Caldwell for this purpose, but I mean that people go to her that she:
may
tell
Mr Caldwell what they say. I have not had any conver sation with Mr or Mrs Caldwell on this subject since my
last examination. I have not seen Mrs Caldwell since, and only saw Mr Caldwell as he was going home that evening. They have neither of them sent to me nor desir- ed me to come to them. I did not offer the $1,000 because Mrs Caldwell had accepted the $100 on the previous occa- sion. Had my tender been accepted, I should have made
مجھو
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some present, but not have given the $1,000, as that had been refused. I never made or offered any present to Mr or Mrs Caldwell, excepted on these two occasions.
and examined.
ture.
translated, and it appeared from that translation to relate to a seizure of tea by one of Her Majesty's Ships, and con- tained reference to a demand for services rendered by Ma- chow Wong and Mrs Caldwell in causing the restoration
KWOK ACHONG, P. & O. Co.'s Comprador.-Called of the tea to some claimant. The Merchant who gave me the letter mentioned the name of the person who had given I know the last witness,--he never was my partner at any him the letter, and that is the name handed in. I desire time. I had a half share in a lorcha three or four years ago; to bring to the knowledge of the commission a matter, so the other half was owned by several others. Last witness is that it may not be said I have abstained from giving them not agent for me nor the other owners; he had a lorcha of any information within my knowledge. I had a conversa- his own.
I remember both these lorchas-mine and his- tion with Mr Dixson on the subject of the strange and being captured by pirates. My partner and last witness got mysterious interest which had been exhibited in favour of the assistance of a man-of-war which brought the lorchas Ma-chow Wong, and expressing my inability to account back; I did not go to Mr Caldwell. The last witness never for it. Mr Dixson said, "Why, other government officers came to me about paying expenses incident on the recap-have had trade with Ma-chow Wong as well as Mr Cald- He never spoke to me about a present to Mr Caldwell." I said, "I dare say that is true, I suppose you allude Mr Dixson replied, "I don't mean little any- well; he spoke of a present to be given to the fishermen to little――." who brought the news. I never told any man in my em- body, I mean somebody much bigger," in a significant ploy to give $50 to Mr Caldwell. I never paid Mr Cald-manner; I said nothing in return. I have no knowledge well any money with reference to that business. My of my own of any other Government officer than Mr Cald- partner attends to the clerk's business; I never spoke to well having trade with Ma-chow Wong. I know that Pang Wa-pang with reference to any payment to be about two or three months back, a Chinaman, who, from made to Mr Caldwell. I trust my partner, and do not all I had known bore an honest character,--he was called know what he pays away. I do not know an English-on board the men-of-war "honest Jack," or some such name man called Beaver. Chu Kei took a gun out of another lorcha about eighteen months ago; he gave my captain a paper promising to pay for the gun when he came back to Hongkong. The paper did not say anything about Ma- chow Wong. I do not know that any Englishman was charged with stealing this gun, and I gave no evidence at the Police Court about it.
CHARLES MAY-Recalled.
who had been a Comprador for Her Majesty's Ships, was apprehended by Mr Caldwell. I know that on the occasion of his apprehension, the Acting Colonial Secretary and Mr Caldwell, without any Warrant from the Magistrate, and having taken the Police without any authority, went over with them to the mainland, and searched a house there with reference to the same case. I do not know the imme- diate cause of the apprehension, but a watch was found which was claimed by Mr Lapraik, who had lost it some I know from having heard from an English merchant years previously. The case was disposed of, and the man dis- Mr Hudson, through Mr Mitchell, the Assistant Magis-, charged. Another charge againts him was brought forward trate, that Mr Caldwell was especially engaged to make supported by the evidence of convicts. I think it can be inquiries touching robbery of very large quantities of ascertained by the Commission, that an examination was tin. From what Mr Hudson and Mr Mitchell told me, I held in the Gaol by the Acting Colonial Secretary and Mr have reason to believe that a very large portion of the tin Caldwell, with reference to the charge against this man. stolen was at one time in this colony in the possession of a I believe that Police Inspector Roberts was examined by Chinaman, and that notwithstanding the solicitation of Mr the Acting Colonial Secretary within the Gaol, and gave Hudson and Mr Mitchell to Mr Caldwell to seize the tin, Mr important testimony as to the falsity of the charge. I am Caldwell delayed doing so-acting, as he said, upon the ad- not certain whether his evidence was upon a second vice of Ma-chow Wong, and the result was that, with the charge or upon a third charge, got up by conviets To the best of my recollection, the exception of a few slabs, the entire of the tin escaped from in the Gaol. the owners. This was about three years back. I think I same convicts who gave evidence against this man gave may safely advise the commission to apply to Mr Mitchell, evidence in the false charge against Tong Akú as only seven or eight days back Mr Mitchell made a the Chief Magistrate, who investigated both cases, can strong observation referring to Ma-chow Wong and the give certain evidence on this head. In reference to the rea- case. About February or March, 1857, an English mer- son why this man was accused, it was told me—and I be- chant (name handed into Chairman) put into my hands a lieve you will get direct evidence of it from Assow, the Chinese letter, which he requested, I would take the best Police Court Interpreter, and I think Roberts and Lyons— means of getting interpreted, without letting the contents that the man had incurred the enmity of Ma-chow Wong. be known, because it was one of a series of letters of which I had a conversation with the Attorney General, as stated he trusted ultimately to become the possessor, involving a by him about the communication from Mrs Caldwell to cer- charge of a grave nature in referrence to Ma-chow Wong tain parties that they were to state that they have not given and Mr Caldwell through his family. I got the letter presents. I shall, in the course of the investigation, endea-
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