CO129-084 - War Office & Others - 1861 — Page 150

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

"that, according to his own showing, he had made himself liable to an indictment for confederating with pirates." His Excellency the Governor is reported also to have stated, in answer to a question, at the close of the Enquiry, that "to express any opinion on the conduct of Mr. Bowney and Dr. Bridges, with reference to the suppression of evidence, relating to Mr. Caldwell's connection with pirates, was not, His Excellency thought, within the scope of the Commission of Enquiring, for that was limited in its terms; but His Excellency would take care that whatever wording to that effect had been given should be preserved with the Minutes."

  1. My information is derived from persons present upon both occasions, and is confirmed by the newspaper reports of the proceedings themselves. But, to these no exception can possibly be taken to the official language of the Council itself, in which the findings on the three Charges in question are set forth, and thus publicly noted for general information by command of the Governor himself, at the termination of the Enquiry. I quote from the Hong Kong Government Gazette of the 8th instant; - for procrastination has been carried to this extreme of tardiness by a reluctant Government, in the removal of a criminal servant from his posts of power and trust, the partial reparation of the fair fame of his accusers, and the removal of an international scandal which had for so long disgraced the eyes of the Chinese and the farthest East.

"The Council considered that Mr. May's view of the character of Mah Chow was the correct one, and that his (Mr. May) rendered very valuable services to the Colony in prosecuting to conviction - notwithstanding the opposition he had to contend against - that notorious offender who had, for so many years, by the unscrupulous exercise of the means at his disposal, contrived to escape the punishment due to his crimes. The Council entirely concurred... as to the great value of Mr. May's services and meritorious public services, and expressed their unanimous opinion, that his removal from Government employment would be a great loss to the Colony."

  1. "The Council, having carefully considered the Evidence laid before them, in support of the charges brought against Mr. Caldwell, as well as the Evidence given in reference to these matters, which incidentally grew out of the Enquiry, were unanimously of opinion, that Mr. Caldwell's long and intimate connection with the pirate Mah Chow was such a character, as to render him unfit to be continued in the Public Service; and the Council therefore recommended his dismissal."

"The Council were further of opinion, that, even if they had arrived at an opposite conclusion upon this, the new Subject of Inquiry, they would far from be called upon to recommend the removal from the Public Service upon the question of unreasonable treatment of his subordinate, Mr. Helen W. May, and his abandonment of his office, but in spite of the refusal of His Excellency the Governor to accept his resignation, while grave charges were pending against him."

  1. I feel myself consequently released from the obligation which for the last two years and more I have submitted to, in the patient expectation of the end. To continue any longer under the silence now that the time I had imposed upon myself to break it has arrived, will be to betray the cause of duty to myself, and of duty. It is fortunate that the feelings which have been dissipated to gratify the vengeance...

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"that, according to his own showing, he had made himself liable to an indictment for confederating with pirates." His Excellency the Governor is reported also to have stated, in answer to a question, at the close of the Enquiry, that "to express any opinion on the conduct of Mr. Bowney and Dr. Bridges, with reference to the suppression of evidence, relating to Mr. Caldwell's connection with pirates, was not, His Excellency thought, within the scope of the Commission of Enquiring, for that was limited in its terms; but His Excellency would take care that whatever wording to that effect had been given should be preserved with the Minutes."My information is derived from persons present upon both occasions, and is confirmed by the newspaper reports of the proceedings themselves. But, to these no exception can possibly be taken to the official language of the Council itself, in which the findings on the three Charges in question are set forth, and thus publicly noted for general information by command of the Governor himself, at the termination of the Enquiry. I quote from the Hong Kong Government Gazette of the 8th instant; - for procrastination has been carried to this extreme of tardiness by a reluctant Government, in the removal of a criminal servant from his posts of power and trust, the partial reparation of the fair fame of his accusers, and the removal of an international scandal which had for so long disgraced the eyes of the Chinese and the farthest East."The Council considered that Mr. May's view of the character of Mah Chow was the correct one, and that his (Mr. May) rendered very valuable services to the Colony in prosecuting to conviction - notwithstanding the opposition he had to contend against - that notorious offender who had, for so many years, by the unscrupulous exercise of the means at his disposal, contrived to escape the punishment due to his crimes. The Council entirely concurred... as to the great value of Mr. May's services and meritorious public services, and expressed their unanimous opinion, that his removal from Government employment would be a great loss to the Colony.""The Council, having carefully considered the Evidence laid before them, in support of the charges brought against Mr. Caldwell, as well as the Evidence given in reference to these matters, which incidentally grew out of the Enquiry, were unanimously of opinion, that Mr. Caldwell's long and intimate connection with the pirate Mah Chow was such a character, as to render him unfit to be continued in the Public Service; and the Council therefore recommended his dismissal.""The Council were further of opinion, that, even if they had arrived at an opposite conclusion upon this, the new Subject of Inquiry, they would far from be called upon to recommend the removal from the Public Service upon the question of unreasonable treatment of his subordinate, Mr. Helen W. May, and his abandonment of his office, but in spite of the refusal of His Excellency the Governor to accept his resignation, while grave charges were pending against him."I feel myself consequently released from the obligation which for the last two years and more I have submitted to, in the patient expectation of the end. To continue any longer under the silence now that the time I had imposed upon myself to break it has arrived, will be to betray the cause of duty to myself, and of duty. It is fortunate that the feelings which have been dissipated to gratify the vengeance...Page 150Page 151
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A" that, according to his own showing, he had made berellf hable to an indictinent; for confederate of with pirates : ) His Excellency the Governor is reported also to have stated, in auxiver to a quistion, at the close of the Eugung, that "to express any opinire on the conduct offer gehen "Bowney and Dr. Bridges, with uperence to the suppression of" evidence, relating to Mr. Caldwell's connection with perates, was "not, this bxcellency thought, within the scope of the Corumission "f rugining, for that was limited in its terns; but this Excellency in wild take care that whatever wording to that efect had teen " gwin should be preserved with the Minutes:5.My information is derived from persons present upon both occasions, and is conferived by the newspaper reports of the proceedings themselves. But,of these are excepted to no exception can possibly be taken to the official language of the Council itself, in which the findings on the three Charges in question are set forth, and thus publicly notoped for general infinuation by cornrnand of the Governa hunself, at the termination of the Enquiry. I quotetheir from the Hong Kong Gooiningwen to this extreme of Gazette of the sith alterns; - for procrastination has the tardiness of a reluctant Government,been carried, in the removal of a criminal seront prom bis posts of power and trust, the partial reparation of the fair Jamie fance of his accusers; and the rimival of an internationalthe eyes of the Chines scandal which had for disgraced andto the farthest last: Yo......" The Council Considered that Mr. May's view of "the character of Mah Chand trong " that his (M. May) rendered very valuable services to the "cotorry in protendly to convection- rishinghstanding the po "opposition he had to contend against that notonous offender "who had, for so many years by the unscrupulous exercita "of the means at his disposal, contrived to excape the punishmentyearsers inwas the correct one, and"Finder the 2017 1861.Isupt : 1861.Earotte ofBett 1081.148 " due to his crimes. The Council entirely concurred... as to "the great value of M. May's ions and meritorious public" services, and expressed their unanimous opinion, that "his removal poin "Government comployment would be great loss to the Colony.""a10."The Council, having carefully considered the Lindence "laid before them, in support of the charges, brought" against Mr. Caldwell, as well as the Endence given in "reference to there matters, which incidentally grew out if the " Enguery, were unaniniously of opinion, that Mr. Caldwell. long and intimate connection with the pirate mak Chow such a character, as to render him unfit to * Woong "be continued in the Public Servic; and the Council. therefore : –"Kadwres7.Excur mended his dismissal"The Council were further of opinion, that, even if they had avvio con un opposite conclusion upon this, the new "Subject of Inquiry, they Mt.te wild far from called up in "recommend the removed porn to the 's Server upon "the quienes of "rindisionerable treatment of his the thie "Helen. W. May, and his abandonment of his office, but " = withstanding the refusal of this Excellency the Governa "te reexpt his resignation, while Groor charges were pending "against him "12.I fuel myself consequently released from the oblegation which for the last two ypass and more I have submitted to, in the patient expectation & the end. To continue any longer under the silence. now that the time I had imposed upon myself, to break it has arrived, will be to beting the cause duty to myself,exore fame and of duty. It is fortiere have been disipates to gratify the vengeancandaPage150Page 151
2026-06-20 15:40:13 · Baseline
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A

" that, according to his own showing, he had made

berellf hable to an indictinent; for confederate of with pirates : ) His Excellency the Governor is reported also to have stated, in auxiver to a quistion, at the close of the Eugung, that "to express any opinire on the conduct offer gehen "Bowney and Dr. Bridges, with uperence to the suppression of " evidence, relating to Mr. Caldwell's connection with perates, was "not, this bxcellency thought, within the scope of the Corumission "f rugining, for that was limited in its terns; but this Excellency in wild take care that whatever wording to that efect had teen " gwin should be preserved with the Minutes:

5. My information is derived from persons present upon both occasions, and is conferived by the newspaper reports of the proceedings themselves. But, of these are excepted to no exception can possibly be taken to the official language of the Council itself, in which the findings on the three Charges in question are set forth, and thus publicly notoped for general infinuation by cornrnand of the Governa hunself, at the termination of the Enquiry. I quote their from the Hong Kong Gooining

wen to this extreme of Gazette of the sith alterns; - for procrastination has the tardiness of a reluctant Government, been carried, in the removal of a criminal seront prom bis posts of power and trust, the partial reparation of the fair Jamie fance of his accusers; and the rimival of an international the eyes of the Chines scandal which had for disgraced and to the farthest last: Yo......" The Council Considered that Mr. May's view of "the character of Mah Chand trong " that his (M. May) rendered very valuable services to the "cotorry in protendly to convection- rishinghstanding the po "opposition he had to contend against — that notonous offender "who had, for

so many years by the unscrupulous exercita "of the means at his disposal, contrived to excape the punishment

years

ers in

was the correct one, and

"Finder the 2017 1861.

Is

upt : 1861.

Earotte of

Bett 1081.

148 " due to his crimes. The Council entirely concurred... as to "the great value of M. May's ions and meritorious public " services, and expressed their unanimous opinion, that "his removal poin "Government comployment would be

great loss to the Colony."

"

a

10. "The Council, having carefully considered the Lindence "laid before them, in support of the charges, brought " against Mr. Caldwell, as well as the Endence given in "reference to there matters, which incidentally grew out if the " Enguery, were unaniniously of opinion, that Mr. Caldwell. long

and intimate connection with the pirate mak Chow such a character, as to render him unfit to * Woong "be continued in the Public Servic; and the Council.

therefore : –

"Kad

wres

7.

Excur mended his dismissal

"The Council were further of opinion, that, even if they had avvio con un opposite conclusion upon this, the new "Subject of Inquiry, they

Mt.

te wild far from called up in "recommend the removed porn to the 's Server upon "the quienes of "rindisionerable treatment of his the thie "Helen. W. May, and his abandonment of his office, but " = withstanding the refusal of this Excellency the Governa "te reexpt his resignation, while Groor charges were pending "against him "

12. I fuel myself consequently released from the oblegation which for the last two ypass and more I have submitted to, in the patient expectation & the end. To continue any longer under the silence.

now that the time I had imposed upon myself, to break it has arrived, will be to beting the cause

duty to myself, exore fame and of duty. It is fortiere have been disipates to gratify the vengeanc

and

a

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