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the benevolent rule of his Worship Major Caine, whereby the affairs of the merchants have been prosperous. Equally dispensing and exercising severity, thieves and robbers were intimidated by the thunders of his wrath, while his kindness and compassion soothed and tranquillized the people.
Was it not in the days of "Tang" and "Zu," who regarded the people as their children? In what respect will he differ from "Wan" and "Woo?" Like these he renovated, nourished, and made perfect—as it was creating anew! Hearing of the illustrious advancement of his Worship Major Caine, they can no longer look up to and behold him. Your petitioners venture upon a mean but sincere expression of their sentiments and heartfelt gratitude for former favours, and humbly hope that your Excellency will condescend to take under consideration their stupid ideas, and graciously permit him to continue to perform the functions of magistrate, for which they will eternally extol your beneficent government. Whether they have rashly erred in their ignorance, your petitioners await your Excellency's decision, &c., &c.
A duly prepared and united petition, to be presented to his Excellency Sir John Davis, that he may graciously permit it to be acted upon.
6th month of the Yeh szo year."
Translated by Mr. Crofton Morrison, Assistant Chinese Secretary.
(Signed) CHAS. GUTZLAFF,
Chinese Secretary.
The foregoing petitions were presented to the Governor on the occasion of Major Caine's succession to the appointment of Colonial Secretary, vacated by the Honourable F. W. A. Bruce.
EXTRACT from the Dublin Magazine on the Article "China and the Chinese,” 1849.
The following, in reference to Major Caine, will be read with pleasure, and a disposition to affirm the truth of the sketch by all who knew him in the Cameroneans.
"There is a member of the Colonial Government who, in the general estimation of the colonists, is one of the few in authority perfectly qualified in every respect to govern, command and enforce respect; possessing extreme suavity of manners and hospitality of disposition, which has obtained for him the universal esteem of the mercantile body, and of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. Experience
21
has taught him the true character of the Chinese. The unflinching firmness which he invariably exhibits, combined with his just and impartial conduct on the Bench, has produced so salutary an effect on the minds of the natives of China, that one word from him is sufficient to secure their respect and attention. Those who know China will have anticipated the name of Major William Caine, formerly the Chief Magistrate of Hong Kong, but now the Colonial Secretary. When our vessel dropped anchor in the harbour of Victoria, the estimation in which this gentleman was held by the Chinese was exhibited. We inquired of some natives, who came on board the ship to traffic, "Who is the great man here?" "Major Caine." "Who is the Governor?" "Don't know he; but Major Caine No. 1 Mandarin, very great big man he." They knew nothing of Sir Henry Pottinger or Sir John Davis, then Mr. Davis; and on many subsequent occasions when resident in the colony, we have questioned the Chinese about the Governor as No. 1 Mandarin, and the Major-General as No. 2 Mandarin; they knew nothing of either, whilst the name of Major Caine was universally known and respected; the Chinese thus virtually demonstrating the estimation in which they held an able, firm, efficient officer of the public service.”
EXTRACT from The United Service Journal, 1847, Part I, page 191, referring to Hong Kong and crime there. "Through the indefatigable exertions of that highly esteemed old officer, Major Caine, on whom devolved, as Chief Police Magistrate, the arduous duty of correcting such propensities, a wonderful reform has taken place in the habits of these people; though very stringent measures are still requisite to preserve the colony from being inundated by lawless bands from the adjacent islands."
EXTRACT of Despatch No. 35, of 3rd March, 1856, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to Sir John Bowring.
"5. With regard to your application for the payment to yourself of a salary of one thousand pounds, I feel that it is impossible for Her Majesty's Government to accede to it, regard being had, to the circumstances of the case. Duke of Newcastle wished, as it appears, to disconnect the office of Governor of Hong Kong from that of Superintendent of Trade, and was only prevented from doing so by the existence of certain statutable provisions requiring their
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the benevolent rule of his Worship Major Caine, whereby the affairs of the merchants have been prosperous. Equally dis- pensing and exercising severity, thieves and robbers were intimidated by the thunders of his wrath, while his kindness and compassion soothed and tranquillized the people.
Was it not in the days of "Tang" and "Zu," who re- garded the people as their children? In what respect will he differ from Wan" and "Woo?" Like these he renovated, nourished, and made perfect-as it was creating anew! Hear- ing of the illustrious advancement of his Worship Major Caine, they can no longer look up to and behold him. Your peti- tioners venture upon a mean but sincere expression of their sentiments and heartfelt gratitude for former favours, and humbly hope that your Excellency will condescend to take under cousideration their stupid ideas, and graciously permit him to continue to perform the functions of magistrate, for which they will eternally extol your beneficent government. Whether they have rashly erred in their ignorance, your petitioners await your Excellency's decision, &c., &c.
A duly prepared and united petition, to be presented to his Excellency Sir John Davis, that he may graciously permit it to be acted upon.
6th month of the Yeh szo year."
Translated by Mr. Crofton Morrison, Assistant Chinese Secretary.
(Signed) CHAS. GUTZTAFF,
Chinese Secretary.
The foregoing petitions were presented to the Governor on the occasion of Major Caine's succession to the appoint- ment of Colonial Secretary, vacated by the Honourable F. W. A. Bruce.
EXTRACT from the Dublin Magazine on the Article "China and the Chinese,” 1849.
The following, in reference to Major Caine, will be read with pleasure, and a disposition to affirm the truth of the sketch by all who knew him in the Cameroneans.
"There is a member of the Colonial Government who, in the general estimation of the colonists, is one of the few in authority perfectly qualified in every respect to govern, command and enforce respect; possessing extreme suavity of manners and hospitality of disposition, which has obtained for him the universal esteem of the mercantile body, and of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. Experience
21
has taught him the true character of the Chinese. The unflinching firmness which he invariably exhibits, combined with his just and impartial conduct on the Bench, has pro- duced so salutary an effect on the minds of the natives of China, that one word from him is sufficient to secure their respect and attention. Those who know China will have anti- cipated the name of Major William Caine, formerly the Chief Magistrate of Hong Kong, but now the Colonial Secretary. When our vessel dropped anchor in the harbour of Victoria, the estimation in which this gentleman was held by the Chinese was exhibited. We inquired of some natives, who came on board the ship to traffic, "Who is the great man here ?" Major Caine." "Who is the Goveruor?" "Don't know he; but Major Caine No. 1 Mandarin, very great big man he." They knew nothing of Sir Henry Pottinger of Sir John Davis, then Mr. Davis; and on many subsequent occasions when resident in the colony, we have questioned the Chinese about the Governor as No. 1 Mandarin, and the Major- General as No. 2 Mandarin; they knew nothing of either, whilst the name of Major Caine was universally known and respected; the Chinese thus virtually demonstrating the estimation in which they held an able, firm, efficient officer of the public service.”
EXTRACT from The United Service Journal, 1847, Part I, page 191, referring to Hong Kong and crime there. "Through the indefatigable exertions of that highly esteemed old officer, Major Caine, on whom devolved, as Chief Police Magistrate, the arduous duty of correcting such propensities, a wonderful reform has taken place in the habits of these people; though very stringent measures are still requisite to preserve the colony from being inundated by lawless bands from the adjacent islands."
EXTRACT of Despatch No. 35, of 3rd March, 1856, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to Sir John Bowring.
The
"5. With regard to your application for the payment to yourself of a salary of one thousand pounds, I feel that it is impossible for Her Majesty's Government to accede to it, regard being bad, to the circumstances of the case. Duke of Newcastle wished, as it appears, to disconnect the office of Governor of Hong Kong from that of Superintendent of Trade, and was only prevented from doing so by the existence of certain statutable provisions requiring their
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