22
union for some purposes. But he proposed that the same objects should be obtained, as far as might be, by leaving to yourself as Governor only the direction of matters connected with the China trade, and placing the internal affairs of the Island under a Lieutenant-Governor, to which office Colonel Caine was raised. You were therefore to have no other salary than that paid you by the Foreign Office (which was raised at the same time from three thousand pounds to four thousand pounds). This announcement was communicated to you by the Duke of Newcastle, and on these conditions you accepted the office. Nevertheless, as soon as you arrived in the Island you superseded the arrangement, took the affairs of local Government out of the hands of Colonel Caine, and assumed their direction in person. This proceeding you reported to this Department without making any demand for salary. It was sanctioned without any reference to salary.
"6. The result of the change is that Colonel Caine is left with a salary of two thousand pounds, besides allowances, as Lieutenant-Governor, and without any material duties to perform, except during your absence: as, however, this is in no degree attributable to Colonel Caine himself, who was transferred to the Lieutenant-Governorship from his own office of Secretary without even consulting him, and entirely for the furtherance of the scheme projected by the Duke of Newcastle, it cannot be avoided.”
I here append an extract from the instructions given by Chum kwang tuk, Agitator-in-chief of the "Sunon" district, under the orders of the Imperial Commissioner "Yeh;" the translation is by T. F. Wade, Esq., then Chinese Secretary to the Superintendency.
"If you really have the power, if you could perform the service of taking the heads of 'Samkwie' (Mr. Caldwell) and Kama Ken' (Colonel Caine) you shall be recompensed with 50,000 dollars, a button of the 6th grade, and a dark feather. (Note by Mr. Wade explains, these words are marked in the original by circles, which correspond to our underlinings.) The Emperor's edict says Exterminate all the barbarians of Hong Kong. Samkwie and Akin are the only two in Hong Kong who know all about the Chinese, &c."
(Signed) THOMAS F. WADE.
Chinese Secretary.
Hong Kong, April 19, 1857.
23
51
Of the émeute at Hong Kong in November, 1856, the Memorial to the Colonial Office, attached, contains the details as exhibited in my despatch to the Colonial Office, and to which a simple acknowledgement of its receipt was all I received from the Colonial Office, without a single comment or approval.
Learning in 1861 that Colonel Dunlop, Royal Artillery, was in England, I addressed him a note, asking his opinion with regard to the said émeute, that officer having been in command of the garrison at the time; his reply, in original, I forwarded to the Colonial Office on 4th January, 1861, and a copy of the same I now quote:
(Extract.)
"My dear Caine,
Portsmouth, January 2nd, 1860.
Having received a requisition from you for a military force on account of a large and threatening assemblage of Chinese in the city of Victoria, I immediately ordered the 59th Regiment under arms, and took about 100 men to the scene of disturbance. There I found a very large mob of all the lower orders of Chinese in the town had assembled to the extent, I should say, of from 10,000 to 15,000 men; they were using violent language and gestures, to the general alarm of all the respectable inhabitants, as well Europeans as Chinese; every shop and house was closed. You, after some time obtained a hearing, and your firm, decided, yet temperate language and bearing, the knowledge the Chinese had that you were not to be trifled with, and seeing you backed by a strong military force, were the reasons, in my opinion, of the mob gradually dispersing, without any act of violence. In conjunction with you, I took measures for the protection of property, and, after some days, affairs settled down quietly. On the return of his Excellency the Governor, I received his thanks for the services of the military, with a notification that, to show his approval, he wished me to be a Member of the Executive Council.
The whole of the civilians of the colony were for some time in much alarm, which was shared in by his Excellency. But it afterwards appeared, that the ill-affected Chinese saw that, from the prepared state we were in, it was useless to attempt anything against life or property.
In conclusion, I must say, in my opinion, we had to thank you that the mob dispersed without the active inter-
22
union for some purposes. But he proposed that the same objects should be obtained, as far as night be, by leaving to yourself as Governor only the direction of matters connected with the China trade, and placing the internal affairs of the Island under a Lieutenant-Governor, to which office Colonel Caine was raised. You were therefore to have no other salary than that paid you by the Foreign Office (which was raised at the same time from three thonsand pounds to four thousand pounds). This announcement was communi- cated to you by the Duke of Newcastle, and on these cou- ditions you accepted the office. Nevertheless, as soon as you arrived in the Island you superseded the arrangement, took the affairs of local Government out of the hands of Colonel Caine, and assumed their direction in person. This proceed- ing you reported to this Department without making any demand for salary. It was sanctioned without
any reference to salary.
"6. The result of the change is that Colonel Caine is left with a salary of two thousand pounds, besides allowances, as Lieutenant-Governor, and without any material duties to perform, except during your absence: as, however, this is in no degree attributable to Colonel Caine himself, who was transferred to the Lieutenant-Governorship from his own office of Secretary without even consulting him, and entirely for the furtherance of the scheme projected by the Duke of Newcastle, it cannot be avoided.”
I here append an extract from the instructions given by Chum kwang tuk, Agitator-in-chief of the "Sunon" district, under the orders of the Imperial Commissioner "Yeh;" the translation is by T. F. Wade, Esq., then Chinese Secretary to the Superintendency.
"If you really have the power, if you could perform the service of taking the heads of 'Samkwie' (Mr. Caldwell) and Kama Ken' (Colonel Caine) you shall be recompensed with 50,000 dollars, a button of the 6th grade, and a dark feather. (Note by Mr. Wade explains, these words are marked in the original by circles, which correspond to our underlinings.) The Emperor's edict says Exterminate all the barbarians of Hong Kong. Samkwie and Akin are the only two in Hong Kong who know all about the Chinese, &c."
(Signed) THOMAS F. WADE.
Chinese Secretary.
Hong Kong, April 19, 1857.
23
51
Of the émeute at Hong Kong in November, 1856, the Memorial to the Colonial Office, attached, contains the details as exhibited in my despatch to the Colonial Office, and to which a simple acknowledgement of its receipt was all I received from the Colonial Office, without a single comment or approval.
Learning in 1861 that Colonel Dunlop, Royal Artillery, was in England, I addressed him a note, asking his opinion with regard to the said émeute, that officer having been in command of the garrison at the time; his reply, in original, J forwarded to the Colonial Office on 4th January, 1861, and a copy of the same I now quote:
(Extract.)
"My dear Caine,
Portsmouth, January 2ud, 1860.
Having received a requisition from you for a military force on acemunt of a large and threatening assemblage of Chinese in the city of Victoria, I immediately ordered the 59th Regiment under arms, and took about 100 men to the scene of disturbance. There I found a very large mob of all the lower orders of Chinese in the town had assembled to the extent, I should say, of from 10,000 to 15,000 men; they were using violent language and gestures, to the general alarm of all the respectable inhabitants, as well Europeans as Chinese; every shop and house was closed. You, after some time obtained a hearing, and your firm, decided, yet temperate language and bearing, the knowledge the Chinese had that you were not to be trifled with, and seeing you backed by a strong military force, were the reasons, in my opinion, of the mob gradually dispersing, without any act of violence. In conjunction with you, I took measures for the protection of property, and, after some days, affairs settled down quietly. On the return of his Excellency the Governor, I received his thanks for the services of the military, with a notification that, to show his approval, he wished nie to be a Member of the Executive Council.
The whole of the civilians of the colony were for some time in much alarm, which was shared in by his Excellency. But it afterwards appeared, that the ill-affected Chinese saw that, from the prepared state we were in, it was useless to attempt anything against life or property.
In conclusion, I must say, in my opinion, we had to thank
you that the mob dispersed without the active inter-
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