38
ritable to us, who were so useful in time of war; we are still British subjects, we depend upon nobody but Britons.
We, kneeling, beseech your Honour to do the best for us. We only beg not to leave us astray in time of danger, let not our enemies prevail over us, and allow us our privilege, as enjoyed before, and which we are enjoying now. We, the old subjects that are remaining do sign our names, and the number of years we are here. We beg to be for ever your Honour's, and all our Superiors, most humble, faithful, "obedient servants."
Sir,
(Signed)
Shaik Moosdeen Ghat, Serang, 19 years. Mahamoneed Arab, ditto, 18 years. Illaiherbum Buk, Havildar, 18 years.
Kurrun, ditto, 16 years.
Muda, Shopman, 14 years.
Abdool Canden, ditto, 12 years.
Fuckurah, ditto, 10 years.
Janu, ditto, 10 years.
Mabumud, Confectioner, 12 years. Lumbah Ghat, Serang, 10 years.
Jacob, Shopman, 6 years.
Koomar Ullee Ghat, Serang, 3 years;
and the rest after. 307 in all.
19th July, 1860.
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 13th inst., and to state for the future information of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle that my letter of 9th June last has been misunderstood. I did not intend to solicit his Grace's good offices for the honour of being nominated a Companion of the Bath; but quoted the "Gazette" where several colonial civil servants were merely knighted. That Gazette commenced with Mr. Martin, late Chief Justice of New Zealand, ending with Mr. Currie, Commandant of Police Cape of Good Hope. My reason for so doing has arisen from the supercession inflicted upon me by the late Secretary of State for the Colonies, being considered by myself and my friends tantamount to a general disapproval of my civil career, and this too, in the face of complimentary letters from the Colonial Office, thanking me on the part of Her Majesty's Government for my past civil services. I felt and still keenly feel this disgrace, and it has pressed so heavily upon me, that I have not yet had the courage to pay my duty to our Gracious Sovereign. I would here beg to add, that in all the important matters connected with Hong Kong, I was not implicated, saving by the malicious inferences drawn by
39
Mr. Anstey, whose quarrels were with Sir John Bowring and Dr. Bridges, and not with me, until the approach of his suspension from office, this is fully established by Mr. Anstey's private letters to me of 3rd August, 1858, now in my possession; and my replies thereto equally private, in your office.
Neither verbally or by letter have I had any difference with Mr. Anstey, until his general attack upon my character, no doubt partly arising from the influence of Mr. Tarrant, the Editor of the Friend of China newspaper. My complaint to the Secretary of State for the Colonies against these falsehoods (12th August, 1858,) is also in the Colonial Office.
When Mr. Tarrant's assertions were first reported to me, in July, 1847, it is upon record that I called for a strict investigation into the same through Sir John Davis, the then Governor. The decision was "that they were groundless and without foundation."
For some years this case went backwards and forwards to the Colonial Office, when, of course, I had no power to act, and after that period all my friends and well-wishers being adverse to my prosecuting this Editor, I continued to endure a positive persecution for a term embracing twelve long years.
Mr. Tarrant reiterated his attack upon me to Sir George Bonham on his taking charge of the Government, as well as to his successor, Sir John Bowring. To these high functionaries on each occasion I expressed my desire for a trial, as is recorded in the Colonial Office; and finally, when goaded in August last year by the vile and cowardly attack of this calumniator, I instituted a prosecution against him upon my own account in the Supreme Court of Hong Kong. What was the result? Mr. Tarrant's guilt was clearly established, and my conduct completely exonerated by the latter part of the verdict: "We also find that he has totally failed to connect Lieutenant-Colonel Caine, in even the remotest degree, with the various corrupt practices falsely alleged against him therein."
I have entered into the foregoing lengthened statement, firmly believing that the disgrace under which I am suffering has emanated from a supposition on the part of the Colonial Office of unfitness on my part for the duties of Governor, coupled with the unfortunate state of the colony; and I take this opportunity of emphatically denying that I, by any act of maladministration on my part, aided in, or conduced to the melancholy position of affairs lately existing at Hong Kong. On the contrary, my career has been one of continued usefulness to that colony, and of unwearied zeal in the service...
59
7
38
ritable to us, who were so useful in time of war; we are still British subjects, we depend upon nobody but Britons.
We, kneeling, beseech your Honour to do the best for us. We only beg not to leave us astray in time of danger, let not, our enemies prevail over us, and allow us our privilege, as enjoyed before, and which we are enjoying now. We, the old subjects that are remaining do sign our names, and the number of years we are here. We beg to be for ever your Honour's, and all our Superiors, most humble, faithful, "obe- dient servants."
Sir,
(Signed)
Shaik Moosdeen Ghat, Serang, 19 years. Mahamoneed Arab, ditto, 18 years. Illaiherbum Buk, Havildar, 18
years.
Kurrun, ditto, 16 years.
Muda, Shopman, 14 years.
Abdool Canden, ditto, 12 years.
Fuckurah, ditto, 10 years.
Janu, ditto, 10 years.
Mabumud, Confectioner, 12 years. Lumbah Ghat, Serang, 10 years.
Jacob, Shopman, 6 years.
Koomar Ullee Ghat, Serang, 3 years;
und the rest after. 307 in all.
19th July, 1860.
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 13th inst., and to state for the future information of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle that my letter of 9th June last has been misunderstood. I did not intend to solicit his Grace's good offices for the honour of being nominated a Companion of the Bath; but quoted the "Gazette where several colonial civil servants were merely knighted. That Gazette commenced with Mr. Martin, late Chief Justice of New Zealand, ending with Mr. Currie, Commandant of Police Cape of Good Hope. My reason for so doing has arisen from the supercession inflicted upon me by the late Secretary of State for the Colonies, being considered by myself and my friends tantamount to a general disapproval of my civil career, and this too, in the face of complimentary letters from the Colonial Office, thanking me on the part of Her Majesty's Government for my past civil services. I felt and still keenly feel this disgrace, and it has pressed so heavily upon me, that I have not yet had the courage to pay muy duty to our Gra- cious Sovereign. I would here beg to add, that in all the important matters connected with Hong Kong, I was not implicated, saving by the malicious inferences drawn by
39
Mr. Anstey, whose quarrels were with Sir John Bowring and Dr. Bridges, and not with me, until the approach of his suspen- sion from office, this is fully established by Mr. Anstey's private letters to me of 3rd August, 1858, now in my possession; and my replies thereto equally private, in your office.
Neither verbally or by letter have I had any difference with Mr. Anstey, until his general attack upon my character, no doubt partly arising from the influence of Mr. Tarrant, the Editor of the Friend of China newspaper. My com- plaint to the Secretary of State for the Colonies against these falsehoods (12th August, 1858,) is also in the Colonial Office.
When Mr. Tarrant's assertions were first reported to me, in July, 1847, it is upon record that I called for a strict inves- tigation into the same through Sir John Davis, the then Governor. The decision was "that they were groundless and without foundation."
For some years this case went backwards and forwards to the Colonial Office, when, of course, I had no power to act, and after that period all my friends and well-wishers being adverse to my prosecuting this Editor, I continued to endure a positive persecution for a term embracing twelve long years.
Mr. Tarrant reiterated his attack upon me to Sir George Bonham on his taking charge of the Government, as well as to his successor, Sir John Bowring. To these high fine- tionaries on each occasion I expressed my desire for a trial, as is recorded in the Colonial Office; and finally, when goaded in August last year by the vile and cowardly attack of this calumniator, I instituted a prosecution against him upon my own account in the Supreme Court of Hong Kong. What was the result? Mr. Tarrant's guilt was clearly established, and my conduct completely exonerated by the latter part of the verdict:"We also find that he has totally failed to connect Lieutenant-Colonel Caine, in even the reinotest degree, with the various corrupt practices falsely alleged against him therein."
I have entered into the foregoing lengthened statement, firmly believing that the disgrace under which I am suffering bas einanated from a supposition on the part of the Colonial Office of unfitness on my part for the duties of Governor, coupled with the unfortunate state of the colony; and I take this opportunity of emhpatically denying that I, by any act of maladministration on my part, aided in, or conduced to the melancholy position of affairs lately existing at Hong Kong. On the contrary, my career has been one of continued usefulness to that colony, and of unwcaried zeal in the ser-
59
7
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.