CO129-109 - Public Offices - 1865 — Page 78

S2 4975/7676

Copy of Despatch from Earl Russell to Mr. Wade.*

Sir,

Foreign Office, May 16, 1865.

I TRANSMIT to you herewith a copy of an Order of Her Majesty in Council dated the 9th of March, 1865, for the establishment of a Supreme Court for China and Japan, to hold its ordinary sittings at Shanghae, but with authority to proceed and hold sittings at any other port in China and Japan.

Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint Sir Edmund Hornby to be Judge, Mr. Charles Goodwin to be Assistant Judge, and Mr. John Fraser to be Law Secretary and Registrar of the Supreme Court,

The immediate effect of this Order, as regards Her Majesty's Legation at Peking will be to relieve it from all judicial and magisterial duties, appellate or otherwise, which have hitherto devolved upon it.

Its effect upon Her Majesty's Consulates in China and in Japan is shortly explained in the circular instructions to Her Majesty's Consuls, of which I inclose a copy,

I also inclose a copy of the general instructions which I have addressed to Sir Edmund Hornby.

You will see that, among other things, Sir E. Hornby is instructed to advise you on questions of law on which you may desire to consult him.

Her Majesty's Legation, however, will still have very important functions to perform under this Order.

With the Minister, under section 69, will rest the decision of carrying into effect capital sen-

* A similar despatch to Sir H. Parkes.

[211]