Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 67

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Letter from B. J. Bettelheim,

JAN.

'The theft was found out, and I was better satisfied that the discovery had been made by them than by us; for I now thought it possible that the change in their conduct might have been grounded partly on my complaint in relation to it, which they may have perhaps considered as a wanton vexation, but which they now must of course acknowledge was based on truth, to be met, if they did what was just, by the restora- tion of our own. In connection with this event, several circumstances occurred, which it is not necessary here to detail, but in which I am persuaded we left the impression of our open and benevolent inten- tions, both upon the government and the nation, made me hope some change would ensue for the better. All the dispatches we received were tinctured with goodwill. The governor of Napa on that occa- sion came repeatedly to our house, and crowds of followers with him, all expressing sympathy for the past, and confidence for the future. The strong steps I took in behalf of the culprits and their families, and the unremitted pains taken till I obtained a written promise under the great seal of the state, that their lives would not be forfeited, must have had some weight with men who have no regard for the poor, who use power without moderation, and who may have thought us like themselves bent on vengeance and oppression. The following dis- patch, in which a couplet on the foreigner's "pearl-body" occurs, will suffice to show that my rising hopes had a pretty good foundation.

Dispatch relating to the punishment of the thieves.

"The balmy zephyrs, soft and rustling, Proclaim the coming of the spring:

So may your good self be brisk and happy, Fearing no limits to your felicity.

"A carefully prepared communication, relating to the degree of punishment of the criminals convicted of stealing the foreign money belonging to you, Sir. I respectfully received the other day your letter, in which you say, 'It is needless to examine these two pri- soners very strictly, and I humbly beg to inquire what punishment the government intends to inflict on them, and to ask that I may be informed,' &c. According to the statutes of this country, all pri- soners are taken cognizance of by the criminal judge (yuh kwan

the jailer) alone, who meets out [their punishment] according to law, and no stranger can know previously what it will be; more- over, the laws of rewards and punishments form the highest prerogative of the sovereign, and consequently can be no otherwise than justly ordered. For many ages, we, in this country, have ruled according to the Chinese code; and in the present case, it certainly can not be