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SUPPLEMENT.
your communications would not be treated confi- dentially.Yours very sincerely.
I have throughout the whole of this odious affair abstained as much as possible from recri- mination in speaking of the conversation at Mr Franklyn's, knowing that without witnesses to prove what was said, there would be no end of assertions and denials; but while it is true that neither upon this, occasion, nor at any other time, have I made any assertion" that I would not have uttered in Major Caine's ownE presence," everyone knows that words caught up. by the ear of malevolence, and repeated by the lips of sycophancy, may be made to convey au impression as erroneous as the greatest falsity that ever was hatched. At the same time, with out pretending to such a faculty in mnemonics as to be able to condescend on the words of a conversation which took place a month ago, I cannot easily forget the impression made upon my mind by Mr Franklyn's declamations against Major Caine,-setting out with a long tirade upon the list of market prices which Major Caine certifies, and I publish in the CHINA MAIL, afterwards diverging to the women in Tai-ping-shan, in which I was charged with keeping back the facts in order to protect the government, and concluding with the gratuit- ous information regarding the Opium Farm, which I abstain from saying more about, under- standing that it will shortly form the subject of a judicial investigation.
The great length to which this refutation has extended precludes farther remark; but I cannot conclude without assuring you and the public, that the aspersions to which I have been Bubjected do not affect me so much as the feeling of degradation lest it should be sup posed I could have any except business inter- course with such persons. A calumny may be refuted, or a man's character may be proof against it, but when Noscitur ex sociis can be said of any one, there is nothing for it but to submit. Few things in life have I deplored so much as having my name dragged before the public as holding confidential communíngs with the originators of the slanders I have here hastily, but I trust effectually, refuted.
Believe me, my dear sir, yours very sincerely,
AND. SHORTREDE.
P. S.-At Mr Fearon's request I print the following Correspondence between him and my- self regarding the documents obtained from him. As I do not see that it bears directly upon the subject in hand, it may very properly appear as an Appendix. The note which Mr Franklyn appended yesterday during the time one of the documents was in his hands must speak for itself: it would only spoil its effect to make a single comment upon it.
Mail Office, May 24th, 1845. My dear Sir-At this moment I am not inclined to take any notice of what appears in to-day's Friend of China, but I shall in this be greatly guided of the opinions of my friends, none of whom I have Should an answer be thought necessary, yet seen.
I trust in fairness you will furnish me with a copy of Holgate's letter, and of the notes of evidence you took down from Franklyn. If I must merely refet to, the documents as in your hands, it will lead to interminable altercation, and give much more con- sequence to the gentlemen-informers and their vo- luntary oaths, than they deserve.— Yours truly.
AND. SHORTREDE.
S. Fearon, Esq.
My dear Sir,
Saturday, 24th May,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of a note from. you this morning.
I do not see how I can furnish you with a copy of Dr Holgate's letter to Major Caine, without the writer's permission. Should he be inclined to meet your request, I shall be quite ready to return the letter to him.
So far as my own notes are concerned, I cannot conceive how they may affect the present issue be tween yourself, and Mesars Franklyn and O'Sullivan. I wrote them for my own particular use and gui- dance in carrying forward, as Major Caine's friend, certain accusations against yourself to a legal inves- tigation. Upon your unqualified denial of the charges against you, sod your repudiation of the sentimets which you were alleged to have uttered, Major Caine, to spare you the expensive defence of a prosecution, was satisfied with the publication in your paper of Thursday last-Yours truly,
S. FEARON.
A. Suontrede, Esq.
Mail Office, May 24th, 1845. My dear Sir- inclose Dr Holgate's permission to furnish me with a copy of his letter to Major Caine, which I presume will obviate all objection on your part, so far as that document is concerned. As to the other, I trust upon reconsideration you will see the justice of allowing me to have access to it. I shall otherwise be compelled to speak of the contents from memory, and explain why I am compelled to do so. The refusal appeara to me to be not the least remarkable feature in this odious business.
I presume there is some process by which I can force production of a docuraent containing libellous. matter against me, which I can prove you hava shown to others besides myself, thereby publishing it. Yours truly,
AND. SHORTREDE. S. Fearon, Esq.
25th May.
My dear Sir, In reply to your note of yesterday, inclosing Dr Holgate's permission to furnish you with a copy of bis letter to Major Caine, I beg to inform you that I this morning returned that document to him.
Having obtained Mr Franklyn's permission to give you my notes of a conversation with him, I can no longer object to let you have them. I en close them with a note appeaded by Mr Franklyn, which it is his wish should be published with the Jonament. Requesting that yod will do so. —I am, yours truly,
SÅ FEARON.
Note by Mr Franklyn The above contains the substance of what I told Mr Fearon. I would, however, remark, with refe rence to the words, bagged by Major Caine or bis officials, that I did not state them to be Mr Shortrade's own words, bat as conveying the same meaning. I may add, that the impression produced on my mind by Mr Shortrede's whole conversation, fully war- rants the use of the words in question. Laufboriss Mr Fearen to make what use he pleases of this paper.
V. H. FRANKLYN,
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