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are chiefly Chinamen, and who had been raised by Sir John Bowring, LL.D., to that post; with liberty to carry on his professional business, pari passu, with that of Acting Colonial Secretary.
By his advice, as he swore at the trial, hereafter noticed, a "Circular defining the functions of the Colonial Secretary," was adopted by the Governor on the 20th January, 1858, and "circulated for the information and guidance of all officers of the Colonial Government."
It appeared, however, from the same sworn evidence of that functionary, that it was never sent home to the Secretary of State.
I, therefore, reprint it in extenso;—for it is a very extensive delegation of authority, by Sir John Bowring to his Acting Secretary, and a very illegal one, and one under which gross frauds have been committed on the administration of justice, for the protection of malversation and crime.
His Excellency the Governor is pleased to direct that the following rules, defining the functions of the Colonial Secretary, be circulated for the information and guidance of all officers of the Colonial Government.
1. That no official communication of any description whatsoever is to be addressed by any member of the Government to His Excellency the Governor, except through the Colonial Secretary.
2. That the Colonial Secretary is the organ through whom the official instructions of the Government are to be communicated, and that, except on matters of daily routine, the various departments are subject to his authority as the organ of the Government.
3. That before submitting any official document to His Excellency the Governor, it is the duty of the Colonial Secretary to satisfy himself that the document in question is of a proper nature for the notice of the Supreme power: and should he entertain any doubts on this score, the Secretary is authorised to remit the