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Mr. Caldwell, alias Sam Kwei, but which, as will be also seen, was, in Mr. Caldwell's judgment, powerless to obstruct his own preferment, since the reputation of the former was at his mercy.
Added to the above facts, was the startling one, that, in every attempt made to bring to justice the malpractices of the same Mr. Caldwell or Sam Kwei, hereafter to be noticed, in connection with his notorious piratical associates, the "Jonathan Wild" of Hong Kong and the China Seas, the convict Mah Chow Wong, Dr. Bridges had been always active and successful on the side of the accused.
All things considered, therefore, it was not surprising, that so much opposition was manifested, on the part of honest servants of the Crown, even at the risk of loss of office in Hong Kong and permanent disfavour at home, to an encroachment, already objectionable enough because of its intrinsic illegality.
Their opposition was fruitless. The "accroached" and illegal power was unscrupulously brought into play, and became the first step to further usurpation.
Sam Kwei (Mr. Caldwell), now more than ever the right hand of administration, was encouraged, in his turn, to invade the important department—hitherto, by the wise jealousy of the Colonial Legislature, shielded from all foreign interference—of Superintendent of Police.
The remonstrances of the conscientious and zealous officer, Mr. May, at the head of that department, were met with insults, or else threats of suspension.
Nearly the same treatment was experienced by every other independent department.
The doctrine of the corrupt reign of Charles the
