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nessed it, was called in only to hear Dr. Bridges declare that the retainer was not to bind him to act as counsel against the Government, so long as he was a member of it.
But on rejoining his surety (Mr. Hoey, a publican), Chun-tai Kwong informed him, that he had given the Acting Colonial Secretary only a portion of what he intended—a mere "cumshaw" (gift)—and that the retainer would be a thousand dollars;—giving, as his reason for this intended profusion, the statement elsewhere quoted, from the pages of the subsequent Report on the case, to the effect, that the imposing position of the man, considered as a member of the Government and Legislature of Hong Kong, made such profusion necessary.
Mr. Hoey, having reported these words to me a few days afterwards, I thought it my duty to refuse to be a depository of so scandalous an accusation, and, in my turn, reported it officially to Dr. Bridges himself; recommending him, at the same time, to summon Chun Tai Kwong before the proper tribunal, that of the magistracy, in order to his commitment for trial, as a public defamer of the Government.
Instead of so doing, Dr. Bridges invited first Mr. Caldwell, to examine Chun Tai Kwong, and then, one by one, two other Government officers, to join them in a private and unsworn examination of Mr. Hoey at the Secretariat.
No material discrepancy in their statements was clicited; and Dr. Bridges was forced to content himself with the declaration of Chun Tai Kwong, that he never meant to say that he (Dr. Bridges), expected more than the four hundred dollars; and the joint declaration of Chun Tai Kwong, and Mr.
