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before the Evidence, which would be delayed till a subsequent mail, could arrive. And, when it did arrive, Sir E. B. Lytton, they thought, would be enjoying his parliamentary recess in the country; nor was it likely that the decision, once made, would ever be reconsidered.
The result, I regret to say, so far answered their expectations, that the retirement of Dr. Bridges from office, which these proceedings necessitated, but which was delayed until the 30th August (nearly two months), was stated, so recently as the 20th January last, by Sir John Bowring himself, at a meeting of the Legislative Council,[1] to have been acknowledged by a despatch "thanking him for his valuable services," but "containing no opinion favourable or unfavourable to the finding of the Committee upon Dr. Bridges' conduct in relation to the Opium Farm." But all further explanation was peremptorily refused.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Davies (from whose uncontradicted speeches on that and a former occasion I gather the most important of the above facts), having read his Minute of Protest against these suspicious proceedings, the same was entered upon the Minutes; and it is now, I presume, in the hands of the Secretary of State.
It is as follows:—[2]
At a Council held on the 4th Inst., I submitted the following motion for debate.
"That his Excellency the Governor be requested to lay before the Council, all correspondence between the local Government and the Secretary of State for the Colonies with respect to the proceed ings of this Council on this subject of the Opium farm privilege,