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posterior by many months to the conviction of Mah Chow Wong, to the discovery of the entries in his trade books and private papers, so seriously inculpating Mr. Caldwell, and compromising his official accomplices, and to the terrible warning, which those parties received, in the production—before the several public departments, the Executive Council, and even the community at large (for the Government organ, the China Mail newspaper, had published them as widely as its own circulation extended),—of the proofs and evidences of their guilty connivances and procurements on the behalf of, at least, that one convicted criminal,—of, at least, that one member of the great Chinese gang.
I say, that it adds to the gravity of the case. For it shows the sense they still entertained of their personal security, strength, and pre-eminence, even on the very eve of the mock enquiry, into what is called the Caldwell Case.
In that point of view, I think it a more instructive example, than many instances of older date, which the witnesses against that man adduced, to justify their opinion of his character; but all of which the Commissioners have silently—
"Doff'd aside,
And bid them pass,"—
without "finding" or notice!
I here allude to the atrocious part which Mah Chow Wong himself and his other confederates had, in the capture, in 1857,-under the false imputation of being pirates, of upwards of seventy "longhaired" Chinese rebels, some on the high seas, others relying peaceably on British protection,—and in their surrender, without a
