and of a majority of the members of the Executive Council, far from adapted.'
But now a more potent element of discord appeared on the scene in the person of a testy Attorney General who for some reason or other had been sent out, fresh from the House of Commons where he had represented the electors of Youghal (1847 to 1850). While considering it his mission in life to set things right in Hongkong, he seemed to combine, with thorough uprightness of character, a lamentable want of selfrestraint. He was hardly a month in the Colony before he quarrelled with both Magistrates, and scenes of mutual recrimination were enacted in the Supreme Court (June, 1850). This was followed, two months later, by an action for defamation brought by the junior Magistrate against the Attorney General. With the exception of an allegation of defalcations in the Colonial Treasury, which had been placed (in 1854) in charge of its chief clerk (R. Rienacker) and necessitated the appointment (June 13, 1851) of a Commission of Inquiry, there was a brief lull in this internal turmoil, while the public mind was occupied with, and wrought up to great nervous tension by, the Arrow War and its local consequences. In spring 1858, however, the shattered nerves of the community were thrilled anew with a series of Civil Service disputes. The editor of the Daily Press, having gone so far as to accuse the Governor of corruptly favouring the firm of Jardine, Matheson & Co. in the matter of public contracts, was promptly brought to book and sent to gaol for six months (April 19, 1858). About the same time the Acting Colonial Secretary who, being a barrister, had taken over the office on condition of his being allowed private practice, was charged by the Attorney General with collusion with the new opium farmer (an ex-teacher of St. Paul's College) from whom he had accepted a retainer. A Commission (H. T. Davies and J. Dent) inquired into the charge (April, 1858) but, though some slight blame was laid on the Acting Colonial Secretary, his honesty and honour were held unimpeached. Next the Attorney General resigned the Commission of the Peace unless
