encouragements of immorality. But it must then also be granted, from the same Christian point of view, that the practice of taking young men away from those moral and religious influences of their rural homes and transplanting them, in the interest of the nation, in an enervating climate, in the midst of all the demoralising surroundings of sensuous native communities, is a proceeding equally to be condemned on the score of both morality and religion. The correct thing would therefore be, to abolish our army, our navy, and our Colonial commerce. This application of the Christian ideal is practically impossible. If, then, we cannot nationally realise the higher ideal of the Christian life and must perforce provide for war and commerce abroad, it is neither a consistent nor a moral or charitable proceeding to apply that impracticable ideal by withdrawing from the men thus placed, in the interest of the nation, in unnatural positions, the small measure of medical safeguards which C. D. Ordinances provide.
The legislative work of Sir J. Bowring's administration is further distinguished by the great attention paid to the interests of the Chinese residents. In March, 1855, Sir John ordered an investigation to be instituted concerning the extensive gambling system which had been in vogue among the Chinese employees of the Government. Strict regulations were made to prevent a recurrence of the evil. The right which Sir J. Bowring gave to Chinese lessees of Crown-lands, to become owners of British ships and to use the British flag in Colonially registered vessels (Ordinances 4 of 1855 and of 1856), has already been mentioned in connection with the Arrow War. As the laws in force in the Colony appeared to tend to the avoidance of all wills made in the Chinese manner. Sir John authorized (Ordinance 4 of 1856) the recognition in local Courts of Chinese wills when made according to Chinese laws and usages. Chinese burials which hitherto studded the hill sides in all sorts of places with graves, were regulated by the establishment of special Chinese cemeteries (Ordinance 12 of 1856). Chinese domiciled in the Colony (and other alien residents) were granted (by
