Shanghai, 10th March, 1875.
I have had the honour to receive your dispatch of February 19th, 1875, addressed, &e.
I have no hesitation in saying that the powers of the Magistrate are inadequate.
The Magistrate is now a Wel Yuen or deputy, and as such is disinclined to deal with the graver criminal cases, which come before the Court, and prefers to refer them to the District Magistrate. Thisis unsatisfactory because there is no provision for the presence of assessors in the Court of the latter, or for the appearance "of foreign prosecutors, Offenders who have been sent to him for trial and punishment, and against whom the evidence has seemed clear, have often been seen in the street after two or three days.
"Again, the Mixed Court Magistrate appears to be unable, or to fear, to bring to bear in im it civil cases any means be aaoeee his Yow of conapositione between the parties, and judgments, excepting persuasion, the promo-the imprisonment of the judgment debtor. Such athing as the seizure and sale of debtor's property is almost unknown in his Court.
In my opinion the Mixed Court should be made a Foo Ming Tong Chi Yamen, with jurisdiction over the three settlements. The fall title would then be Vig Hil SEG TAR ER Ded Jo fg PA "French cases could be tried at the present office, or the Magistrate could sit periodically at a place provided in the French Settlement, These changes would give the Mixed Court Magistrate the judicial authority of a District Magistrate, for the district comprised within the settlements, and as a consequence do away with many of the vexatious difficulties which are now met, system of punishment is essentially Chinese. I do not see how it can readily be changed, and I am not sure that any change Which could be proposed would be beneficial, Bardened offenders would not care for the chain gang, or for solitary imprisonment 0 much as for the bamboo. For those not hardened the cangue and bamboo answer very wel think that appeals from the Mixed Court should go to the Taotai and Consuls, as at present.
'Mr. Haas' Rerorr.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.