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30 The Fraser River Mines.

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Resolved, That the conduct of Richard Hicks, the present Crown
Commissioner, has always been fair and honourable, and satisfactory
to the citizens of this community, and the fact of his good name being
traduced by an insignificant number of suspicious persons (only two in
number) proves that designing and bad motives actuated the leaders in
this vile attempt at slander.2®

Resolved, That the tyrannous conduct of P. B. Whannell, a Magis-
trate in Her Majesty’s service, in arresting persons without cause, with-
out issuing warrants, and for imprisoning persons merely to gratify his
own caprice, and in refusing said persons an examination, as the law
directs, and also for levying fines in violation of the Statutes, deserves
the severest censure, and we earnestly pray that His Excellency
Governor Douglas will remove said Whannell from his present position,
and appoint a gentleman possessing sufficient knowledge of the duties
of his office as will meet the confidence of this community.*°

Resolved, That the conduct of P. B. Whannell, in endeavouring to
excite this community to acts of violence, by giving expression at a
public meeting held in this town to sentiments at variance with the
recognized principles of law and justice, deserves the severest condem-
nation, and at the same time proves his total incapacity to comprehend
the dignity of the position he now, so unfortunately for this community,
occupies.

Resolved, That the action of said Whannell, in arresting and cast-
ing into prison Officer Hickson, while in the performance of his duty,
was endeavouring to bring witnesses before the Court of His Honour
Judge Perrier, deserved the punishment so justly meted out to him
(Whannell) for his gross contempt of Court.*4

Resolved, That the thanks of this community and of the adjacent
townships be and is hereby tendered to His Honour Judge Perrier and
Officer Hickson for the honourable and highly satisfactory manner in
which they have discharged the duties of their office, and we trust that
his zeal and fidelity to the interests of his Government will be amply
rewarded by His Excellency Governor Douglas.

Resolved, That we have every confidence in the wise and patriotic
administration of His Excellency Governor Douglas, and his humane
policy of advancing the interests of miners and other emigrants by lay-

(29) Hicks was, as appears from both Judge Begbie’s and Mr. Brew’s investigations, of the
very opposite character. See the introduction hereto and the notes appended to his correspondence.

(80) There is a certain amount of truth in the allegations in this resolution, as is shown
by Judge Begbie’s letters of January 14 and February 8, 1859. See pp. 27, 34, and 35.

(31) This alludes to the origin of the trouble. Hickson was the police officer at Hill's Bar.
When he arrived at Yale to obtain, under Magistrate Perrier’s warrant, the witness Dickson,
whom ceutain vupeouell had in custody, he was himself arrested and thrown into gaol. See the
ull particulars in Judge Begbie’s letter of February 3, 1859, post, pp. 35 ( i
affidavit of Thomas Piesley, post, p. 54. eect iis sata parece mele