Thomas Jackson SCALES [c.1814-1844]

I have been reading about him recently. He was not a popular person in Hong Kong as postmaster; the service he provided left something ot be desired

Mr Thomas Scales, the Deputy Postmaster, has, in a small way, made himself quite a conspicuous character during the few months he has been in China. By a series of illegal extractions, insolence, and inattention to the duties of his humble, but important situation, he has thoroughly disgusted all  classes of the community.

We are aware of so many of the man’s eccentricities, that we are almost prepared for anything., but we certainly were a little surprised, and not a little amused, to hear that he had refused to receive His Excellency’s despatches for England ex Driver. This was the climax of all Mr Scales’ absurdities; he had already in every possible way disobliged the mercantile community, whose letters are not of less importance than those from Government House, and they had no redress; elated with his own achievements he must break a lance with the representative of royalty.

On the 19th, a box containing despatches for Her Majesty’s Government was sent by the Honourable Colonial Secretary to Mr Thomas Scales, with orders to get a receipt for it. The Postmaster pointedly refused to receive the box at all, and upon the Coolie’s pressing the matter, threatened to bamboo him. The box went back to Government House, no doubt to the great astonishment of His Excellency, who very properly felt this flagrant insult should not be allowed to pass unpunished. A sergeant’s guard was sent to the Post office, with orders to present the box at the window, and should they refuse to take it in, to break open the doors, place the box in the office, make a capture of the Deputy, and in the event of his refusal to sign a receipt, to convey him up to government house.

The sergeant was told the box could not be received, and, no doubt, delighted with his commission, the gallant sergeant stormed and carried the Post Office, capturing the Postmaster himself. Poor Scales discovered when the Irish Sergeant's hand was on his thorax, and, “Sign the receipt or come along to Government House, you Blackguard!” thundered in his ear, that he was a very small man indeed-like a yelping cur, he had at length roused the lion, and when the noble animal’s paw was laid upon him, and other demonstrations of sovereign contempt exhibited, the feeble creature with trembling acknowledged his insignificance.The receipt was signed, and the honest sergeant and guard evacuated the citadel, leaving its commander to his own sweet thoughts on the humiliating and disgraceful position in which he had been placed by his superlative folly and insolence

We anticipate His Excellency will, in virtue of the power he holds, and in compliance with the wishes of the inhabitants, suspend Mr Scales from duty, pending the decision of the Postmaster General. He has unquestionably the power to do so, and we are convinced that were a petition got up, begging him to make use of his prerogative, it would receive the signature of nearly every European in the Colony.

Source: Friend of China 22nd June 1844