April 7, 1902.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. alive Scottish national sentiment and Scottish | countrymen who may have the misfortune to spirit, for which we should all feel the most reverent gratitude. Carlyle well said of Burns: "His songs are part of the mother tongue not of Scotland only, but of Britain and of the millions that in all the ends of the earth speak the British language in hut and ball, as the heart unfolds itself in many colonred joy and woe of existence, the name and the voice of that joy and that woe is the name and voice which Burns has given them. No British man has so deeply affected the thoughts and the feelings of so many men as this solitary individual with means apparently the humblest." I think you will approve of my raying to our three Past Presidents in Burns' words:- "Better lo'ed ye canna be, will ye no' come back again "Brither Scots, the quaichs which, on your behalf, I now have the honour to ask Messrs. Gillies, Henderson, and Lockhart to accept, are small tokens of the respect, friend- ship, and esteem entertained by fellow-members of the Hougkong S. Andrew's. Society. Iu whatever part of the world they may find themselves, we feel sure they will continue to help to keep alive Scottish national sentiment and Scottish spirit so essen ial to the best interests of Britain's world-wide Empire. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to join with me in drinking their health, happiness, and continued prosperity.
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it would be affectation (Laughter.) But on my part if I were to pretend that I am not much touched by the reception which you have given us to-day, We are all prond of our country, and when we see to-day. Soots- men and Scotswomen assembled here to show us that they appreciate the small services we have rendered we would indeed be possessed of natures very cold and such as we are not acous tomed to in the land of the hill and the heather if we were not much moved and did not feel our blood tingle. (Applaus.) It is difficult for me, as I say, to express really all I feel. We know that the Scot is coy and hard to please—a characteristic indeed which is also possessed by another important section of the human race which I am glad to see so well represented here to-day. (Applause.) It is therefore specially gratifying to find that we are in the posession of the confidence and enteem and the good-will of our fellow-countrymen, whose opinion I value above that of all others, (Applause.) I shall never, Mr. President and brother Scots, forget the kindness you have shown us to-day. My only regret is that I feel truly unworthy of all the kind words that have been said with regard to myself. This quaich which you have been good enough to present to me will form a very pleasant memento of my associations with the S. Andrew's S ciety and its members, and when in the natural course of time it is handed down to my son, he will be proud to know that, whatever his demerits may have been, his father was fortunate enough to possess the good-will of his fellow-countrymen in Hong- kong,
many minutes now. Also there is another be stranded on the shores of Hongkong; and reason. You are all aware that we are at present it is a feeling of much gratification to us to suffering from a drought, bat Nature has com. know that many a poor hungering and sorrowful- pensated ns-so the Press informs us-by hav at-heart Scot bas been relieved, comforted, and ing turned on a spate of speech. In my early sent to some other port in China where the days, when I was a youngster. I had a dear old prospect of employment is more favourable than Highland nurse-God bless her memory who in Hongkong; or it may be that be receives a used to advise me when I was wordy' and free passage to his native land, where he will be inclined to be argn nentative; in golden words sure to remember with feelings of gratitude the she used to say. The least said, the soonest timely aid and saistance extended to him by the mended." Acting on that advice, I do not Society. Mr. President and brother Scots, with propose to add to any extent to the volume of grateful feelings we accept this bean ilul pre- that spate of speech which the Press sentation to us, with full appreciation of the
this Colony. roaring in amiable motives which prompted them-(hear, hear) and whenever we entertain our friends in the old country with dram of the mountain dew taken from these beautiful quaichs, and when we record in pathetic words the circumstances under which they wore pre- sauted, I assure you that the deoch-an-doris will be none the less acceptable. (Applause.) As our wort y hief has just informed you. we a.e about to leave th ́s Colony and loay many warm and kind friends. (Applause.) But although we are absent, I assure you it will always give us great joy to remember the many joys and pjessures we have participated in under this roof, and we shall always be with you in spirit at the celebration of the anniversary of our patron Saint From the falness of our heart The toast was duly pledged.
we pray for the welfare of the Hongkong S. Mr. DAVID GILLIES,who on rising to reply Andrew's Society; may it ever prosper and was warmly received, said Mr. President, ladies remain a fitting tribute to bonnie Scotland and gentlemen and brother Scots, I have to and to her worthy and patriotic sous. I thank you most heartily and most gratefully take this opportunity of expressing the for the very eloquent and grand speech that very great delight and pleasure we experi- has been given to us by our worthy Chief. It ence in seeing so many ladies present this after will be somewhat difficult for me to reply to such noon. (Applaus.) I assure you it is a very a fine speech. However, I shall be glad to do high compliment indeed, and we appreciate it my best. In the name of the Hon. Stewart to the fullest extent, and I believo it will be Lockhart and Mr. Fullarton Henderson, I beg one of the proudest reminiscences of this meet to express our extreme sati-faction and apprecia-ing that we saw so many of our best and bon- tion of the very eloquent terms in which our niest in Hongkong. (Applause.) President has referred to our long career in Mr. FULLARTON HENDERSON said-Mr. the Far East. We also thank him for the very President, ladies and gentlemen, I feel entirely kind and genial manner in which be was referr- at a loss to reply to this very brilliant compli- ed to the services Wo have rendered to ment that has been paid me I say undeservedly the Hongkong S. Andrew's Society. And and I say undeservedly advisedly-because yet again we have to thank him and you all for some years I have carefully made a point for the beautiful presentation you have made of deserting the annual gatherings, which to us aud for the kind words which have ac- I am glad to say. however, have always companied it. Our meeting here to-day förmis gone off brilliantly without any of my It is a great pleasure to me a very happy and pleasant episode in οπι
poor assistance. connection with the Society of which we are to think that they are so successful; each cele all so justly proud and with which we bare bration seems to be an improvement upon the been-so closely identified, having been members one that goes before. They are justly very of the Committee for many years now, ver popular, naturally, I think, because they afford since the Society was formed, and having at all a vast amount of amusement to a very large times taken a very warm and close connection number of people. I believe that oven the ladies with everything that tended to promote its best are kind enough to speak favourably of it, and interests. We have received at your hands, I have been told-I suppose it is true--that gentlemen, the honour of being elected Presi- they have upon these occasions expressed the dent for the usual term of office, and as the attain. opinion that their hearts are often as light as ment of that proud position is the aim and ambi- their heels. (Laughter and applause.) We are tion of many of our worthier Scots in the Colony, rather inclined to say bitter things sometimes I assure you, on behalf of the gentlemen on my of Hongkong, but I can assure you that it right and on my left, that we appreciate that is a very difficult place to go away from-very honour most highly indeed and the distinguish-hard indeed. The only thing that helps us on ed honour yon bavo conferred upon us will our way is that we are fortunate enough to ever lie green apon our memory. (Applause.) think and feel sure that we carry with us the (Ap- Our Society has been established for over 20 kind wishes of are.t many friends. years, and I think I may safely affirm that in plause.) If it was wanted, I think these all respects its success has far exceeded the quaichs may be taken as a material guarantee most sanguine expectations of its early pro-
of their soundness. The quaich. I believe.
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These are Andrew's night with our friends, comprising utensil, and was made of bone, all that is worthy and beautiful in the Colony entirely a work of art, and may, I think, be of Hongkong; and, forgetting for the time taken as symbolical of the connection between the cares and troubles of life, we abandon two great nations-need I say Scotland and ourselves to the full pleasures and enjoyments China? Laughter and applause.) In bidd ng of the dance and to the keen excitement of the
you all farewell, should like to express the reel and the strathspey, lifting the curtain for a hope that the S. Andrew's Society will long time and revealing all good. Scotsmen in their continue to be the great institution it is at pre- true character, overflowing with genuine hospi-sent that it will prosper and that all the sons of tality and good fellowship. (Applause.) Our S. S. Andrew will prosper along with it. I would Andrew's Ball is a sight that it would be very recommend to them-and I have expressed the hard indeed to surpass anywhere. It is a spectacle hope that they may be long able to fill their which, once seen, will never be forgotten. but quaichs; may they long also be ab'e to amply will remain permanently and indelibly imprinted them! (Laugher and applause.) These quaichs on the memory, (hear, hear)-and the occasion could be in no better way employed tha in exhibits in a peculiar light in many instances draking to the health and happines of the the unrestrained enthusiasm of the douce and daughters of S. Andrew, (Applause.) canny Scot. But although we enjoy ourselves on these occasions, I need hardly say that our Society has other and nobler responsibilities which are fully discharged, in extending relief and assistance to all poor and distressed
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Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART said-Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Gillies has so exactly expressed all my sentiments that I may say he has stolen all my ideas, and that is one reason why I do not propose to detain you
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the good-will of the sons of Scotland, that country which he loves so
Mr. (Applause.)
Whitehead, oar dear, President, has very kindly alluded to my almost immediate departure to Weihaiwei, a place, ladies and gentlemen, which a very high Minister of State has just described as second-class water ng place." I do not know whether that description was given with a political object in view, or whether it was given to encourage those who have to go there at this time to try to make it into something better then "a second-class-watering-place." But, ladies and gentlemen, a Scotsman, as you know quite well, is not to be daunted by any sneering criti- cism of any place. Wherever he may go can do be will try to do his best-no man more-but whatever may happen to Weihai- wei, there is one thing that will never happen to myself, I will never forget my old associa- As Horace says, Cœlum non tions here. animum mutant qui trans mare currunt-I may change my clima's, gentlemen, but the cold climate of Weihaiwei will never chill my warm affections for Hongkong and the many friends I have made here. (Applause.)
The proceedings terminated with three cheers for the ladies who had attended the assombly,
The souvenir in each cas, took the form of a silver quaich, or Highland drinking-cup, set upon silver stands of handsome design, consisting of four dragons. On each of the quaichs were inscribed the lines:— 1
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He stood for the land of the blue-bell and the heather, And passed on the ery of Scotland for ever.
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The inscriptions were as follows:--
1894 to 1895. David Gillies, Esq., Past President of the Hongkong S. Andrew's Society. From the members. Hongkong, 28th Marob, 19021
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"1895 to 1896. Fullarton Henderson, Esq,, Past i resident of the Hongkong 8. Andrew's Society. From the members, Hongkong, 28th March, 1902,
1896 to 1897. The Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockbart, C.M.G., Past President of the Hong- kong 8. Andrew's Society. From the members. Hongkong, 28th March, 1902,