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His Excellency
27
HONGKONG. 12th March. 1859.
SIR MICHAEL SEYMOUR, K.C.B., Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of H.B.M. Naval forces in the East India and China Seas.
DEAR ADMIRAL. - As the Daily Press of this morning announces that you are to leave Hongkong on the 19th instant in your flag-ship the Calcutta, on your way home, I cannot fail to express my gratification at your being relieved from the arduous duties on this station, where the climate has for so long a time perilled your valuable life, and that you are about to return to enjoy the comforts of your home and country. But, my dear Admiral Seymour, I feel that in your leaving us in this distant land, we are losing one of our best friends and principal protectors, without whom we should, during the last war here, have lived in constant fear and danger of our lives and property.
Permit me, my dear Admiral, to tender you my sincere tribute of gratitude for your goodness and protection at all times during your command on this station, and for your kind remembrances in visiting me several times at my house to comfort and cheer me in my unhappy crippled state of affliction, which at times produces bodily suffering and mental depression, almost too great to be borne.
I have no other token of my grateful feelings to transmit to you than a lithography copy of a letter from and written by the President of the United States, which shows who was the author of the American Arctic Expedition in search of Sir John Franklin. The labours of any individual to rescue that noble voyager and his gallant companions, I know are by you highly appreciated.
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