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have to add, in justice to my creditors—assuring you, Sir, that the task is irksome and obnoxious to me in the last degree. I enter upon it.
It fell to my lot, Sir, and I freely confess the duty was congenial to my instincts as a soldier, though at the time administering this Government as a civilian, to have been called upon to place this island in a state to resist a probable siege, on the breaking out of the Russian war in 1854. It was a season of great public alarm, for a formidable Russian squadron had only just left our waters, and was supposed at the time to be lurking in our very estuary. However, by establishing a system of signals, by the erection of batteries on commanding points, augmenting our land and water police and organizing a corps of Volunteers (who unanimously elected me to be their colonel), I had the satisfaction of seeing the mind of this community reassured and native confidence re-established. I had the happiness of receiving on that occasion that reward, ever the most grateful one to my feelings from force of early associations, the prompt approbation of my immediate chief, the Secretary of State himself. Again, in the winter of 1856, in the absence of the Governor from the colony, it fell to my lot to render it service at a most perilous crisis in suppressing the rising of the Chinese inhabitants, by bringing to bear upon the émeute at the due moment that personal ascendancy over the desperadoes of the population which I had gained during my Career as Chief Magistrate. It was happily quelled without the loss of a single life, and I was heartily thanked by Sir John Bowring on his return from Canton, in the presence of the Secretary to the Superintendency, for having "by presence of mind and prompt action at the critical moment, saved the effusion of blood in the streets of the city." His Excellency was pleased to instruct me forthwith to report in detail the whole matter to the Secretary of State, which I did accordingly, see despatch No. 196 of 22nd November, 1856. No covering despatch from Sir John Bowring, however, accompanied mine, and to this I attribute a simple acknowledgement from the Secretary of State, though how grateful would it have been to my feelings that one line of approval which I have ever looked upon as my highest reward.
Now, on the eve of bidding this colony a final farewell, it only remains for me to express my earnest wishes for its future progress and prosperity. When I landed upon its shore some eighteen years ago I found it a desert hill-side, I leave it (to use a pardonable figure of speech) bespread with palaces, a beautiful
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and well ordered city, a miracle of British enterprise and dormant power upon the frontier of this crumbling empire. In its infancy, a heavy drain upon the Imperial Exchequer, I have lived to see it in its consolidated strength, a self-supporting settlement, justifying its foundation and thriving in every branch of its industry.
Let it not be supposed for one moment that I claim the credit of these happy results; I merely claim to have been one of the earliest and most confident pioneers of the experiment, and to have been, from the first, not uselessly, I trust, associated with its realization.
But I cannot help claiming it as a special auspice for myself, though due to no merit of mine, that it was under my administration the colony first made that extraordinary stride in prosperity which is sustained to this day. I happily seized the occasion of the first exodus from Canton in 1854 and in 1855, and the brief presence of those birds of passage amongst us, to originate the public sale of every inch of ground then available in this city and suburbs, and I may fairly claim it as the result of that seasonable stroke that many of those casual refugees became permanent settlers, and are at this moment identified inalienably and for ever with the future fortunes of this colony.
The European side of the colony has kept pace with that of the Chinese, and I may take this opportunity of affirming that, with the heads of the foreign community of all nations (my own countrymen especially), that is to say, with every individual in this place, coming under the denomination of a gentleman, I say, and I challenge any detractors to gainsay it, that with two casual exceptions, I have ever lived on terms of cordial esteem, and with all classes (saving a couple of vile newspaper editors), on terms of mutual respect and confidence. In conclusion it only remains for me to say (and I say it proudly), that during my whole colonial service, now in my eighteenth year, I have never suffered a single reproof from the Colonial Office, and I take this last opportunity of expressing my earnest gratitude to yourself, Sir, for that gracious recognition of my services contained in your despatch, No. 43, of the 1st October, 1858. Annexed is a schedule showing the nature of each enclosure attached.
I have the honour to be,
With the highest respect, Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
(Signed)
W. CAINE.
The Rt. Hon. Sir Edward B. Lytton, Bart, M.P.,
Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, &c.
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