Muzbe
4
an under
version shale Clause
35, now only so far an Iknow appluable
6. Hory Kory, be made & cfefly to all
1
Paleri Offens
in at Schncis
Hached
113 hay n
Mr Mercer
Foushong 38 March, 1880-
The At Hoüble R. Cardwell!
/Incirine.
P47
Peceived
Acceptance
by Mr. Small
Presents
ول
sma tomes. avertingt
with a copy of #naila
his name is
ham.
34
a
Doutthen My
Finall
be parked for explanation, but as
showed in the
of the Pounces co
Chaor little
doubt be con, nit awar
that he was
actory contour,
to regulateus q. & 4/5
10.8-74/5
47
A
her
The London and china Expren:
17th Jamiary, 1866.
ADDRESS AND TESTIMONIAL TO JOHN SMALE, ESQ., ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF HONG KONG.
On the retura of Mr. Smalé from Hong Kong to England the Parsees and Mahomedans of Hong Kong drew up and signed an address to him, of which the following is a copy :-
"The Honourable John Smale, Attorney-General of Hong Kong. Sir,We, the undersigned, constituting and representing the Parsee and Coja community of this colony, moved by the respect and esteem which we have ever entertained for you during your residence amongst us, desire to place on record our appreciation of your private worth and of your public character. Believe us, Sir, knowing as we do that flat- tery ill suits our present purpose, and that undue adulation would be distasteful to you, we seek to clothe our sentiments in language expressive of our thoughts, and to avoid giving vent to our feelings in those stereotyped panegyrics which are but too often resorted to on occa- sions like that which now prompts us to address you, As for the zeal and ability which marked the performance of your public functions, it may not be within our province to speak. We cannot, however, refrain from bear- ing testimony to the approval of the public in your unceasing devotion to their welfare in this respect. But with regard to the perfect harmony which has prevailed in your department, the dignity and decorum which have ever marked your proceedings, the respectand deference which were so cheerfully accorded to you, we feel more competent to speak; and we find great pleasure in being able to compliment you on the tact, ability, and suaviter in modɔ which have enabled you to perform your functions effectively, satisfactorily, and scrupulously. Even this consideration, however, is not that which induces us now to address you. In your private capacity we have found so much to admire that we shall ever think upon it with gratitude and reverence. Your ubanity and untiring patience, your excellent and matured judgment, your disinterested and sound advice, your repugnance to litigation, and your reliable legal acumen, combine to make us feel your loss as irreparable, and to merit at our hands some tangible token of our esteem. We desire to have these sentiments perpetuated and certified by the special gift of a silver dinner set, the cost of which has been raised by voluntary subscription, and which token will be presented to you by Messrs. Mody and Co. in London, It were waste of words to add that we wish you health, happiness, and long life, but in conformity to the usages of society, we cannot conclude without that customary Denison, feeling sure that it was never better merited nor more sincerely given.- We are, Sir, your faithful and sincere friends,
(Signed by 125 Parace and Coja Merchants.) "Hong Kong, April 15, 1865.*·
This address was signed by all the Parsees and Mahomedans of India resident in Hong Kong, to the number of 125 merchants. A sum exceeding $1,500 was subscribed, and silver plate in dinner and tea services were manufactured in Canton, in elegant designs, by Chinese workmen. The plate was transmitted to England (where it cost about £70 for duty), and was, on Monday, the 8th inst., presented to Mr. Smale, with the address, by a deputation of four Parsee gentlemen. Mr. Smalo replied as follows :-
"Messrs. Mody and Co. und Gentlemen, Words fail me adequately to express the surprise and satisfaction with which I first heard of the address which you, who constitute all the Parace and Indian Mahomedan firms and residents in Hong Kong, by a deputation, now present to me. My duties as Attorney-General at Hong Kong have (owing to the very special state of the colony) been onerous and delicate, but I trust that the public service has not suffered by reason of any want of independence, or of grave error on my part. It is gratifying to find that my efforts are not anappreciated by you. You, however, properly confine yourselves to the expressions of your recognition of my conduct in my more privata capacity of advocate and legal adviser. I feel that, in comiuon with the majority of my countrymen, I have tried to act and be in the East as Christian gentlemen and Eaglish lawyers act and are in England; and it is in the bighest degree gratifying to me to find that the descendants of the ancient Persians and of the Mabomedans of India-races formerly in mutual hostility. but now, under the security of British law, friendly rivals in peaceful commerce-coucurring in assuring me that, in their opinion, my efforts have not been unsuccess- ful. I have been legal adviser to most, opposed to some of you, and I feel that your testimony to my repugnance to litigation is the highest compliment you can pay to a practising lawyer. I must state that I do not remember a case in which I advised compromise or arbitration when anyone of you persevered in litigation. The unbounded liberality with which my professional services have ever been spontaneously acknow- ledged was such as to add extreme surprise to the gratification with which I receive your splendid gift of silver plate in dinner and tea services, costly i specimens of Chinese workmanship, far exceeding the requirements of my moderate means and habits, but which I gratefully accept to become a memorial in my family of your munificence, and as stimulants to my children to an honourable career in life. Believe me that whatever my future lot may be, whether again to face the tropics in the East, or to re- tire from public life, I shall ever feel that my most useful and, conse- quently, happiest years have been spent in Hong Kong, and the recollec- tion of your unbounded confidence and kindness will be among my brightest memories. Permit roe, gemlemen, in conclusion to say that I ihail with satisfaction the fact that many of you have sought and found homes and friends in England. I augur the happiest results from our consequent increased familiarity of intercourse, and whilst I wish you all great commercial prosperity, I must add that I earnestly hope that you will find the highest and most enduring satisfaction as the result of a deeper insight into our habits and institutions."
UZAs» «= £ic!Y% { }ཏི, ...