more than ordinary interest to the undertaking, I forward an account of the proceedings published by one of the local papers. I have the honor to be, Your Lordship's obedient Servant, Richard Graves Macdonnell Governor. 7/12/1877
THE OVERLAND CHINA MAIL. No. 373.-MARCH 1, 1867. NEW CITY HALL The foundation stone of the Hongkong City Hall was laid on Saturday, February 23, by H. E. Sir Richard MacDonnell, with the usual ceremony. A few minutes before one, the strain of the 20th Band informed those round the platform that His Excellency and party had arrived. The Governor was accompanied by Lady MacDonnell, the Duc de Penthievre, Comte Beavoir and Mr Mercer. Messrs Rennie, Whittall, Pollard, Ryrie, Forth, the other members of Committee and Mons. Hermitte, received His Excellency and party at the door of the enclosure; the Band meanwhile playing the National Anthem. Previous to the lowering of the stone, the Governor placed in the cavity of the stone specimens of the Hongkong mintage, representing all the coins from the mil to the dollar; and the mortar was then spread. His Excellency, silver trowel in hand, lending his assistance. A copy of the Daily Press was also placed in the cavity of the foundation stone; and also a Medal (we were going to say a Hongkong Dollar) struck for the occasion at the Hongkong Mint. The obverse of the Medal is simply the obverse of the Hongkong Dollar; and upon the reverse is stamped a clumsily-cut inscription to the following effect—Hongkong City Hall Foundation Stone, laid by H. E. Sir R. G. MacDonnell, C.B., 23d February 1867. Hermitte, archt.
The stone lowered, a few finishing touches by His Excellency, and the manual labor of the affair was at an end. All that was said over the stone comprised merely a few words of congratulation from the Governor to Mr Rennie touching the inauguration of the undertaking in which they had just taken part. At this stage of the proceedings Mr Silveira, the photographer, made himself observable with camera and prepared plate, hitting off the group upon the platform in a couple of seconds; and the company adjourned to the refreshment room, where tiffin was laid out. After it had been partaken of, MR RENNIE proposed the health of "His Excellency the Governor, to whose good masonry to-day we are indebted for the solidity of our foundation,"
His EXCELLENCY, on rising, said they must all agree on the propriety of the arrangement which enabled him to address them seated at their ease round the well-appointed tables before them instead of from the pit whence he had just been extricated, but where their foundation stone had been laid deeply and permanently. The occasion was one of great interest to himself as well as to them, and if he had often felt during his career that the position of a Governor involved many disagreeables in the way of hard work, and responsibility entailing much thankless labor, he could not but admit that it frequently brought with it counterbalancing privileges, and the ceremony at which his position had entitled him to assist that day, was one of these privileges.
Having drunk to the health of Her Majesty the Queen—which was drunk with all honors—His Excellency continued. Otherwise, in an undertaking identified so intimately with the progress of their city, he could not but feel that his claims to laying the foundation of their City Hall were trivial compared with those of other residents more connected with them by ties of local interest and great commercial investments. He felt this strongly as he had walked down that morning to the site of the New Building; for when he looked to the West he could almost discern that noble institution, the Sailor's Home, and from the same spot on turning to the East could view the equally valuable and handsome building the Seamen's Hospital, both founded by the thoughtful munificence of the great House of Jardine and Matheson. Who therefore was so especially entitled to take a prominent part in an undertaking like the present as the respected representative of that House, more particularly when it was entirely owing to the generous contribution of the same firm that the funds had been completed which enabled them to inaugurate that day the commencement of the City Hall. (Hear, hear.) Indeed if they stepped outside of the enclosure they would see within a few yards of the spot where they were then assembled the massive fountain presented to the City by one, loved and honored by them all, and who, he was sure, they hoped might long continue to enjoy the high position, amongst the Merchant Princes of the East, which the head of the house of Dent & Co. had so long occupied. (Loud cheers).
Nevertheless, as the duty had devolved on him of giving some expression to the feelings natural on an occasion so interesting, he could not but remind them how many points of resemblance existed between the different stages in the growth of individuals and States. He regarded the flight of the Foreign Community from Macao to the shelter of this harbor previous to its cession to Great Britain in 1842, as constituting the true epoch of the birth of this city. Since then it had been rapidly educated up to the standard of modern enlightenment. The House of Jardine had instructed it in the Electric Telegraph, though as yet by a very miniature toy. They had subsequently learned to use Gas, and hereafter when there would be a difficulty from the throng of passengers in obtaining a cab on the Kowloon and Canton Railway, he should regard Hongkong as having graduated, and taken its position amongst advanced and adult communities. (Laughter.) At the same time he scarcely expected to remain here long enough to assist at the opening of that Railway, although, by the way, he had a strong inducement to pass the remainder of his days here, having recently invested the funds necessary to constitute him a life member of the Hongkong Rifle Association. (Laughter). They had however already witnessed many stirring and important epochs in their history,