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Library, St. Andrew's Hall, and the Theatre each in turn elicited, as they deserved, the Prince's high commendation. His Royal Highness then ascended the dais prepared for him in the Reception Room, and the private Entrée, at which the higher Officials, Civil and Military, were presented, commenced. The Prince was observed to address a few words to the Senior Naval Officer of the U.S. Navy, and it was understood that he expressed to that gentleman his sympathy with two of the sailors on board the U.S.N.S. Iroquois, who had been injured while firing the salute on his landing, an event which caused general regret, but which was fortunately the only contre-temps that occurred during the Royal visit.
The general Levée followed, and upwards of three hundred gentlemen, representing several nationalities, were presented to His Royal Highness. His Excellency Vice-Admiral De Souza, the Governor of Macao, and Suite, arrived about this time, and were received by the Prince with much cordiality, His Excellency remaining till the termination of the Levée on the dais beside Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell at the right hand of the Prince. The effect produced by the splendid suite of Rooms in which the Reception took place and the number of British and Foreign uniforms, Civil, Military, and Naval, was the subject of general remark.
When the Levée was over, but in the presence of almost all who had attended it, Thomas Pyke, Esq., entered at the head of the Committee appointed to present an Address on behalf of the general Community of Hongkong. The Address, with the Prince's reply, which was delivered with much feeling, will be found in the Appendix, (B).
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The Parsee deputation was next introduced. Mr. D. Ruttunjee, who had been selected as spokesman, expressed the sentiments of reverence which he and those whom he represented entertained towards Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family, including His Royal Highness, and begged permission to read an Address, which he did in a particularly clear and distinct manner. Vide Appendix, (C).
The Registrar General, (who is also Protector of Chinese) the Honorable Cecil C. Smith, at the head of a deputation of the Chinese Community, next appeared, and requested His Royal Highness to accept the very respectful Address which they had drawn up as an expression of their admiration and affection for himself, and as a token of their appreciation of the laws and institutions of this portion of Her Majesty's dominions, where they had found a home.
This was one of the marked incidents of the occasion; several of the Native gentlemen presented being apparelled, after the fashion of Mandarins, in long silk robes, and decorated with peacock's feathers, and making obeisance after the most approved rules of propriety; and the Address which they presented being very elaborately composed, both as to wording and external appearance. It was of rich yellow satin, lined with crimson damask silk, and was about three yards in length and one in breadth. The outer edge of six inches or more was embroidered with the Imperial Dragons (with five claws) worked in gold thread; and within this border was one somewhat narrower made of flowers, and peacocks and other birds, the whole having a very life-like appearance. The Address was written within these borders in vermillion, and was a masterpiece of penmanship. An admirable translation of it, together with the Prince's reply which was much appreciated by the Native community, whose representatives
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