THE CHINA MAIL.
HONGKONG, MONDAY, MAY 12, 1879.
The following ladies and gentlemen were Guests at Government House on Saturday evening General and Mrs Grant, Lieut.- Colonel Grant, Hon. A. C. Borie, Mr Cheater Holcombe, Admiral Polo (of the Spanish Royal Navy), Madame Polo, sud Madamoiselle Polo, Commandante Lobo, (of the Spanish Royal Navy), Hon. P. Byle, Hoa. H. B. Gibb, Mr G. V. Creagh, and Major Palmer, A.D.Ç.
On Sunday evening the Questa waze --~-- General and Mrs Grant, Duke of Magliano, Don Quili, Grazioli, Honourable E. Borie, Bishop Raimendi, Lieutenant Colonel Grant, Mr Young, Dr Keating, Mr Pitman, Mejor Palmer, A.D.O,
GENERAL Ĝisai and party left Hongkong to-day by the United States oorvatte Ashuelot en route for the Coast Ports and Shanghai. The General and his party were accompanied to the Murisy Wharf by the Govbihor and Mrs. Hennessy, who pro- ceeded on board the steamer with their departing guests. A large number of the principal inhabitants were at the pier to witness the departure of our Ullastrious | visitors, and fany with whom the General and his party have come into official or social intercourse here were present to asy |"good-byn," As the Governor's steam.
lauch, which conveyed them to tue steamer, left the wharf, His Excellency called for three cheers for General Grant," which were lustily given, followed by "one obeer more for Mrs Grant," heartily responded to, the General and Mrs. Grant respectively bowing and smiling their acknowledgements.
There were amongst those on the Plar as the General and party left H. E. Gene. ral Donovan; the Chief Justice, Sir John Smale, Acting Puisue Judge J. J. Francis, The Surveyor General Hon. J, Price, Hon. P. Ryrie, Hon. C. B. Plunket, Mostra E. Sharp, G. Sharp, Lister, Gibb, Donnys, and Tonucchy. Mr Ng Choy, and a num- ber of leading Chinese Merchants, and most of the leading European residents, were also present. The Japanese Consul, and the Captain of the Japanese man-of- war which arrived the other day, were also on the pier. As the launch steamed past the various ships of war salutations were exchanged. Inspector Matheson was on the spot to reader any assistance that might be necessary, and the crew of his boat tossed their oars as the distinguished party passed. The Ashuelot Was
reached, and the General was received on board by a guard of honour. Dr and Mra Eastlaoke, Master Esatlacke, Dr Vau der Horck, Mr Forbes, and the Spanish Con sul were on board to take leave of the General, H. E. the Governor and Mra Hennessy remained on board the Ashuelot for about ten minutes where, having shaken handa heartily with all the party, and wished them a pleasant passage, they took their leave, accompanied by Colonel Mosby the U. S. Consul, who had come off with the party in the launch. The Government launch having dropped astern of the Ashus- let the British and American Ensigns were run up at the fore, and a salute fired. The wheels of the Ashuelot moved round im mediately the Aring ceased, and as she
steamed from her suchorage the usual amount of handkerchief and bat waving was indulged in.
We have been requested to publish the
| following letter :——
(Copy).
Hongkong, 10th May 1879. Messrs. FORBES, HOPPIus and KESWICK,
Committee,
Gentlemen,-I am just this moment 4.50 p.m. put in possession of your note of this date informing me that the Committee of arrangements for the Garden party to be given this evening have appointed you a special Committee to notify me that on account of the threatening bad weather they propose to postpone the party until Monday evening the 12th, and ask me to accept for that evening. I am sorry to say that my arrangements for leaving here on Monday morning are such that I do not feel justified in making any delay beyond that date. Answers have been sent to inquiries as to the date of my arrival at Shanghai, and at two or three other points we expect to touch by the way.
I regret not meeting, in a social way, the citizens of Hongkong who have been kind enough to give me this invitation, and hope I may meet each and all, if not together, separately, at a later day in some part of the world.
I am, with great respect, Your obdt. st.
(Signed)
U. S. GRANT.
We notice a feeble paragraph in this morning's paper regarding the proposed entertainment to General Grant (evidently communicated by one of the Committee), in which a weak attempt is made to gloss over the series of inexcusable blunders that have charac- terized the management. It is important however that the public should not be thus misled and that they should bear in mind the following facts which we have ascertained from a reliable source, and which bear out to the fullest extent the remarks we made on Saturday evening --
1. A majority of the Committee, which outvoted Messrs Ryrie, Blanchard and Craw-
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