towards
chairs sent from Government House were provided for the whole party, but the Viceroy preferitis own sedan chair. Two officers of the Viceroy's staff, with a Deputy officer, Mr. CH'ÊN SUNG-SHU, took command of the escort. The procession formed without difficulty in the following order :---First, came a party of Chinese Marines urmed with Snider rifles; next, twelve of the Viceroy's private ser- vants, without arms; then, six staff officers on horseback, followed by an enormous red umbrella borne by two men who walked in front of the Viceroy's sedan chair and its eight bearers. Next followed some more staff officers on horseback; next the Viceroy's Aide-de-Camp and his interpreter, whilst Colonel LAI and Sub-Magistrate WoxG of Kowloong City with some of their subordinate officers, closed the procession, which presented a rather picturesque aspect as it slowly wound its way Government House, the whole length of the road being lined by Police Constables placed at intervals of a few yards. On reaching Murray Barracks, where the guard of honour with the band were sta- tioned, the Viceroy gracefully bowed to the colours and to the officers, as the troops presented arms. A guard of honour of Sikh armed police was drawn up under the portico of Government House, and presented arms as the Viceroy ascended the steps, where His Excellency the Governor, in Court uni- form, received his illustrious guest, and conducted him forthwith into the drawing-room, where the members of Council were successively introduced to the Viceroy. Amongst the company assembled to receive His Excellency were, His Excellency Major General DONOVAN, His Honour Chief Justice Sir JOHN SMALE, Commodore Surrя, R.N., the Honourable W. H. MARSH, Colonial Secretary, Honourable J. RUSSELL, Acting Attorney-General, Honourable J. M. PRICE, Surveyor-General, Honourable M. S. TONNOCHY, Acting Colonial Treasurer, Honourable P. RYRIE, M.L.C., Honour- able No Chov, M.L.C., Commander CHING, R.N., H.M.S. Iron Duke, Commander SALMOND, R.N., H.M.S. Midge, Commander EDWARDS, R.N., H.M.S. Kestrel, Commander EVANS, R.N., H.M.S. Hart, Lieut. Commander BRIDGER, R.N., H.M.S. Sheldrake, Lieut. CLARK, R.N., H.M.S. Iron Duke, Major HUSKISSON, A.M.S., Captain ST. CLAIR, Brigade-Major, Lieutenant DRUMMOND, A.D.C., Major PALMER, A.D.C., Dr. Erren, Chinese Secretary and Mr. D'ALMADA E CASTRO, Private Secretary. On shaking hands with Sir JOHN SMALE, the Viceroy said he had heard a good deal of him, and of his exertions for the suppression of the coolie trade. The Viceroy also recognised the Honourable P. RYRIE, who had been introduced to him, he said, on a former occasion, in Canton. When the Honourable No CHоr was presented, the Viceroy cordially congratulated him on his appoint- ment as a Member of Council, and appeared to have entirely forgotten or forgiven the very strong criticism which Mr. NG CHOY last year, as counsel in an extradition case, passed on the action of some of the Viceroy's subordinates, whose tampering with witnesses for the defence Mr. No CHOY at the time exposed in unsparing terms. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Tung-wah Hospital Committee, Messrs, CHIU U-T'IN and LEUNG ON, were also present by invitation, and were subsequently introduced to the Viceroy. There was some conversation in the drawing- room between the Viceroy and the Governor, who were seated between Major-General Donovan on the one side, and the Chief Justice on the other. The Viceroy spoke of the personal friendship he felt for Mr. HENNESSY, and said he should not fail to take the first opportunity, after arrival in Peking, to bring to the notice of the Throne how well Mr. HENNESSY deserved the thanks of the Emperor for the effect his policy has had on the maintenance of good relations between England and China. He expressed also a wish to have a portrait of Mr. HENNESSY, and promised to send his own in return. No business, official or diplomatic, was alluded to, the Viceroy being evidently careful to preserve for his visit the character of a friendly semi-official call. He also explained that, if he had not already been relieved of his office in Canton, without having entered yet upon his office in Nanking, he would not have been able to pay even this informal visit to Hongkong, without a special Imperial Edict. He gave Mr. HENNESSY a cordial invitation to visit him in Nanking, where, he said, he would take up his residence as soon as he had paid a visit to his mother and reported himself at the Court. On being shown the pictures of Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince Consort and the members of the Royal Family, His Excellency spoke of the length of Her Majesty's reign, and made some laudatory remarks on the subject. He also showed great interest in two portraits of Lord BEACONSFIELD, and some conversation arose as to the correct pronunciation of the first syllable in the name; and he evinced his knowledge of the Premier's policy when be quietly remarked that he was surprised to notice the great age of Lord BEACONSFIELD as, from the vigour of his Government, he had imagined him to be a much younger man. After an inspection of Mr. HENNESSY'S collection of blue and white Ming porcelain, and other antiques, the whole assembly adjourned to the dining-room, where tea was served. The intermixture of English naval uniforms and Chinese costumes presented a good effect. On rising to leave, the Viceroy bowed to all the visitors present, and once more assured Mr. HENNESSY
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of his warm friendship, to which he added the hope of seeing him soon a guest in his future home at Nanking. He also left his cards for the General, the Commodore, and the Chief Justice. The Viceroy then left, accompanied by His Excellency the Governor, who parted from him at the wharf, where the Viceroy embarked in the launch Fie-ma. He subsequently privately visited the City Hall, accom- panied by Dr. ErrEL, and spent a considerable time in examining the Museum library, where he specially noticed the autograph of the Queen. He went over the whole building, and then proceeded to the Public Gardens, which he perambulated at leisure, without concealing his admiration of the effect produced by the talent and care bestowed on the gardens by Mr. FORD, the Superintendent. He did not visit any other place, but returned on board, and left shortly afterwards to return to Canton.
We have good reason to believe that this visit was really what it purported to be, a mere friendly call, prompted by feelings of personal friendship for Mr. HENNESSY. But, considering that His Excellency LAU is the Ex-Viceroy of Canton, and the Viceroy elect of Nanking, and that in his latter capacity he will be ex-officio Superintendent of trade for the South of China, this visit not only reflects favourably on the principles which governed the Viceroy's past career, but indicates also the friendly tendencies which will no doubt mark his Government of the Two Kiang in Central China and give colour to his future superintendency of the trade of South China.