Ing from prostration, replied—Mr. Rycroft and gentlemen, I yesterday had to answer without that preparation which I could have desired, a speech which the Attorney-General of Hong-kong addressed to me in the name of the Bar and of the large and respectable body of practitioners in our courts. I feel I said quite enough, perhaps rather too much, of myself, when I answered what was then said to me, because, with the exception of one sentence, what I said was entirely on the spur of the moment. To-day, I must say, I have come here weighed down with the sense of the feeling with which I have been received. I may frankly tell you all, gentlemen, I believed I should have left this Colony without one approving word from any one, I felt I had so demeaned myself in my office, that I had, so to speak, so acted on my own convictions, that others would, acting upon theirs, I now am have thought I deserved no praise. most happily undeceived. I could not prepare any observations to-day, partly because of occupation, partly because my spirit was not equal to it, and it is only because I am facing now for the last time that my spirit rises to the occasion and I am able to speak to you at all.
I am looking at this address for topics on which to address you, for I confess my mind comes here, I won't say a blank, but without precise words upon it, and therefore I must select from what you have said the topics on which to you speak. I will pass over what you say of the Supreme Court, for the gentlemen there have recorded me that meed of praise to which I feel I am not entitled. But there is one thing which I hope everybody will feel here, and it is this, that the Bench of every colony, the Bench of every country, depends on the integrity, the independence, and the learning of the Bar. It was that which in past times raised England to what it is. It was the boldness of the Bar that defied the Bench to do what was wrong and forced it to do what was right. We are now in happier times, but we must all remember what we owe to the Bar, and I must say of the Bar here, that I have visited the Bars of India, of Australia, and of other colonies, and I don't know a single Bar where for its number there is—I won't speak boastfully—more learning, more earnestness of purpose, and more ability, so well represented in some of its members here. I have admired the way in which they have managed their cases here, and I am but repeating the words which Mr. Justice Snowden used to me when he came back last from England, that he thought better arguments were addressed here than were heard in the ordinary Courts in England.
Then, gentlemen, is it to be wondered at if the Bench, being so supported, is able to give some satisfaction! I confess, gentlemen, of all my career here, legal as well as otherwise, I look back with the greatest satisfaction to the part which I took in reference to the coolie emigration. It was becoming a slave trade. As long ago as when Sir Hercules Robinson was here, he uplifted his voice against it, and from that time I did what I could till it was suppressed. But I quite agree, gentlemen, with what you have said in a later part of the address, that what was done then is but a portion of what it is our duty as Englishmen, who pride ourselves on being the pioneers of liberty, to do. There is more to be done yet. I am not here to suggest the exaggerated notion which I believe has been very often attributed to me, that we are to convert China, but this I do hope, that under the English flag nothing approaching to slavery will be allowed to exist (Applause) and that the English name will be reverenced here because it is synonymous with the cause of humanity. (Applause.)
There is one point in my career as Attorney-General which I do look back to with some satisfaction. It is this. It has not been very often thought of, but going to Australia, as I did not long ago, it struck me very forcibly. I was then told that one hour's delay cost England three millions of money, and here, when the ships of the contending factions in America came to this coast it was my duty to advise the very able Governor of this colony. He acted entirely on my views. Vessels came into this harbour from one side and the other. One ship especially committed a breach of the regulations, and it was a difficult thing to know how to deal with that question. I cannot help feeling some satisfaction in the reflection that no claim was ever made on the Alabama claims against England in respect of any misfeasance, error, or mistake of any kind with reference to those difficulties.
But we had a great deal of correspondence at that time and I was consulted on each point. An error on any one of these would have opened up a similar claim to that I was told of in the presence of the gentleman who made the mistake. One single error here might have led to a very heavy claim on England. I do feel we did exercise some useful discretion on that occasion, and I therefore look back to that part of my labours with satisfaction. Whatever my acts in other respects may have been, my aim throughout has always been, at all events, to deal out equal justice to the members of every race that came to the court, to hold out the hand of friendship and fellowship to the natives of every country, of Asia as well as Europe.—(Applause.) I suffered for this at one time. The correspondence that took place at that time is well known. I suffered in my pocket for it, but I think and venture to hope—and from what has been addressed to me I feel I have the kindly belief of the whole community—that I have done my duty in that respect.
I fear I have spoken too much of myself...
The man whose eye is ever on himself
Doth look on one, the least of Nature's works.
I fear my eye has been too much on myself, but I have tried to do my duty. I thank you all, gentlemen, for this paper, which I shall always value, and I thank Mr. Rycroft especially for those allusions to the past which he and I feel likely to be, both to him and to me, a source of painful regret whilst also of pleasant recollection to both of us. Gentlemen, I thank you heartily for this parchment, which I shall keep as long as I can hold it, which I will give to my children as amongst the best pledges I can give them to induce them to try to be what I have tried to be, and what you kindly try to make out that I have been, a useful man in his sphere of life. (Hear, hear.) I have in my eye some who addressed themselves to me on my retirement from the office of Attorney-General in a way which I then thought to be the greatest honour ever paid to me—it was an exceptional one. Now, gentlemen, I have to thank the whole community of Hongkong and to carry away sentiments of gratitude towards them which I shall feel to my latest day—(Applause.)
The proceedings then terminated.
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