A
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little congratulation to
us that within a week the cargo boats were running again with tea for the steamers at Pagoda. I can say little about the events of the current year, beyond expressing my satisfaction that they terminated as they have, in what
have
I trust will prove a permanent settlement, and my sincere thanks are due to you for the co0" fidence you have kindly expressed that had the termination been different, the honour of our flag would have been safe in my charge. (Loud and long continued cheering.) Permit me in conclusion to express to you my apprecia- tion of the kindness and hospitality I have
always experienced from the residents of Hong. kong, and especially of the honour they have now conferred upon me. It has been my good fortune to receive honours and decorations at the hands of our own and foreign Sovereigns, but no honour will be left as an heirloom to my family with greater pride then this address from the large and important community of Hong' kong. (Enthusiastic cheers). I will only add now what I said at the beginning, that I feel it is ¦ utterly impossible for me to express to you how sincerely I thank you for the great honour you have done me, the regret that I feel in leaving Hongkong, and the pleasant remembrances I
shall always retain of this colony and of its in- habitants. (Applanso.) I have made a good many friends here that I hope I may meet in England some day. (Hese, hear).
After the presentation of the Address to Ad- miral Sir W. M. Dowell, dancing was recom- menced and continued till after two o'clock. On Admiral Dowell leaving, about half-past two o'clock a.m., the company gathered on the front verandah of the City Hall and gave him hearty farewell cheers, with much waving of handker- chiefs, while the Band played "Auld Lang Syne,"
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