Care
Mr. F. But Keley, Johnson,
Mess?" Watheson-1,
of Mess
3, Lombard Street,
London, EC.,
I have the honour to be,
Your
Sir,
Most Obedient
Humble Servant
Enclosure 1.
*
C. O.
6000
A APROO
THE LATE MR BULKELEY JOHNSON.
The record of a life, notable in Hongkong and China, during a period of well nigh forty years, was closed at Cannes on Mon- day night last, when Mr Bulkeley Johnson passed over to the majority. Few men took a more lively interest in public affairs than he did and fewer still were prepared to make such sacrifices of time and conven- ience for the vindication of principles to which he attached importance. He was a master in politico-economic science, and, be- ing a graceful writer and fluent speaker, he did much to stem the growing tendency to sacrifice future possibilities to what might appoar to be present advantage. The war he waged in our local parlament in defeuce of truth and right and social decency is too fresh in the memory of our readers to re- quire to be recalled in detail, but the period of repose and honest work we are now en- joying intensifies our feeling of gratitude for his untiring exertions to relieve the Colony of the incubus, under which it groan- ed. A Radical in the truest sense, he al- ways examined every question that pre- sented itself to him without reference to tradition, but he was constructive not des- tructive, never abandoning anything defen- sible merely because it was old, nor until he was in a position to suggest an improve- ment. The records of our Chamber of Commerce bear testimony to his power of work and great ability, and many of his despatches to our local Government, H. M. Minister to Pekin, and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, are exhaustive of the subjects on which they treat and models of clear and cogent exposition.
He was a warm friend and a chivalrous opponent, and to those of his contempo- raries who remain in the East, or who have returned home to enjoy a period of rest after toil,' his removal will create a blank it will be impossible to refill.
On the tomb of one whose name is hon- oured by all good men, there is this inscrip- tion He tried to do his duty.' Of few who have lived in our community can this statement be made with so much truth as of Mr Bulkeley Johnson, and his endeav- ours were rewarded with a measure of suc- cess attained only by the most earnest.
Mr Johnson's connection with the Far East was a long and honourable one, and his name was known and respected in most of the treaty ports of China and Japan. He came out first to China when quite a young man, about 1860, and, settling down in Hongkong, not long after became a partner in the firm of Messrs Johnson & Co., merchants, who then carried on busi- ness in Gough Street. He remained in this firm for some fifteen years, when the House closed, and he was then invited to join the house of Messrs Jardine, Mathe- son & Co., with whose fortune he has since been associated. On the departure of the Hon. Mr Keswick for Home on a holiday, Mr Johnson became the managing partner of the firm here, and also took up the seat of his brother partner in the Legislative Council. He also became chairman of thes local Chamber of Commerce, and in this ca- pacity did yeoman service in advancing Bri- tish interests, notably in exposing the short- comings of the Treaty with Korea negotiated by Admiral Willes. On his departure for Home in March, 1884, Mr Johnson was presented with very flattering address, which was extensively signed by the men. bers of the community, as a mark of their appreciation of the public services rendered by him in the Legislative Council and as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Johnson was about 58 years of age.
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