Sir,
C MAY 9
Government House,
Hong Kong,
9th April, 1899.
With reference to my despatch No. 82 of
1st instant I have the honour to inform you that on the 2nd
instant I proceeded at 5.30 a.m. to Canton in Her Majesty's
Ship *Fame* and arrived at 10 o'clock, the Viceroy having
informed the Consul that he would receive me at 11 a.m. I
was accompanied by Mr. Stewart Lockhart, Colonial Secretary,
and the members of my staff. On proceeding from the Consulate
to the Viceroy's Yamen I found that preparations had been
made for my reception that I did not expect. The streets for
the two miles or so between the Consulate and the Yamen had
been washed and cleaned, and were lined with troops through-
out the entire distance. There were between 1600 and 1800
men, armed with muzzle loaders and rifles of various patterns
in addition to which a large proportion carried revolvers.
I noticed that all the arms were quite clean and apparently
well kept. The streets were decorated with flags on long
poles and there were dense crowds who were perfectly respect-
ful. I was received by the Viceroy with the usual ceremonies
Right Honourable
X No 20021
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
80.
and