To His Excelency
Sir Samder, George Rognan, K.C B
Georror of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Her Min- jesty's Pl potentivey and Chief Superintendent of Trade Eu Chive, fc. fc to.
HONGRURO, 5th March 1852, S-On the occasion of your approaching departure am the Colo for a temporary absence, which we regiel e sinte of your health renders necessary, we the under zied Merchants and Residents of this Colony and of anton, beg to convey to you our full assurance of the high ense with which we are impressed of your general and erial desire to give satisfaction in your administration, well in the performance of your séverat duties to the rown, as to the public interests at large.
is aanecessary here to particularize, but we may be Hewed to reter to the beneficial and important enanges in be administration of Justice in this Colony, carried ou ale: Your Excellency's government, which hare gained The combdence of all, and given greal satisfaction in the re cciable partion of the Chinese community, whereby the Budition and character of that part of the population have i only Leca materially improved, but the Native trade of e place also has been gradually increased. Nor can we Ent to notice the acknowledged improvements casequen! hire energetic and efficieni measures so promptly a lopt. by Ya Excellency after the late calamitous fire in the Chinese town.
Many cicumstances combine to render the duties of a Governor is rising Colony like this, arduous and difficult, But these have invariably been met by Your Excellency
ith great affability, temper, and consideration
Your social qualities, so eminently calculated to produce eneral harmony and contience, also call forth car warm xpression of feeling towards you.
In conveying to Your Excellency this pledge of car re- pect and esicem, we cannot refrain from expressing an fardest bope that you may return to us with renewed ealth, and we reel persuaded that the mterests of the Colo y, and Mercantile community here and in other places of De Chinese Emple, will occupy some of your leisure dur hg your absence. We have the bonour to remain, Sir,
ir obedient and faithful servants.
Jareline, Matheson & Co.
John Deut.
M. W. Pitelier.
Dent & Cu.
Lindsay & Co.
Chas. P. Stimrt.
I, Sell & Co.
Rawle Drinker & Co. Neave & Co.
Gilman & Co.
Gah, Iivingston & Co. Burrow, Stephenson & Co. E. & D. Laicsea & Co. John Hard & Co. Phillips, àfoore & Co. Dio, Gray & Co. Turner & Co. Holiday, Wise & Co. Dallas & Co.
Jamieson, Gifford & Co.
George Barnet & Co. Ripley. Smit & Co. Blenkin. Rawson & Co. Williams, Anshan & Co. Fletcher & Co.
Melwen & Co. Boura & Co.
John Rickett.
John Lamont.
David Dir.
G. Duddell,
Arch Edward Campbell.
J. F. Edger.
Francis Chumley.
A. C. Maclean
David Jardine.
Wilkinson Dent.
A. Campbeli. Walter Davidson.
Oriental Bank Corporaten.
George Lyal!.
8. Dricker.
S. H. Rawle.
C. W. Murray. Prucis &. Birley, W. W. Dule. Bound N. Show. John Holiday. Frederick Barker. Alexander Gifford, George Barnet W P. Smyth. W. H. Smith.
Alex. Percival.
0. Cleverly,
S. Rawson Max. Fischer. W. H Lace.
C. D. Willins,
Henry Ambon JA George L. Hasle.11. 1. Fletter.
Archi. Cunguel!. Willian Koss.
T. C. Piece.
R B. Sherard.
11. A. Jnce.
Willan Dent. Elwand Reimers.
J. C. Bowring.
M. A. Muclea
J. C. Baldwin.
John B. Compton. John Goddard.
F. A. Kangel.
Alex. Wilson. Kobert Gerrard. R. J. Ginna.
Thomas C. Leslie.
William J. Preston. Adam Scott.
Robert Strachan.
0. C. Edmond, Superinten- Sena. Gray,
dent Peninsular & Uriental W. Lamond.
Steam Navigation Co.
T. J. Gibb.
James Stephenson.
Eduljee Perdooujce.
R. Jardine
| E. Cohen,
W. Ellis.
W. Gaskell.
W. Moresby.
J. V. Caldas.
A. R. Hudson.
J. A. Wiener.
}
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, VICTORIA, HONGKONG. 30th March, 1852.
GENTLEMEN,It is with sincere gratification that I inite perused your address of the 25th instant, presented to me by a deputation headed by the Honorable David Jardine, Esquire, in which address you are pleased to convey to me to the expression of your regret at my departure from China, and of your satisfaction with my administration during the time that I have held the several offices of Governor of Hongkon, ler Majesty's Plenipotentiory, and Chief Superintendent of British Trade in Chine.
I assure yon Gentlemen, that the feeling which I ex- perience un learning that my official acts during the last four years have given satifaction to a body so highly respectable and influential as that which has now done the bonor to address me, is one of unfeigned pleasure. I have certainly no hesitation in declaring that having always endeavoured to discharge my official duties withi honesty and impartiality. my gratification on finding my exertions so fully appreciated by you is both: deep and sincere. One portion of your address lus particularly pleased we refer to that part in which you state that the changes which, with the assistance of the Legislative Council, I have effecte:l in the administration o: justice in i this Colony, have gained the coufidence of all, and given great satisfaction to the respectable portion of the Chinese community, whereby the condition and character of that part of the population have not only been materially im- proved. but the native trade has also been gradually to. crcased. Those changes, involving as they did, in my Jutgement, the welfare of the Catcry, and the protection of its inhabitants, had from the first moment of my ar zival, my best attention. My former position as over. ner of the Straits' settlement (a Colony not dissimilar to Hongkong in regard to its population) doubtless afford. ed me fair means for at once judging of the modifications required these were effecteil as early as possible, and I an now happy to find from your address that the result i has proved successful, and has met with general approval. You are quite right, Gentlemen, iu your observation that the duties of Guven or in a Colony like Hongkong are not without difficulties. But the realy, Louest, and cordial support which I have at all times met at the Hands of the whole of the respectable portion of the community has tended to ease the task and to relieve me from much anxiety.
I shall ort dwell on your kind compliment to my per- | sal qrediths. What have done in this respect. as only heen the pleasing privilege of recipronting the friendly and hospitable feelings shewn to me by the China community from the day of may arrival.
You may be satisfied tant. I shall always take a great interest in the welfare of this Culony, and should. during my residence in Ragland, any opportunity offer for pro moting its interests. my exertions towards that end with aut he wanting in the proper quarter.
In conclusion, allow me to express tmce utore the pra tification which die perusal of your address has afford me--and to offer you my thanks for your find wishes for the re-establishment of my health which, I hope, will at the close of the year, be such as to male me to return to my public duties, and to a society of whose friendly and favouraude sentiments 1 have received so many strong proofs.
And with my best wishes for your health and pros- perity, have the honor to remain, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,
(Signed) S. G. BONHAM.
To the Honorable DAVID JARDINE, Esq.
WILKINSON DENT. Esq.
C. J. F. STUART, Esq.
GEOROM LYALL, Esq., and others.
16777/52
235
Farwell Address of the CHINESE INHABITANTS 4′′ Vietnia to His Excellency 8: GEORGE BOMIAN, KU, Y., on the occasion of his departure for England, Marca 39, 1852.
Translation)
Your petitioners, Shopkeepers, and Insbicants of the Town of Victoria, and their repoe, Torgenin, of shemy- sro, Fong-, of 7-ping-san, and Sung-king, of Chang wn and Haust, respectfully present this unanimous ad. drese u express thair sincere wish to see Your Excellency return gab to your high postion ne Governor of this Colony, thet dey may once more lock up to, and A in your precious presence.
Your Positioners es to mind with sentiments of the bigbeat respect. the ntulity u. benevolence that have ever chamcterised Your Exacliercy's adminis;ndon airce your arrival at the Culony a benevolence cut bas never failed to seek out and roheve the secret griets of every private in- vidual, and wisdom, that hos resulted in the marked improvement of the sclae of car military defendees, They contemplate with rare gratitude the power that bas Baudeservedly protected thom, and congratulate the selves in the happy forture that fina blessed tie with Your Excelency's overshadowing presenoo. They sent the quiet existence is they have pasted in the undisturbed pussit of their several vocations, whely and entirely to Yar Excellency's Loundless beeeee.
Your Petitioners have learnt with sentiments of desp reveremen that Your Excellency is on the point of randag to England to be aired into the August Presence of Her Most Gracious Majesty: and while songs of eulogy roesund Lroughout the Colony, every heart thorsins the nasurance chat Your Excellency will be gratified by a friendly and warhearted reception at the hands of Your Soveragn.
Your Petits would contemplato with beertelt awe that ability and intrepidity of character, the springa of which lie so deeply hid in Your Excellunty' breast, and they would dwell with respect upon that purity and upriglass of soul, thefe of which has earend far beyond the sea25-
Now happily overshadowed by the clouds of Yan: Excel- lancy's presence, Your Petitioners wey lock op and acrire, although unable to approach; ere lung Lowever, deprivad of Your Excoleney's lit-giving indusure, it will only remain for 1em to dwell upon it in memory with easeles Affection and respect it will be out of their pofer to divine when that Lappy day will come on whalels the fluttering of Your Excellency's gay streamers in the breeze, wil indicate yeur longod for return, and encourage Livim ose again to trust themselves to the guiding star of their existence, and to bask in the ean of their day.
Blow by sentiments of the deepest gratitude, Your Petitenner will feel it arivilege to escart Your Excel- lenny's departing car, with heads bowed 1st in dust, ond enireat Your Exceleney to return is galo.
Would that Your Baecileney were not sheut to leave us? Would you poukl be peranded in your rich bensakce to turn again, and come once more sinong us, as that we might be pain refreshed by your glorious presence, and once more overdiadowed by your gracina protection Now deeply and sincerely Your Petulonas desire it!
Your Pelikaners address this respectful petition, wishing Your Reelietey pesce aud prosperity.
To is reflency
SIR GE HONE & M. K. C.B.,
Her Britannic Moysis's Plenipotentiary and Burper- intendens of British Tracia in China, and Governor of longway and its Hependemeres. (Signe and sealed by 00 Individuals and Firms)
WII. ManuGEST, Transsted by
Charter Secciarg
Mar. 1552
Reply of His ezilency &rn Grona Berxaм, K.C.R.,
to the Karesmeli Address of the Chinese Inhabitants of Victeria.
Her blajesty's Flenipotentary his dece much gratified by the handsome nod feeling address just presented thu ky the Climmere Shopkeepers and Inhabitants of Hongkong, and he is rejaced to And it at so mach peace and prosperity prevail, and that they have nojoyed such freedom from all Jrnlestation.
Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary heartily sympathiser with the petitioners in the serer triela which as many of the bave lately undergone, and his congratantos thera on li prevent rupavery from the effects of the fire through the exertions of the more intuential an:ong heir voo:Beys.
Der Majesty's Plenipotentiary now leaves them in the sanguine le cluas they will soon again enjoy their fort er peace and oppress, and that or bia rature, he shall fo the Colony bu a feurish and prospersue condition.
GOVERNMENT Orricks,
30th March, 1852.
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