THE CHINA MAIL.
HONGKONG, MONDAY, MAY 5, 1879.
GENERAL GRANT IN HONGKONG,
GRAND STATE DINNER AND RECEP. TION AT GOVERMENT HOUSE. On Saturday evening a grand "State dinner was given at Government House by the Governor and Mrs. Hennessy, in honour of General Grant; and afterwards a re ep. tion was held, which was one of the most brilliant and numerously attended that ever took place within these walla.
The following were the guests at the State Dinner {---
General and Mrs. Grant,
The Duke of Magliano,
Don Giulio Grasioli,
Hon. A. E. Borie,
H. E. the Major General and Mrs Doi
novari,
The Chief Justice Sir John Smale, and
Lady Smale,
Commodore emith, R.N.,
Hoo. J. Russell, & cung Actorgey-Gei gradj Hon, P. Ryrie, MLC
Hon. J. M. Price, Surveyor-General,
Hon. M. S. Tonuochy, Acting Colonial
Treasurer,
Mr Chester Holcombe, U.S. Chargé d'Af
faires in China,
Lieut.-Col. F. D. Grant, U.S.A. Lieut.-Col and Mrs. Geddes, 27th Inut-
skillings,
Captain Kasama, Japanese Navy, Commander Perkins, United States Navy, Commander Paul (.B.M.' Consul,
Manila) and Mrs. Pauli,
Mr Tara Audo, Japanese Consul, and Mrs.
Tara Ando,
Commander Von Schuckmann, German
Navy,
Captain Kerr, 27th Inniskillings,
Lieut. Drummond, Scots Fusilier Guards,
A.D.C.,
Dr. J. M. Keating,
Mr C. V. Creagh,
Mr J. Russell Young,
Mr J. Pitman,
Mr G. De Champeaux,
Mr Han Hap,
Mr Ng Choy,
Major Palmer, R.E., A.D.C.
The following ladies and gentlemen who
had recolved invitations, were, from various
cansos, unable to attend :-
Bishop Burdon and Mrs. Burdon, Bishop Raimondi,
Hon. H. W. Marah, Colonial Secretary and
Mrs Marab,
The Hon. I. B. Gibb,
Colonel Moaby, U.S. Copaul, Hongkong,
Mr Lincoln, U.S. Consul at Canton, and
Mre. Láncoln,
Surgeon-Major Hungerford,
Rev. R. Bayward Kidd, Colonial Chaplain,
and Mrs, Kidd,
Dr. Frederick Stewart,
Captain Muskett, Army Pay Department.
The following programme was played during dinner-
1. Grand March, { David and
2. Overture,
B. Selection,{
6. Valse,
5. Selection,...
Absalom, Longhurst.
............. Kübezahll.........Flotow. Das Nachtlager Kreutzer.
in Granada,
The Officers,..... Bigottio...
14-
..Coote. Verdi.
6. Polka, .............................Telephone,.................... Werner, After the toast of the "fler Majesty the Queen," which was duly honoured in the usual way, the band playing "God Save the Queen,"
His Excellency said :-The Governor of this Colony has from time to time had the privilege of welcoming, in the name of the whole community, distinguished visitors. One of the children of our Queen has been
residing in this house, and my immediate predecessor entertained here a son of the Emperor of Russia. But I believe the young princes would be themselves among the first to say that the man whose health I am now about to propose, is the most illustrious guest that ever sat at this table. I do not refer so much to the military achievements which will for ever rank the name of Ulysses Grant with those of Washing- tou, Wellington, and Napoleon, but to those other achievements, indicated by Lord Beaconsfield, when he truly said that the future of civilization is indissolubly bound up in the future of the United States- those other achievements, accomplished by the toleration, resolute strength, and love of justice of the statesman, when the sword of the soldier was laid aside. Two years have gone since he first saw, at Uork har- bour, the shores of the British Empire. During that time he has visited the Old World, breathed the Scotch air of hie ancestors, and passed on from point to point of Queen Victoria's dominions; and now, on leaving this Island and crossing the Pacific to his own home, he is about to part with
that Empire throughout the whole of which he has been received with one long ovation of respect and affection. As the Queen's representative, and in the name of every one in this Colony, I thank bim for giving us this oppor tinity of showing him that we all appreciate his character and career. Will you forgive me, ladies and gentlemen, if I presume to add that there are one or two pois.nal reasons also why it afforda me peculiar pleasure to see General Grant at my table. During the whole of those ever-memorable years, from the day when he drilled his company of volunteers at Galena, to the capture of Richmond and the surrender of the rebel army, I was in a small way wixed up in public affairs in England, as a mem ber of that assembly the power of which, for good or evil, is not confined within the bounds of England's Sovereignty. It ta now a matter of history that in both Houses of the British Parliament there were friends and focs of Freedom, but we may recall with pride the fact that two men so diverse in person and disposition and party rela tions as John Bright and Benjamín Dia- raeli, were sagacious enough to know that the honour of their own Country and the welfare of the World were associated with the cause for which Ulysses Grant was con- tending, Whilst Bright was repairing the blanders of one or two eminent men of the Liberal party, the great Conservative Chief was, to my own personal knowledge, labouring night and day to counteract unreasoning prejudice amongst his own followers, and it is ever to me a source of intense satisfaction that, though in a very humble way no doubt, I was one of those members of the House of Commons who loyally supported his prudent and patriotic policy, but this is not the only personal reason that is present to my mind to-night. 1 am a citizen of Cork. I come from that corner of the Old World, nearest, and not lewas dear, to the United States; and on behalf of my fellow citizens I now assure General Grant that in no part of the civilia- ed globe would he bave received a heartier welcome, if he had honoured us with a visit, than in my native city. I now invite you to drink his health, and wili nek you not to forget the charming lady at my right, and her family; for, within the last few minutes, & telegram ban resoh¦ #d them from London, announcing the birth of a grand-child, so that General Grant, though still comparatively a young man, younger indeed to-day sban Washington when he first became President, has, as a grandfather, added another little link to unite the two countries together. I give you, with all my hurt, the health of Leneral Grant.
Was
General Grant, in raply, said :----I am very grateful to you for your kind address, to which I would be happy to respond, but there is so much personal and flattering to myself that I find as impossible. It is only a continuance of the kiduess that i have
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