CO129-212 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [10-11] — Page 164

16

Hell among

the inevitable "interviewers"

of the boat journals. One of them has published in his newspaper the

enclosed notes of my recent journey. They are generally accurate, though imperfect both in suatter and in

:

style.

の

I

annex also an

translated from

Enclosure

extract Enclosures

an article in one

of

the Chinese venacular newspapers

published at Hongkong, which

comments

on any

my recent journey.

5.7.13.

(1)

SOME NOTES OF H. E. THE GOVERNOR'S JOURNEY TO

THE NORTH.

His Excellency left Hongkong for Shang- bai on the 3rd September in the Indo-China Stam Navigation Company's steamer Po- sun. It seems that His Excellency had intimated his wish to confer with Sir Harry Parkes on several matters connected with the Government of Hongkong, in its relations to the neighbouring Empire ; and the newly-appointed British Minis- ter in China had invited Sir George to meet him in Shanghai in the early part of September. The voyage to Shanghai was very pleasant, and His Excellency sponks highly of the Posing. On arriving in Shang hai, His Excellency Sir Harry Parkes, who had only just arrived from Japan, gave the Governor a pressing invitation to go on with him to Peking, where all the official papers required in a discussion on Hongkong af- fairs would be at hand, and where they could discuss more at their leisure the matters Sir George Bowen wished to be taken into consideration. After a stay in Shanghai of three or four days, during which Sir George saw as much of the Model Settle- ment" as possible, His Excellency left it in the Koushing, on engage to Chefgo and Tientsin.

i

Shanghai very favourably impressed Bis Excellency, and he thinke

It iz

thoroughly deserving of the name of the "Model Settlement." He wired its tine bund, bordered with trees, its substantial and handsome buildings, its Public Gardens, and splendid roads; indeed Sir George even went so far as to say the bund reminded him of the Thaneg Embankment. Everywhere he obserped signs of the advantages of local self-govern- ment; for the settlement is governed by a freply elected Municipality, which has complete control over the Police, the public works, and all other local affairs.

Chefon, the Governor thought, had been aptly termed the Brighton of China. Too voyage from Chefou to Tientsin was made in the din Nancing, another admirably appointed steamer of Messra Jardine, Ma- theson & Co.

At Tientsin, His Excellency had several interviews with the great Viceroy, the "Bismarck of China," Li Hung Chang, by whom he was received with marked dis- tinction. In the course of one of these in- terviews, an interesting conversation en- sued. Li Hung Chang expressed himself strongly in favour of peace and progress. Telegraphs and railways would, he thought, be of great benefit to China, but in his en- deavours to introduce these means of pro-

gress he had met with a great deal of opposi tion from the "country gentry" and the li-

terati. Sir George Bowen consoled Li Hung Chang with the remark that he recollected when the country gentlemen of England, and the literati of that kingdom, were generally opposed to the introduction of railways. About the year 1835, said His Excellency, by way of instance, the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the chief seats of learning in England, petitioned Parliament against railways being allowed to come near their cities. He had, however, lived to see pro- grees overthrow all these obstructions in England, and he hoped that the next gene- ration of Chinese would overthrow all si- milar obstructions in China.

While Li Hung Chang is in favour of peace and progress, the impression formed by His Excellency during his trip to the North is that China is preparing for war, if inevitable. He witnessed the warlike preparations made at the Taku Forts, which repulsed the allied French and English Floet in 1859. He was impressed with the presunt defensive strength of these forti- fications, which are mounted with heavy Krupp guus, An American officer in charge of the Chinese Torpedo corps, told His Excellency that it alone would prove a most formidable obstruction to any hostile fleet. The Peiho reminded His Excellency of the Tiber-in ita breadth, the colour of its wa- tors, and the strength of the current.

Li Hung Chang entertained His Excel- lency in Tientsin at a magnificent banquet,

to which the British and Frosch Ministers 162

were also invited. It was an admirably arranged and successful affair. Li Hung Chang's official residence is in the native city, but he has had a new Palace built in the foreign style on the bund, containing handsome and spacious drawing rooms, din- ing rooms, and the other appurtenances of a European tuansion. The banquet was held there. About forty guests sat down to the banquet, which was served with much taste and splendour. The following was the menu, which was printed in Chinese and English :----

BILL OF FABE. Say

盒子牛尾湯 Ox-tail. 燕菜雞鴨淸湯 clear.

Chicken and Duck

Hui-wang, baked.

Honeyed Ham.

Entrees.

Fish

生燒鰉魚 蜜炙南腿

【烤麫盒

清湯仙来 煎羊牌骨 紅燒笋乾 冷凍鴨乾

Patés à la financière.

Heroes Meat.

Matton Cutlets.

Dried BambooShoots.

Aspic of foie gras.

紅燒魚翅鴿蛋 pigeon eggs.

Fish Sinews

Roast.

火鷄火腿

口蘑湯

洋芋頭 安豆 杏仁茶 八寶飯

̇格郎蒲工

栗子粉

with

Turkey with Ham.

Mushroom soup.

Sweets.

Custard Pudding.

Almond tea.

Purde of Chestnuts.

Rice Pot-pourri.

Dessert.

Biscuits.

Fruits.

20th September, 1883.

Various European wines

were taken round after the European courses, and Chi- nese wines, and lippers in silver goblets after the Chinese courses, After the banquet La Bung Chang proposed, through one of his secretaries, who spoke in Freach, the health of the two foreign minis- ters present, and the health of the Governor of Hongkong. They acknowledged the compliment, and proposed the health of His Excellency Li Hung Chaug. These were the only toasts. The Imperial Chinese Band played during the proceedings. This hand numbersthirty members, who are dress- ed in uniform and play the usual Euro- pean instruments, under the

din ction

of a French banduaster. They performed the following selection very creditably on this occasion :--

1. MARCH "Mama ni lo ha t'u,"....bigel.

2. FANTASIA "Lucrezia Borgia, "...Donizetti.

3. POLKA...... Zick Zack,

4. CNCERT."Redowa,"

Lubitzky.

5. CHINESE FANTASIA for "Soo-na,"... Biyel.

6. QUADRILLE.....** Popular,”.

A. BIGEL,

Masa Direstor

The Band played "God Save the Queen” on the arrival of Sir George Bowen and of Sir Harry Parkos, and **La Marseillaise” on the arrival of the French Minister.

The Viceroy, in the course of one of his conversations with Sir George Bowen, men- tioned that he was 62 years of age, and that he no longer felt the same vigour, as when he put down the Taiping rebellion with the help of his friend Colonel Gordon.

Then," said Sir George, "Your Excel lency was born in the year 1821, in which the great Napoles died. Nature abhors a vacuum, and has evidently created in you a new Napoleon of the East to replace the Napoleon of the West," The Viveroy ap- poars to have been pleased by this cold- pliment, for turning to the English Consul, he said tell the Governor that I place my steam yachts at his disposal to tow His Ex- cellency's boat up the Peiho."