Having read with great interest some articles published in the Hongkong newspapers referring to the public demonstration of good will towards Lieut. General Sargent and his family on their leaving that Island, and the universal expression of regret on that officer relinquishing a command, in the execution of the duties of which he appears to have won for himself the well-merite confidence and full appreciation of the community at large, I could not refrain from seeking of my dear and worthy relative a perusal of the original document containing the gratifying and highly complimentary address presented to kim on board the steamer about to convey him and his family to England, by a deputation composed of Members of the Legislature and of the most influential of the civil and mercantile European and Chinese communities of the Colony.
My desire having been gratified, I feel loth to withhold from our numerous mutual friends and relatives, who cannot enjoy the same privilege, the oppor tunity of possessing a copy of it; and having obtained permission to print it for that purpose, I will add the encomiums contained in the newspapers which first drew my attention to it.
I have known General Sargent (with whom I am proud to claim relation- ship as a brother-in-law) from his early youth, and witnessed in the buy those noble qualities of honor, integrity, and fearless discharge of every obligation he considered to be his duty, which, further developed, now characterises the man, the undaunted and the distinguished soldier.
I am sure all related to him, and all having the privilege of his friendship or acquaintance, will share with me the unbounded gratification that the gullant and faithful services rendered by him to his Queen and country, marked by Her Majesty's approbation in his being selected for the responsibility of commanding her Forces in so distant and important a dependency, should also have elicited the grateful recognition of the community whose safety and protection were committed to his charge.
All his friends will, I am sure, join with me in the sincere and hearty prayer that he may long be spared in the enjoyments of health and every domestic happiness to acquire all the prosperity and advancement attainable in the noble profession to which he is so thoroughly devoted.
In an appendix I will insert a brief summary of our worthy friend's officially recognised distinguished services, and a few incidents connected with his past interesting military career.
Worthing, 6th June, 1885.
W. T. LAYARD,
General.
and
AM informed that the first time Lieut..General Sargent heard anything whatever about a public address to him was a few days before he left the Colony, when the Honourable P. Ryrie, (the oldest resident English Merchant in Hongkong, senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council), took a printed copy of the document to Head Quarter House, intimating his having been deputed by a Committee of Gentlemen to express the hope that the General would receive from the community of Hongkong a farewell address upon the day of his departure. This was conveyed in the kindest and most compli- mentary terms by Mr. Ryrie to General Sargent, who valued them all the more, coming as they did from a gentleman so conspicuous as Mr. Ryrie always was for his thorough indepen- dence of charactor.
The Committee referred to by Mr. Ryrie consisted of the following gentlemen, who also prepared the Address :-The Hon. Sir G. Phillippo, Chief Justice of Hongkong, and senior Official Member of the Legislative Council; the Hon. P. Ryrie; the Hon. W. Keswick, bead partner in China of Messrs. Jardine Matheson and Co.; the Hon. T. Jackson, Chief Manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank; the Hon. F. D. Sassoon, head partner in China of his firm, all Unofficial Members of the Legis. lative Council; Major Tripp, Merchant, and Commanding the Hung- kong Volunteers; and Captain J. J. Francis, the leading Barrister at the Hongkong Bar, a Captain in the Hongkong Volunteers.
On embarkation the General was met by the deputation, headed by Mr. Ryrie, who addressed him as follows:-General, the performance of the very pleasing duty assigned to me on the present occasion gives me the most intense pleasure, and I can say my personal esteem for you cannot be exceeded by any one who has the honour of your acquaintance. As regards the public of
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