In the summarised history of the Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps published in the course of these articles recently (see 30-1-34) reference was made to the visit in 1864 of a group of Hongkong Volunteers to Macao, on the invitation of the Governor of the Portuguese colony. It was a great event in the annals of the Corps, and the men were entertained lavishly and given a big welcome. Perhaps the best idea of the events connected with that visit is obtainable from the following report which appeared in a London paper in January 1865, as showing also how important the Macao-Hongkong rapprochement was considered at the time and its news value at Home. Not only did the journal publish an account sent by its Hongkong correspondent, but also a fairly large sketch of the affair, and this sketch I reproduce to-day.
It is worth quoting the published report in full; it is well written and worthy of preservation as a historical record of the times and of the Corps:
"The Portuguese town of Macao, at the mouth of the Canton River, in China, is distant about forty miles from the Island of Hongkong; and the Governor, Senhor J.R. Coelho do Amaral by a letter to Admiral Sir Hercules Robinson, the Governor of Hongkong, lately invited the volunteer corps of the English settlement to visit Macao as his guests. The Hongkong volunteers, through their commanding officer, Major Frederick Brine, of the Royal Engineers, with the full approval of Sir Hercules Robinson, accepted this courteous invitation. On Saturday, November 19, they embarked at Fedder's-wharf, in the steamer Feiseen, and arrived at Macao, landing on the Praya Grande between one and two o'clock in the afternoon. The rifles did not muster so well as the artillery, but, including the officers, there was a total of 114. The artillery brought with them a field battery of four three-pounders and two 4.1-inch howitzers. As Major Brine and the other officers stepped ashore, they were received by Mr. Marques and other citizens of Macao, who had formed themselves into a committee of management. Having exchanged a few words of salutation with these gentlemen, the volunteers formed in capital style, with their band in front, and marched to the Governor's Palace, where they saluted His Excellency, not only with a volley, responded to by the San Francisco fort, but with three hearty cheers, returned from the balcony of the palace, while the band of the Macao battalion of Portuguese troops struck up 'God Save the Queen.' Englishmen then went to their lodgings at the Royal Hotel.
"In the evening they mostly turned out upon the parade-ground, and joined in the social promenade of the citizens, which was enlivened by the music of the band and the brilliant illuminations of the palace and hotel. On Sunday morning the Governor of Macao, with his suite, called upon the officers of the corps at the hotel, bade them welcome, and heartily shook hands with them. His Excellency even sent his Aide-de-camp and two other officers to accompany the Englishmen to the Protestant chapel, where their honorary chaplain, the Rev. T. Stringer, performed Divine service. In the afternoon the volunteers were entertained with a dejeuner laid out in the temporary pavilion erected on the parade-ground for this occasion. Our illustration, which represents the volunteers drawn up in front of this pavilion, is taken from photographs with which we are furnished by Messrs. S.W. Balsey and Co., of Hongkong.
11.
In the summarised history of the Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps published in the course of these articles recently (see 30-1-34) reference was made to the visit in 1864 of a group of Hongkong Volunteers to Macao, on the invitiation of the Governor of the Portuguese colony. It was a great event in the annals of the Corps, and the men were entertained lavishly and given a big welcome. Perhaps the best idea of the events connected with that visit is obtainable from the following report which appeared in a London paper in January 1865, as showing also how important the Maceo-Hongkong rapprochement was considered at the time and its news value at Home. Not only did the journal publish an account sent by its Hongkong correspondent, but also a fairly large sketch of the affair, and this sketch I reproduce to-day.
It is worth quoting the published report in full; it is well written and worthy of preservation as a historio record of the times and of the Corps:
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"The Portuguese town of Macao, at the mouth of the Centon River, in China, is distent about forty miles from the Island of Hongkong; and the Governor, Senhor J.R. Coelho do Amaral by a letter to Admiral Sir Heroules Robinson, the Governor, of Hongkong, lately invited the volunteer corps of the English settlement to visit Macao as his guests.. The Hongkong volunteers, through their commanding officer, Major Frederick Brine, of the Royal Engineers, with the full approval of $ir Hercules Robinson, accepted this courteous invitation. On Saturday, November 19, they embarked at Fedder's-wherf, in the steamer Feiseen, and arrived at Macao, landing on the Praya Grande between one and two
· o'clock in the afternoon. The rifles did not muster so well as the artillery, but, including the officers, there was a to tal total of 114. The artillery brought with them a field battery of four three-pounders and two, 41-inch howitzers.: As Major Brine and the other officers stepped ashore, they were received by Mr. Marques and other citizens of Macao, who had formed themselves into a committee of management. Having exchanged a few words of salutation with these gentlemen, the volunteers formed in capital style, with their bend in front, and merched to the Governor's Palace, where they saluted His Excellency, not only witha volley, responded to by the San Francisco fort, but with three hearty cheers, returned from the balcony of the palace, while the band of the Macao battalion of Portuguese troops struck up "God Save the Queen," Englishmen then went to their lodgings at the Royal Hotel.
The
"In the evening they mostly turned out upon the parade. ground, end joined in the social promenade of the citizens, which wes enlivened by the music of the bend and the brilliant illuminetions of the palane and hotel. On Sunday morning the Governor of Maceo, with his suite, called upon the officers of the corps at the hotel, bade them wel come, and heartily shook hands with them. His Excellency even sent his Aide-de-camp and two other officers to accompany the Englishmen to the Protestent chapel, where their honorary chaplain, he Rev. T.Stringer, performed Divine service. In the afternoon the volunteers were entertained with a dejeuner laid out in the temporary pavilion erected on the parade-ground for this occasion. Our illustration, which represents the volunteers drawn up in front of this pavilion, is teken from photographs with which we are furnished by Messrs. S.W. Balsey and Co., of Hongkong.
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