909
The architecture of St. Paul's College indicates its age and ecclesiastical origin: as does the old Bishop's House adjoining. It is not only one of the oldest schools in the Colony if not the oldest, by right of continuous descent but is housed in one of the most venerable and historic buildings in Hongkong.
It was mentioned in yesterday's history of St. Paul's College that one of the earliest teachers in that institution had been Mr. J. Summers. This individual was concerned in an episode which "made history" in every sense of the term, and a fuller reference to him is justified. The old chronicles and files have several pages devoted to the case of the youthful James Summers, and I quote the following from Norton-Kyshe's commentary on the Laws and Courts of Hongkong:
"An incident which created considerable interest at the time and occasioned some debate at Home occurred in the old Portuguese Colony of Macao on the 7th June, 1849. The English Chaplain at Hongkong, the Reverend Vincent Stenton, was at the head of a free-school (St. Paul's College wherein Mr. James Summers, an English youth of about eighteen or nineteen years of age, was an assistant-teacher. On the date above mentioned, Mr. Summers, for recreation's sake, made a short excursion to Macao, where he landed and walked about the city. In one of the narrow streets, he met a religious procession, before which he saw all the people kneeling and making obeisance. (It was the festival of Corpus Christi). Knowing that this ceremony symbolized doctrines from which he dissented, Mr. Summers declined to uncover himself, though twice summoned so to do, first by one of the officiating priests, and subsequently by a soldier. Upon this he was carried off, though without violence, to the guard-house, where he remained without having been confronted with any Magistrate for the whole of the night. The next morning he was informed that the order for his arrest being a "Governor's order" no intervention of a Magistrate was requisite, but that he would be left to abide the formal decision of the judicial authorities. Pending this trial and sentence, he was removed to another lodging which he discovered to be nothing less than the common gaol. The affair had now become disagreeable and Mr. Summers naturally looked about for the means of his release. He accordingly despatched letters to the American Consul, and to an officer whom he remembered to have been his companion in the boat, begging their good offices in his trouble and these he speedily obtained.
"The American Consul prudently reserved his own intervention until the countrymen of the prisoner had done their best, a resolution in which he was further warranted by hearing that the affair had come to the knowledge of Captain Keppel (afterwards the famous Admiral) commanding H.M.S. Meander, then accidentally lying in the Macao Roads.
"Captain Keppel's proceedings in the matter were sailor-like. He first called upon the Governor, accompanied by two officers, one of whom was Mr. Summers' fellow-passenger, and, after an explanation of the whole affair, requested the prisoner's release. On being met with a refusal, he sent a formal application in writing to the like effect, and, when no better success attended this method of negotiation, he hailed his boats, mustered the barge's crew, marched quietly to the gaol under the guns of five forts, and within musket shot of the Governor's bedroom, and released Mr. Summers from his confinement,
909
The architecture of St. Paul's College indicates its age and ecclesiastical origin: as does the old Bishop's House adjoining. It is not only one of the oldest schools in the Colony if not the oldest, by right of continuous descent but is housed in one of the most venerable and historic buildings in Hongkong.
It was mentioned in yesterday's history of St. Paul's College that one of the earliest teachers in that institution had been Mr. J. Summers. This individual was concerned in an episode which "made history" in every sense of the term, and a fuller reference to him is jus- tified. The old chronicles end files have several peges devoted to the case of the youthful James Summers, end I quote the following from Norton-Kyshe's commentery on the Laws and Courts of Hongkong:
"An incident which created considerable interest at the time and occasioned some debate et Home occurred in the old Fortuguese Colony of Macao on the 7th June, 1849. The English Chaplain at Hongkong, the Reverend Vincent Stenton, was at the heed of a free-school (St. Paul's College wherein Mr. James Summers, an English youth of about eighteen or nineteen years of age, was an assistant- teacher. On the date above mentioned, Mr. Summers, for recreation sɛke, made a short excursion to Macao, where he landed and walked about the city. · In one of the narrow streats, he met e religious procession, before which he saw all the people kneeling and making obeisance. (It was the festival of Corpus Christi). Knowing that this ceremony symbolized doctrines from which he dissented, Mr. Summers declined to uncover himself, though twice summoned so to do, first by one of the officiating priests, end subsequently by a soldier. Upon this he was carried off, though without violence, to the guard-house, where he re- mained without having been confronted with any Magistrate for the whole of the nignt. The next morning he was informed that the order for his arrest being a "Governor's order" no intervention of a Megistrete was requisite, but that he would be left to abide the formal decision of the judicial authorities. Pending this trial end sentence, he was re- moved to another lodging which he discovered to be nothing less than the common gaol. The affair had now become disagreeab le and Mr. Summers naturally looked about for the means of his release. He accordingly despatched letters to the American Consul, and to an officer whom he remembered to have been his companion in the boat, begging their good offices in his trouble and these he speedily obtained.
"The American Consul prudently reserved his own intervention until the countrymen of the prisoner bed done their best, a resolution in which he was further warranted by bearing that the affair had come to the knowledge of Captain Keppel (afterwards the famous Admirel) commending H.M.S. Moeander, then accidentaly lying in the Maceo Foeds.
"Captain Keppel's proceedings in the matter were sailor- like. He first called upon the Governor, accompanied by two officers, one of whom was Mr. Summers' fellow-passenger, end, after an explanation of the whole affair, requested the prisoner's release. On being met with e refusal, he sent a formel application in writing to the like effect, and, when no better success attended this method of negotiation, he hailed his boets, mustered the berge's crew, marched quietly to the gaol under the guns of five forts, and within musket shot of the Governor's bedroom, and released Mr. Summers from his confinement,
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