(Contd.)
attitude he maintained as a journalist in colonial politics, he could never recover more than a portion of his claim, notwithstanding the employment of every means available to a private suitor.
"The balance due, with interest must now amount to a sum largely exceeding £20,000, and it is to be hoped that with his death all personal feeling will also expire, and the Government will now be prepared to make a just and generous settlement with his widow and family.
758
"In 1858, Mr. Murrow, cut adrift by the exigencies of the war from his business as a merchant, took over the Hong Kong Daily Press newspaper, which he edited personally for many years, and of which he continued to be proprietor until his death. For this position he was peculiarly fitted by education
and by great natural ability, combined with long experience and the habit of careful observation and the patient reflection which he possessed. Although not without some of the opinionativeness which these qualities are calculated to produce, his views as a rule were broad and liberal, and exercised great influence among both foreigners and natives. Indeed, an official who now occupies the highest rank in the service elsewhere (this was Sir Robert Hart, of Chinese Customs fame) observed of him in reference to the want of cohesion in the British Community, "there is no public opinion in China, save Murrow's."
"In striking contrast to his exertion in bringing the Chinese into contact on an extensive scale with Western civilisation in a legitimate and beneficent manner for so it must be considered, although initiated for his own advantage stands the use he made of the Daily Press in furthering the agitation (the costly brunt of which, however, fell eventually on the China Mail) to put an end to the Macao coolie traffic, which was carried on under conditions as horrible and disgraceful as any known in the African slave trade. It was a matter of notoriety at the time that he was offered and refused a bribe of $10,000 to discontinue his exposure of the iniquities of the system.
"As a journalist he exercised publicly that dominant influence on local opinion which had been one of his chief characteristics in private life. He especially signalised himself by the fearless courage, energy and perseverance which he displayed in exposing and rectifying the abuses which seemed inseparable with the founding of every British Colony, increased and intensified in the case of Hong Kong by the events of the war. Perhaps his principal achievement in this respect was his success in suppressing piracy. It may seem a strange and strong thing to say, but there is no doubt Mr. Murrow, in addition to the support he gave in suppressing the Macao coolie slave trade, also crippled the piracy which had attained such dimension as to be the curse of the Colony.
"The pirates had numerous confederates domiciled in Hong Kong, who by aid of official connivance were at times enabled to control even our ships of war. Mr. Murrow succeeded in tracing out this infamous system, and having done so, dauntlessly unmasked it.
"In private life Mr. Murrow was conspicuous for his disinterestedness and generosity. His life was perhaps more devoted to others than to himself, and none sought his advice or aid in vain. On his leaving China the Parsee community made him a handsome presentation of silver plate as a mark of their personal esteem and of their appreciation of his long and eminent public service.
"His later years, owing to impaired health, were chiefly
NEWSPAPERS
(Contd.)
attitude he maintained as a journalist in colonial politics, he could never recover more than a portion of his claim, notwith- standing the employment of every means available to a private sultor.
"The balance due, with interest must now amount to a sum largely exceeding £20,00, and it is to be hoped that with his death all personal feeling will also expire, and the Government will now be prepared to make a just and generous settlement with his widow and family.
758
"In 1858, Mr. Murrow, cut adrift by the exigencies of the war from his business as a merchant, took over the Hong Kong Daily Press newspaper, which he edited personally for many years, and of which he continued to be proprietor until his .death. For this position he was peculiarly fitted by education
and by great natural ability, combined with long experience and the habit of careful observation and the patient reflection which he possessed. Although not without some of the opinionativeness which these qualities are calculated to produce, his biews as a rule were broad and liberal, and exercised great influence among both foreigners and natives. Indeed, an official who now occupies the highest rank in the service elsewhere (this was Sir Robert Hart, of Chinese Customs fame) observed of him in reference to the want of cohesion in the British Community, . "there is no public opinion in China, save Murrow's."
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龄
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"In striking contrast to his exertion in bringing the Chinese into contact on an extensive scale with Western civilisation in a legitimate and beneficient manner for so it must be considered, although initiated for his own advantage stands the use he made of the Daily Press in furthering the agitation (the costly brunt of which, however, fell eventually on the China Mail) to put an end to the Macao coolie traffic, which was carried on under conditions as horrible and disgraceful as any known in the African slave trade. It was a matter of notoriety at the time that he was offered and refused a bribe of $10,000 to discontinue his esposure of the iniquities of the system.
"As a journalist he exercised publicly that dominant influence on local opinion which had been one of his chief characteristics in private life. He especially signalised himself by the fearless courage, energy and perseverance which he displayed in exposing and rectifying the abuses which seen insepar able with the founding of every British Colony, increased and intensified in the case of Hong Kong by the events of the war. Perhaps his principal achievement in this respect was his success in supressing piracy. It may seem a strange and strong thing to say, but there is no doubt Mr. Murrow, in addition to the support he gave in suppressing the Macao coolie slave trade, also crippled the piracy which had attained such dimension as to be the curse of the Colony.
"The pirates had numerous confederates domiciled in Hong Kong, who by aid of official connivance were at times enabled to control even our ships of war. Mr. Murrow succeeded in tracing out this infamous system, and having done so, dauntlessly unmasked it.
"In private life Mr. Murrow was conspicuous for his disinterestedness and generosity. His life, was perhaps, more devoted to others than to himself, and none sought his advice or aid in vain. On his leaving China the Parsee community made him a handsome presentation of silver plate as a mark of their personal esteem and of their appreciation of his long and eminent public service.
"His later years, owing to impaired health, were chiefly
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