346.
GOVERNORS
Continuation
Before concluding this article we might consider the next of the administrators in the list, Sir Samuel George Bonham, whose name recalls Bonham Strand, well known to everyone here. He preferred the title Sir George Bonham, and was thus officially designated.
I have already given a reference to his career in the course of these articles (see 3-11-33). It is pleasing to note that Sir George was one of the most successful Governors of this place, if we are to judge from the fact he was liked by the majority of the residents, and he certainly achieved a great deal for the betterment of the administration and conditions in general.
His term lasted from March 1848 to April 1854, and on his departure he was the recipient of cordial public addresses and good wishes on all hands. He died in 1863.
In the summary of the regimes of the different Governors of the Colony, yesterday, we concluded with a reference to Sir George Bonham, one of the best-liked administrations Hongkong has ever known. We come next to Sir John Bowring, who was Governor from April 1854 to May 1859. In Bowrington (Bowring Town) at Happy Valley, we have to-day a commemoration of this gentleman: and at one time the Praya West was called Bowring's Praya. He had been British Consul at Canton, when plain Dr. Bowring, and acting Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China; prior to which he had distinguished himself in Europe in the realm of literature, being a scholar, with a fine command of foreign languages, and was one of the original co-editors of the Westminster Review. He entered Parliament as member for Kilmarnock in 1833, and later for Bolton (1841 to 1849). It was in the latter period of his Parliamentary service that he commenced to take a great interest in this part of the world, and drew attention to the alleged illegal floggings practised at Hongkong. In 1849 he accepted a Consular appointment and came out to China, where he continued his scholarly pursuits, delivering literary studies of China and the Chinese, and resuscitating Hongkong branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (later to pass definitely out of existence).
There is no doubt that he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all the ministerial groups at Home, but in his conduct of affairs locally, after his appointment as Governor, he left much to be desired. Made a knight Bachelor while in England on leave at the end of 1853, he was appointed to succeed Sir George Bonham as Governor of the Colony of Hongkong and Trade Superintendent, the commercial appointment eventually being separated and lapsing completely.
Within a fortnight of his arrival here Sir John Bowring received news of the declaration of war against Russia, and presumably with an exaggerated idea of his duties, set off with the Naval commander-in-chief in these waters, Admiral Sir James Stirling, for Chusan, "hoping to intercept the Russian fleet under the command of Count Pontiatin." However, the Russians had departed for some unknown destination, and the new Governor returned to Hongkong, his jaunt in the guise of his supplementary title of "Commander-in-Chief and Vice-Admiral" calling down ridicule in certain quarters on this worthy man.
346.
GOVERNORS
Continuation
Before concluding this article we might consider the next of the administrators in the list, Sir Samuel George Bonham, whose name recalls Bonham Strand, well known to everyone here. He preferred the title Sir George Bonhan, and was thus officially designated.
I have already given a reference to his career in the course of these articles (see 3-11-33). It is pleasing to note that Sir George was one of the most successful Governors of this place, if we are to judge from the fact he was liked by the majority of the residents, and he certainly achieved a great deal for the betterment of the administration and conditions in general.
His term lasted from March 1848 to April 1854, and on his departure he was the recipient of cordial public addresses and good wishes on all hands. He died in 1863.
In the summary of the regimes of the different Governors of the Colony, yesterday, we concluded with a reference to Sir George Bonham, one of the best-liked administrations Hongkong has ever known. We come next to Sir John Bowring, who was Governor from April 1854 to May 1859. In Bowrington (Bowring Town) at Happy Valley, we have to-day a commemoration of this gentleman: and at one time the Praya West was called Bowring's Praya. lle had been British Consul at Canton, when plain Dr. Bowring, and acting Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China; prior to which he had distinguished himself in Europe in the realm of literature, being a scholar, with a fine command of foreign languages, and was one of the original co-editors of the Westminster Review. He entered Parlia- ment as member for Kilmarnock in 1833, and her for Bolton (1841 to 1849). It was in the latter period of his Parliamentary service that he commenced to take a great interest in this part of the world, and drew attention to the alleged illegal floggings practised at Hongkong. 1849 he accepted a Consular appointment and came out to China, where he continued his scholarly pursuits, delivering into literary studies of China and the Chinese, and res- uscitating Hongkong branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (later to pass definitely out of existence.)
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There is no doubt that he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all the ministerial groups at Home, but in his conduct of affairs locally, after his appointment as Governor, he left much to desired. Made a knight Bachelor while in England on leave at the end of 1853, he was appointed to succeed Sir George Bonham as Governor of the Colony of Hongkong and Trade Superintendent, the commercial appointment eventually being separated and lapsing completely.
Within a fortnight of his arrival here Sir John Bowring received news of the declaration of war against Russia, and presumably with an exaggerated idea of his duties, set off with the Naval commander-in-chief in these waters, Admiral Sir James Stirling, for Chusan, "hoping to intercept the Russian fleet under the command of Count Pontiatin." However, the Russians had departed for some unknown destination, and the new Governor returned to Hongkong, his jaunt in the guise of his supplementary title of "Commander-in-Chief and Vice-Admiral" calling down ridicule in certain quarters on this worthy man.
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