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November 21, 1895.]
SIR NICHOLAS Q’CONOR.
HE. Sir Nicholas O'Conor arrived at Shanghai on the 11th inst. by the Lienshing, and was receivel at the Associated Wharves by. Mr. Geo. Jamieson and some others. When the Lienshing passed Taku Sir Nicholas re- ceived a salute and he was saluted by H.M.S. Spartan at Woosung. His Excellency proceeds home by the P. and O. steamer Mirzapore, leaving Hongkong to-day.
The Peking correspondent of the Mercury writing on the 4th inst. says:-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
381
ture, but in its wider sense, that he, that Lady readily accessible to every British subject need- O'Conor, and those near and dear to them may ing aid or advice, and has rendered them all the fare well and enjoy in the fullest degree long assistance that has lain in his power to give. life, happiness, and prosperity wherever they may We wish to publicly express our thanks be. I have already said that the diplomatic to him for this, and gladly avail ourselves career of Sir Nicholas O'Cono has been a long of the opportunity of doing so to-night. as well as an honourable one. Few seeing the Commercial rivalry in the Far East has youthful appearance of our guest of the even. of recent years become keener and keener, The ing, would readily believe that H. E. has already time when China was considered an El Dorado had within a few months of thirty years of hard for British merchants to accumulate rapid and useful work in the public service, but such fortunes has passed-I may say has long passed. is the case, and his experience has been not in British subjects coming out here find they any one place but all over the world-in Berlin, must spend a life time to accumulate a modest The British Minister and Lady O'Conor left Washington, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro. Rio competence, even if they accomplish so much.! this city, this morning. Their departure is a Grande do Sul, Paris, Bulgaria, and last but In this settlement we hope H. E. will have great regret to many. The last few days he not least in China, where he has spent on two noted that we recognize and are using our best has been extremely busy in making or receiving occasions six years of a useful and busy life. endeavours to meet these changed conditions. calls. On Wednesday, the 30th October, he I do not propose to give at length a list of Sir We have established a park and recreation received the call of the Grand Secretary Li, Nicholas O'Conor's public services this would ground to benefit the young as well as the other which lasted for nearly three hours. On run to too great a length; but I think Tmay be members of the community; we are on the eve Thursday he made his final call on Li and permitted, and I hope with your approval and of establishing waterworks to insure a good- afterwards on the Tsungli Yamen. On Friday in consonance with your views, to say a few and ample supply of water to every house- came the final audience with the Emperor. words of how we here have found and appreciated holder; we are building substantial houses and On Saturday came the final return calls him. I address myself of course more particu- godowns of the most modern and approved of the Tsungli Yamen. We believe we larly to the members of the British community type, and educational measures and public are correct in saying that, notwith- of this settlement, who I am glad to see here schools for the near future are under considera-. standing the sharp disputes and actual represented without distinction of class or of tion, as well as other permanent improvements. collisions of the last few months, these last profession, all anxious to show their regard What we thus venture to say of ourselves is interviews were most cordial. More than that, for the guest of the evening. We also not said in any spirt of vain self-laudation. But Sir Nicholas has convinced the Tsungli Yamen welcome the presence of the representatives we are in a far countree the most remote that England is a friend and not a foe of of other nationalities resident in this of British trading settlements, and as Sir China, and has scattered the larking suspicion settlement and we thank them for the honour Nicholas O'Conor has in the past done his that England cared not for China and its they have done ns in accepting our invitation. utmost to help our modest efforts to promote welfare. And stil more important, the
We consider their presence as a proof of the British trade and to aid us to thus find employ. Minister urged as his final word of counsel good feeling which exists between them and ment, in however small degree, for the large that the Princes and Ministers delay no longer ourselves, and which we trust will always con- majority of the forty millions of our fellow. in starting reforms and improvements and in tinue. The motto of out settlement is Comitas citizens at home, we feel sure that rather than employing capable foreigners for such under-
inter gentes; it has been our earnest wish to confining ourselves to purely personal eulogy takings. His words made a very deep impres- live up to this moto, and I hope it may not be and the services he has already rendered, he sion on Prince Kung and came as with author-considered out of place if I venture to say in himself would prefer that we should show our. ity from a straightforward outspoken, true the position I occupy as Chairman, for the time confidence in his good will towards us in ex- friend, who was leaving them probably for ever. being, of the Municipal Council of this settle-pressing to him our earnest desire and petition At Tientsin on the 6th inst. the departing ment that there has been no "Great Wall" that on his return to England he will continue Minister was entertained at a banquet by the built round its boundaries, but that it has been to use his powerful influence to further British British community. Mr. E. Cousins, Chairman free and open to all nationalities without dis trading interests in the Far East. His Ex- by the Municipi Council, presided. We take tinction, and I am glad to be able to add that cellency has already helped to diminish one of from the Peking and Tientsin Times the no small part of the progress the settlement the disadvantages under which we stand in following report of the speech in which the has made and the prosperity it enjoys have been comparison with our neighbours, namely, in Chairman proposed the health of the guest of due to the work and efforts of members of other regard to transit passes (which still need fur- the evening and Sir Nicholas O'Conor's reply nations than our own. Some of these nation-ther reform) and we trust he will impress upon The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, the members alities have now acquired or are about to acquire the home Government the vital importance of the British community of Tientsin are settlements of their own, and we trust that that we shall in the present or the future in no- assembled here this evening to do such these may in due timeprosper and succeed, adding, wise and in no matter great or small be handi. honour as lies in their power to a highly as in such case they must do, to the importance capped in our friendly rivalry with other nations distinguished diplomatist and fellow citizen and prosperity of the port in which all residents for trade and commerce with this Empire. Wa upon whom Her Majesty the Queen and here are directly or indirectly interested.. But, feel sure. Sir Nicholas, that in asking you Her Majesty's Government have recently con- gentlemen, if this British settlement has made to continue to be thus the advocate of the ferred both an enviable distinction and high rapid strides in material improvement and promotion. Sir Nicholas O'Conor has, as you in prosperity, as I believe it is generally are all aware, been Her Majesty's representative acknowledged it has done, we are desirous of and our Minister in this Empire for nearly four paying a just tribute to what Sir Nicholas -years-four eventful years I think I may safely O'Conor has done to aid as in securing this say these have been at the end of which he result. Not merely has Sir Nicholas O Conor has received from those best able to judge of taken a constant and keen interest in trade and his work and services rewards of which any loyal commerce, to which I shall make further and faithful servant of his country may well be allusion, but within the limits of the general preud. Sir Nicholas O'Conor, within the past regulations which rule all British settlements. few months, has had an almost unique experience H.E. as Minister and Representative of H. M's of confidence and approval on the part of two Government, has allowed us a fr hand in the British Governments who, although entirely management of our local affairs. He has opposed to each other in home politics, severally evidently, and as we believe rightly, held and jointly have shown their appreciation of and that local men should know their local the value they set upon the work done by H. E. during a long and honourable career in the Diplomatic service. On the recommendation of the late Liberal Government, of which Lord Rosebery was first Minister of Foreign Affairs and subsequently Premier, Sir Nicholas O'Conor was created Knight of the most Honourable Order of the Bath, and on the advice of the Marquis of Salisbury, the present Premier and Minister of Foreign Aars, he has since been promoted to the highest rank to which a Diplo matist can aspire and atta-that of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Such signal testimony to their merits falls but to the lot of few and taking advantage of H.E.'s passage through Tientsin to assume possession of the important post to which he has been appointed, it is our wish to give expression at this banquet to our feelings of regard and good will towards our late Minister, to congratulate him upon the well deserved honours and promotion which have fallen to his lot-and in saying *Farewell" on his leaving these shores, to use this word, not merely in its usually accepted and conventional sense
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interests finest. This has hot always
peaceful interests of British traders in China we shall have your sympathy and support. Although the highly important post to which you have been appointed as Ambassador Extra- ordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia will remove you far from us, and new duties and new friends will have their claims upon you, we · all here trust that you will not forget your friends in this remote country and particularly of those here assembled in representation, as I have already said, of the entire British_com- munity in Tientsin. Gentlemen, I ask you to drink with all honours to the health, long life, and prosperity of His Ex- cellency Sir Nicholas O'Conor, and of Lady O'Conor, to wish him and his family a pleasant and prosperous voyage to the home which is dear to nearly all present, and further to wish him all success in the high and important post to which he has been promoted.
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After drinking the Minister's health, three hearty cheers capped with a melodious “tiger. were given.
been ldse, and we are proud of, and grateful to, H.E. for the confidence he has reposed in us. The politics and diplomacy of Tientsin may be summed up in one word "Trade-❞—and I repeat that in regard to the promotion of trade and commerce Sir Nicholas O'Conor has always shown "a constant and keen interest." I am glad to be charged to say by the members of the British trading community of Tientsin that one and all of us are sensible of and fully appreciate the efforts he has made on our behalf, as well as on the behalf of British trade and traders throughout this vast Empire. I am also charged to say more: the members of this commercial community have had, owing to their proximity to the seat of Sir Nicholas O'Conor's labours, better opportunities perhaps than others more remote of appreciat ing our Minister's close attention to all business matters brought under his notice, and of his unvarying courtesy and attention to one and all who have had occasion to come in personal contact with him in regard to such or other as signifying depar matters. Sir Nicholas O'Conor has always been the absurdity of taking credit for special succ00
Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR in responding, not- withstanding a strong disclaimer, proved himself a true Irishman by the ready, racy, and graceful manner in which he delivered his speech. It was in the following words, which gave great delight to the listeners. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I beg to express my very sincere thanks and great appreciation of the kind way in which you have been good enough to propose and to receive the health of my wife and myself. I should have listened with more satisfaction to the eloquent speech of the honourable chairman of the Municipal Council, were if not for the far too flattering terms in which he was pleased to- allude to my poor services on behalf of British interests in China. I felt the more strongly
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