424
of which $3,000 was invested in Hongkong Club debentures bearing interest at 6 per cent., $1,000 on fixed deposit, and the balance $270.29 was to the credit of the Iustitation in current account with the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank- ing Corporation. The Honorary Secretary, Mrs. Dickson, having resigned in February on leaving for England, Lady Goodman kindly undertook the duties of that post. Mrs. Siebs, Mrs. Ritchie, and Mrs. Slade also resigned their places on the Committee, which have been filled by Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Tomes, and Mrs. Turner, The members of the Committee in accordance with the rules, beg to tender their resignation, and being eligible offer themselves for re-election," The Institution, remarked Sir WILLIAM, Was a most admirable one, as a great many persons in the Colony could testify by their experience. During the past year the care and excellent nursing they had received were very different to what it would have been had they been left to the tender mercies of ignorant or citeless Chinese. It was an ex- callent In-ti ation and should commend itself to the people of the Colony.
Mrs. MAY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The PRESIDENT said they had now to con- sider the amount of the subscription for the ensuing year. The Committee had recom- monded that it should be $10, which, they believed, would enable the Institution to pay its
way.
Sir WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN moved a resolution that the subscription be $10. There was no doubt, he said, looking at the report, that the step was necessary. The passages of the nurses betwesa Eugland and Hongkong were a very heavy item; and they must be met. He trusted there would be sufficient support and that it would not be necessary to increase the subscription beyond $10.
Mrs. SIEBS seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The officers and Committes were re-elected, with the exception of Mrs. Harling, who retired, her place on the Committee being taken by Mrs. Siebs.
The meeting then separated.
AN EPISODE OF TONKIN.
The coming departure of Cav. Volpicelli, the Italian Consul-General for the Oriental Con- gress at Hanoi, Tonkin, recalls what-for recently events have followed quickly in the Far East seems.an incident of aucient history; because his travels in that country were con- nected with an interesting episode of the Franco-Chinese question.
11
After the hostilities between the two countries had been momentarily suspended, thanks to the brilliant coup of Commander (now Admiral) Fournier who rushed through a treaty of peace at Tientsin, the sad misunderstanding at Langson provoked fresh military operations, The war, or state of reprisals as it was called by diplomatists, dragged on for many months with great matual loss with scant results, until it was definitely stopped by the armis ice concluded at Paris by Mr. Campbell on behalf of the Chinese Government, At the time, the armistice was received with great suspicion by the Freneb military authorities, and with doubt of its ultimate success by all, for the memory of the failure of Commander Fournier's Treaty was fresh in every memory.
The Chinese, who were sincerely desirous for peace, also feared that some accident might again frustrate their hopes, and were anxious that their military authorities at the seat of war should promptly receive clear and certain in- structions to commence evacuation at the dates assigned by the armistice. For this purpose an Imperiel Commission composed of Messrs. Volpicelli, Woodruff and four civil and military Mandarins was sent by the Viceroy of Canton Chang Chib-tung (now Acting Viceroy at Nanking) to the camps of the Chinese troops in Tonkin to communicate the Imperial Edict of immediate withdrawal.
This mission was carried out fully and promptly. Mr. Volpicelli was away from Can- ton only a month, much of which was wasted in inevitable delays for steamers that then did not run so frequently to Haiphong, and in slow travelling by gunboat up the swift rivers. Still'
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
in that short time, amidst difficulties and dan- gers, the Chinese .omps were reached, the evacuation was ordered (it commenced at Hong Hoa two days before the date assigned) and there was a bala: ɖe of a few days for the feétes which awaited the Comm's-ion at its return to Hanoi, where it was cordially received by the hitherto suspicions General Brié.e de l'Isle.
The work of the Commission was very arduous, but it was rewarded by the results achieved: it found a country suffering from the calamities of war and left it showing the first promises of returning prosperity. Mr. Volpiceli, who may be considered the only survivor of the Commission, for most if not all of the Mandujus are dead and Mr. Wood- ruff left for America many years ago, will have now the additional pleasure of revisiting the conntry after 17 years' work of transformation, and of contemplating in the Hanoi txhibition the full bloom of that prosperity which was just budding in the days immediately following the evacuation of the Chinese troops.
OBSEQUIES OF LIU KUNG-YI.
Nanking, 16th November.
It was most fitting that the foreign consuls in Shanghai should desire to show in more than the dead Minister, and it was arranged, out of usually open manner the respect they hal for this expressed desire, the united Consular Body of Shanghai, together with representatives of the two foreigu Municipalities and of the China and American Associations, should proceed to Nanking in a body on one of the occasions when, according to Chinese funeral ideas, it is becoming, and there personally show their various navies having fleets in these waters also respect. The commanding officers of the decided to take part and show their gratitude. Thess r sulted in a gathering at Nanking on Saturday, the 15th of November, of a fleet and collection of foreign Consular officials which has
never been equalled, and which it will probably be long ere it is excelled.
THE FLEXT,
[December 1, 1902.
THE PROGRAMME.
Haean, Mr. J. C. Forguson, Foreign Advisor Shortly after the arrival of this party on the of H E. Seng, on behalf of the Viceroy (whose cards had previously been presented) arrived on boa d and explained to these official guests the arrang ments regarding the arious ceremonies, at the same time seeing to the
H. E. the Viceroy to an entertainment in the distribution of the official invitations from evening. These arrangement: included the reception by H. E..the Viceroy of the Naval at 10 o'clock, the reception of Vice-Admiral and Military visitors at his temporary yamen Bilge aud staff at 10.39, the reception of the Shanghai Consular and Municipal Representa- tires at 11, and the return of the admiral's call at the British consulate at 11.30 and that of the Representatives at the Bureau of Foreiga Affairs at 12 o'clock.
RECEPTION OF ADMIRAL BRIDGE.
Carriages were provided, by His Excellency for all of his numerous guests, and this pro- gramme was punctually carried out. His Excellenc, the aged viceroy Chang Chih-tuog, received his guests with becoming dignity, accompanying them to the large gates of his yamen between files of well got up and sturdy looking, foreign drilled and armed soldiers The Viceroy shows evident signs of age, his standing at the present, with fanfares blowing. moustache and beard both being snow white, though his eyes still look sharply and search- ingly into those of the person addressed, and he walked firmly and erectly without assistance.
RECEPTION OF SHANGHAI REPRESENTATIVES.
Kaapfe, as spokesman, expressed the sincere At the reception of the Consular Body Dr. regrets felt by that body at the death of the illustrious ruler, whose posthumous title is translated as Duke Liu, adding that it gave them all confidence in the future that so able and well known a successor should have boen appointed in his stead. H.E., in reply, thanked the visitors for the trouble they had ben put to in expressing their regards for his predeces- sor, which he said would be highly treasured by his late colleague's family and friends. He also returned thanks for the kind words spoken regarding himself, assured all that he would endeavour to continue the policy of his old friend and predecessor, and expressed the hope than the existing ones established between the that the future might see even closer relations countries represented and his own.
&
THE VISITS RETURNED.
Before the date mentioned there had arrived off Nanking H.BM. despatch boat Alacrity, the flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, K.C.B. in command of the China Station, and HB.M. men-of-wa Eclipse, Brumble aud Rosario, H.G.M.SS. Hansa and Seeadler, the French men-of-war Pascal and Décidée, the American cruiser Helena, the Austrian ironclad Kaiser Karl VI, Japanes', besides several Chiuess men-of-war, and the
A short drive from the yamen conveyed Customs cuiser Liu-Heing. Mansfield, H B.M. Acting Consul-General at Bureau of Foreign Affairs, where liquid re- Mr R. W. Shanghai's portion of the many guests to the Shanghai came up on the Alacrity, while by freshments and cigars and cigarettes were served various other vessels Mr. R. E. Bredor; Deputy while awaiting the arrival of H.E. Promptly Inspector-General of Customs, Mr. F. at 12 o'clock this punctual ruler arrived, Taylor, Statistical Secretary of Customs, Mr.sented in a brougham designed as rearly as W. V. Drummond, and others from Shanghai possible to counterfeit the official Chinese chair had already reached this capital.
in outward appearance. This was drawn by SHANGHAI'S VISITORS.
two ponies, and was preceded and followed by Shortly after 7 o'clock the Chinese steamer mounted bodyguard. Haean, Captain Wallice, which had been placed those assembled, H.E. thanked them all most After greeting all at the disposal of the Consular body, came into cordially for the pains they were taking to the harbour and made fast alongside the Govern- show their respect for his predecessor, and also ment bulk. The party abuard consisted of Dr. for the courtesy they had shown him upon. Knappe (who through the regrettable illness taking up his new post. Dr. Knappe, as of Mr. J. Goodnow, U.S. and Senior Consul, doyen, suitably replied, expressing the hupe acted as dyen) M. Ratard, Consul-General that H.E. might have good health and for France, and his wife, Mr. von Hirsch and great prosperity during a long tenure of wife, Mr. Avocaat, Consul-General for the his office. Following this there was a short Netherlands, and wife, Mr. Gottwald, Austrian period of informal conversation. Dr. Knappy Consul, and wife, Colonel Diguet (French) and expressed the hope that now that H.E. wife, Mr. D. Siffer, Belgian Consul-General, had taker. control in these provines the rail-. Mr. F. Hagberg, Swedish Consul General, Dr. way from Shanghai to Nanking might be Barchet, U. S. Consulate, Mr. Merklinghaus, looked forward to with some certainty, adding German Consular Service, and interpreter, Mr. that it would greatly facilitate travelling and Castilho Spanish Congul-General, Mr. P.making official visits. H.E., while admitting Muller, Mr. H. R. Kinear, representing the the utility of railways, smilingly added that International Settlement of Shanghai, M. A. they had their drawbacks. He explained this Brunat, President of the French Municipality, by saying that the 3,000 officials under him Mr. J. N. Jameson representing the American might more frequently call проц Association, Mr. . J. Dudgeon, representing
him and bother" him if they could do so in a few hours the China Associatiou, and MM. Tillot and de instead of a few days, as is now the cas Cordon.
Almost following the Haean H. İtalian M.'s fine cruiser Lombardia, having on board Mr. E. Ghisi, representing His Majesty, came into harbour, and at 8 o'clock this vessel was saluted by all the saluting men-of-war in port. H.1.J.M's. ironclad Idaumi shortly followed the above named vessel, conveying Mr. Odagiri, Japanese Consul-General at Shanghai.
his
The return drive of six miles from the yamen to the steamor landing, over the system of really good roads, gave the visitors another opporta- nity of admiring H.E.'s ability and enterprise. Fairly broad, well macadamised and excellently kopt, with stone-paved footpaths on either side, these open up the interior of the Southern Capital" as no other Chinese city has ever been, They must serve as an admirable example of
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