CHAPTER CIV
HOMEWARD BOUND
[Sidenote: 1869. Hong Kong. Flag in _Salamis_, Oct. 23.]
Came to in Hong Kong. Vice-Admiral Sir H. Kellett, my successor, the Commodore, and other commanders came on board. Keswick, of Jardine, Mathieson and Co., came inviting me to East Point. Wife and children had gone there in steam launch. Called on Governor, taking Lady MacDonnell a pair of pet china jars from Peking: one of which their orderly sergeant managed to smash in unpacking. Called on General Whitfield, who was confined to bed. He had sent his aide-de-camp and staff on board _Salamis_ on our arrival. We were kindly welcomed at East Point. The same evening there was a croquet party; Maginac in his glory. Besides the Grants of 9th Native Infantry and the O’Shaugnessys of staff, Gower and Robertson from Canton met us at dinner.
Great preparations for the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh.
[Sidenote: Oct. 24.]
To church in the Jardine carriage. I had issued a memo to the squadron yesterday that I should give up the command this morning. Friday fixed for my entertainment by kind Hong Kong friends. Sorry to hear of the death of kind friend Mrs. Gilman.
[Sidenote: Oct. 26.]
Our hosts got up an agreeable party at Pokofolum: Alexanders, Grants, Pollards, Overbeck, and others. Drove back by moonlight.
[Sidenote: Oct. 27.]
Dined with Overbeck. Large party.
[Sidenote: Oct. 28.]
The day of my entertainment. Cannot get the idea of a speech out of my head.
[Sidenote: Oct. 29.]
It came off at last--a flattering event, enough to turn my old head, Governor and all great people attending. My reception kind and enthusiastic. The continued cheering tended to give me nerve.
[Sidenote: Oct. 30.]
Daily papers called it “the greatest and most successful entertainment that had ever been given in Hong Kong.” Dined with the Commodore; one of his good and cheery dinners. Admiral and Commanders present. Believe I part in harmony with all.
[Sidenote: Sabbath, Oct. 31.]
At 7.30 A.M. _Galatea_ was at anchor in the harbour and galley on shore. Should have been on board by 9, but His Royal Highness had already visited the Commander-in-Chief and made arrangements for landing in state on the morrow; but on my pointing out how much more convenient it would be if His Royal Highness would defer his landing until after departure of the mail on Tuesday, he acceeded to this, as he has done to every proposition I have ever thought it right to make. His Royal Highness received me so nicely, with all the warmth peculiar to his nature, yet never seeming to forget that I was, or had been his Commander-in-Chief. It was arranged that he was to call on, and lunch with the Governor at 1.30, and dine there in the evening, returning to _Galatea_ to sleep.
As the morrow would be my last in Hong Kong, the Duke kindly proposed that self and wife should take a farewell dinner with him; but on my stating the distance of East Point, and the early rising on the Tuesday to go back to the mail steamer, he kindly accepted an invitation to dine with Keswick, which would greatly please our worthy host.
Returned to East Point in time to go with wife to church. Received the sacrament--my last in China. At the close of the service, Buckle, the Governor’s A.D.C., came to our pew to invite us to meet the Prince at luncheon.
[Sidenote: Nov. 1.]
Much to do at the last. Took a farewell luncheon on board _Galatea_, meeting the Admiral and Commodore. His Royal Highness gave me a copy of the _Galatea’s_ voyage to Australia. Under my name on the title page he wrote “from his affectionate admirer.”
The dinner at East Point was a complete success. In addition to His Royal Highness and suite were the Heards, Keswick’s _fiancé_, Miss de Bourg, Kellett, Miller, Smith from Government House, Robertson, etc. This was the great night of illuminations. We were invited to see it from the _Galatea_, but the guide took His Royal Highness and ourselves to the wrong landing-place; we missed the chairs and got into a procession of illuminated fish of gigantic size. And the Duke mounted with my wife up a ladder into a small Chinese theatre, which he naturally concluded from its gaudy decoration and commanding position must have been intended for himself. At midnight the party dispersed, but His Royal Highness insisted on steering his barge with the old Admiral and his wife back to East Point.
[Sidenote: Nov. 2.]
Now comes the end of my naval career in China, where the greater part of my services for the last twenty-seven years have been so pleasantly passed, but everything must come to an end.
[Illustration: “_The Little Admiral_” (_Hong Kong_ “Punch”).]
I had bespoke the steam-launch to take luggage and selves on board the P. and O. steamer, but one and all appeared determined to do me honour to the last. Although my uniforms had long since been packed, I was to embark from the Government wharf under a salute and with a guard of honour. At 8 A.M. the royal standard was hoisted on board the _Galatea_, and a general royal salute, with ships dressed, took place. I passed the guard, with Colin clinging to my hand. At the pier we found all the Government officials in full costume to bid farewell to the little old Admiral, rigged out in his Norfolk shirt and “Rodney” hat, and instead of his galley there were the _Galatea’s_ barge and cutter--the former manned by His Royal Highness and ward-room officers, and steered by the Commodore, to take me off; while the latter was manned by the gun-room officers to take the wife and children. Colin, however, refusing to quit his hold of me, partook of the honour of being so conveyed. Never was such a demonstration, such a triumph, for an Admiral degraded! On board, too, I met all my old friends. There was the kind-hearted Governor, Sir Richard MacDonnell, with a photograph for my wife of the house in which, not a year ago, Colin was so near his end; Overbeck and old Fischer’s son; honest old Henry Kellett, my successor; the hospitable Commodore, and the Prince, in rowing costume, with his crew, fourteen in number. His Royal Highness came into my cabin on deck, and there, in the quietest way, presented me with a gold watch as a souvenir, which he said would do afterwards for Colin, who seized the case containing the watch and insisted that it had been given to him! I, however, have never been without it.
On shoving off, the Prince and his crew gave three more parting cheers. The _Salsette_ screwed ahead to the eastward, and having gained room turned round, passing again through the ships, when the cheering was repeated: foreigners, as well as our own men-of-war; even the invalids from the hospital-ships caught the kind infection. This old party then retired, feeling very grateful and his heart full.
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