Ir would naturally not have been proper for the two principal guests at ''hurst day's dinner to have made any remarks on the change of system, that is to follow their retirement to-day from the posts they have occupied here for so many years with such general acceptance; but there is in the speech of Sir Richard Rennie, though it was not, we imagine, inserted intentionally, one of the strongest possible arguments against the change. It is an argument of which we have already. made use, and which was referred to in the protest that has been sent to the British government; but it gains additional strength as being the spontaneous deliverauce of the retiring Chief Justice. At the eu of spect which wil stag out pre-eminently in the records" of after-dinner speeches at Shanghai, Sir Richard Rennie said: "I must here make an apology for myself. Whilst I was here as a free-lance, as it were, I was enabled to take a much ter part in the affairs of the ettlement than I have done since. I have withdrawn myself, I am_afraid,. from all public affairs here. Believe me, it has not been from any loss of interest in the place. I have still taken as much interest in the affairs of the settlement as I did before, but I felt it was almost necessary to abstain as much as possible from iwixing myself up, with general affairs. CApplause.) have often thought you might have considered me cee: and I hope you will not." 1e 3] was not necessary, for Sir Nei is the last man whom anyone who knows him would accuse of hauteur or want of geniality. It is natural to him to enjoy entering into whatever is going on round him, and he was welcome in all circles, nor would
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.