Victoria was celebrated at this rising port with great ¢clat, The morning promised well, and the Jubilee Committee finally determined to commence to carry out the programme in its entirety. At Bam. a congratulatory telegram ('similar to the one despatched from Shanghai) was sent through Sir H. Ponsonby to the Queen. At 9 oan, hoping for Queen's) weather, the Committee set to work to erect a tent on the terrace behind the Consular Flagstaff; ut La service was held in the M.E.M. Chapel. The service consisted of a few prayers, ut Jackson's "Te Deum," of a stirring and vigorous discourse by Mr. Little on the achievements of the past 50 years, winding up with God save the Queen. " The service was attended by the Consuls, and by most of the foreign community. Lamps were generally hung up, and the work of decorating the tent was almost completed at 3 p.m., when a sudden downpour and dense misty clouds to 8.E, changed the aspect of affairs.
Between two-and four the Chinese officials who had been invited to attend at the dinner and to view the illuminations called on the British Consul to offer their congragulations in honour of sv at event; they were however prevented from attending at the dinner, and the rain was a bar to visiting the illuminations, At about 6.30 over 60 people, comprising almost every person in Chinkiang, sat down to a cold collation, four of the Committee kindly acting as stewards to see that all wants were supplied. 'The British Consul was Chairman, and Mr. Bern Vice-Chairman. The dinner was given by British residents the members of all' other national: ties. The diner passed off well, and on its conclusion the toast of the evening, the health of Her Majesty, was proposed by the Chairman. "He thought the 50 years which synchronized with the reign of Queen Victoria were in every way most remarkable. A great poet has said: Better 50 years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay" but he thought the 50 ears, the Jubilee of which they were here to celebrate, were better, nut only than a cycle (60 years) of Cathay, but than the whole of the 40 centuries of the World's history put together. He then briefly reviewed the progress in arts, sciences and inventions during the Queen's reign, and the difference from 1837, when foreigners were only allowed live at one port, Canton, and the present time when there were 19 open ports with an immense trade. Her Majesty's example, he could not doubt, had a large share in bringing about the general improvement in government and life. In conclusion he called on the company to drink the toast of The Queen Empress.
The toast was drunk standing with great, enthusiasm, and God Save the Queen wag then sung,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.