At the dinner in honour of the Hongkong Cricket Team at the Shanghai Club on Thursday evening, Mr. J. L. Scott, in proposing the first toast, said:—In this cosmopolitan community the first toast at a dinner like this is always "The Rulers of our respective countries." I am, however, on this occasion going to break through this rule, for reasons which J am sure all present' will deem good and sufficient. If it were only that our guests come from the Crown Colony of Hongkong, and many indeed wear the Queen's uniform, that surely were-enough, but we must also remember that this is a cricket dinner, and at a cricket dinner I think this toast would naturally take the name of Her who rules over the country, and also. over the affections of those who inhabit the country which is the birthplace of our National game Shanghai has not the good fortune to be one of the many nooks and corners of this world over which she reigns, but if she does not rule here territorially we are none the less her loving subjects, and anyone here who owes allogiance'to other Queens, Kings, Emperors, or Presidents, will, I'am sure, on this occasion join with us in drinking this the firet toast of the evening. Gentlemen, The Queen Ie'also fell to Mr. Scott as Chai propose the toast of the, oven hongkong Eleven," which he did in the following terms GentLemes,—It now gives me very much pleasure, a pleasure which I know ig shared Ly' all present, to propose the toast of the evening, The Hongkong Eleven," with which I couple the name of Dr. Lowson, Captain of the team. They have, I am'serry to say, been able to be our guests for only n few days, but ifthe pleasure which they have derived from this hurried visit is anything like the pleasure which this visit lins given us, we are indeed glad, and I hope that in the near future they may see their way to pay us another, and a longer one.
To the many of us who have visited Hon; kong the beauty of the place and the kin ness of the people must ever be pleasant membranees, and the friendly rivalry which at times forms the object of these visits is one of those forms of enjoyment, which tend to promote our better acquaintance and keep up the good understanding which has always existed between the two ports.
We are thus united to Hongkong by the common ties of friendship and goodwill, but between the Hongkong Cricket Club and the Shanghai Cricket Club these relations must always be closer, full of strength because full of sadness. I cannot, when we have again a Hongkong eleven with us, refrain from alluding for one moment to what happened on the 10th of October, 1892. What that meant to the relatives and near friends of those who then lost their lives, it is not for us to speak, but to very many of us here, myself among the number, the tragedy of the Bokhara is one of those sad-events in our lives which can never be forgotten, and it has forged a link between the two clubs which can never be broken. You must pardon my bringing up sad memories what is intended to be a cheerful and a jovial dinner, but, as T said, the fact of once again hating Hongkong eleven as our guests, and more especially the presence here to-night of one of the two survivors of the team of six years ago, made me think that some reference to it might not be considered by you to be out of place. Wo are glad, very glad indeed, to be able to welcome Dr. Lowson once more among us, and now for this evening at any rate, Let ug endeavour to forget the past in the pleasure which the-present is now giving T have always thought that Shanghai labours somewhat under a disadvantage when she is visited. Fresh from the beauties of Hongkong or Japan, the visitor's spirits are apt to be depressed by the sight of the Yellow Sea, and the low-lying uninteresting ground which. forms the approaches to this place, but if Nature has been hari upon us in' this way, she has on the other hand provided us with one of the finest cricket. grounds in the Far East, and if, when compared with the places I have "just mentioned, her landscape nowhere, in one respect I hope that Shanghai will ever be second to none, and that isin the warmth of her welcome to her guests, and in her endeavour to do the utmost in her power to make their stay a pleasant one.
Of the game I will say nothing, leaving that to the Captains of the teams; but besides holding the honourable position of President of the Shanghai Cricket Club, I have, during the last three days, filled the much more important and useful one of umpire, and have therefore been in an excellent position both to see and appreciate the game, and if I were asked what I thought of our opponents' play I should reply in the words of the umpire who was appealed to for " run-out after a very smart bit of ficlding—How's that?" Beautiful said the umpire—and we now offer our heartiest congratulations to the members of the Hong-Kong team on the result of the match, and I am sure you will agree with me when I say that Hongkong ought to be proud of her representatives, nnd [hope also that they will be at one with me when I say that their's was a victory well worth winning. Of course it now only remains for us to go down and beat them on their own ground So far, we have not succeeded in doing this, but, as you know, failures are but the stepping-stones to success, and we hope to succeed in time. Our Hongkong friends on their part, will no doubt be quite prepared to come back again, storm our castle, and take away our flag, and whether' or no either of us succeed I am sure that in these' attempts both of us will find much pleasure and enjoyment.
Now, Gentlemen, I have talked long enough; fill your glasses and drink, with three times three, the health of our visitors and good friends, the Hongkong Eleven.
Dr. Lowson said:—Mr. Scott and Gentlemen, I thank you very much. Ican assure you it gives me the very greatest pleasure to stand here again and once more to receive your unbounded hospitality. Speakio; for my team and for myself we. than! you: very much indeed for your great kind ness. Thad quite another speech prepared, but finally it had to be changed so you must not There are only one or two things I would expect much, fom ne tonight, on like to say, and first that the members of my team have asked me to thank you for the magnificent arrangements you have made for them, but I shall leave further mention of that to my trusty henchman, Dyson. You all know, gentlemen, that I always preach modesty and never practise it, but I would like to thank members of my team for the extraordinary way in which they have played. Candidly, expected to make 100 myself, but I did not do it. This morning, however, I fortunately impressed it upon my team that if fifty balls came before them they would have to stop them. (Langhter.) Now I wish all the members of my team to drink a bumper to the Shanghai team. I will rive them the time when I am ready.
want now to remind you of the fact that our old friend Moule gave us as good a display of cricket as you will ever see in the Far Esst.
(Cheers) Now once more Shangh we have to thank you, gentlemen, for the Very greatest Kindness yon hare shown to us, We have had a really splendid match, we could not have -had better scorers—Brown is a perfect genius, I can assure you. (Laughter.) Another point is as to the umpires, When I took the bull by the horns and accepted the invitation to play against Shanghai I applied for an umpire and you asked us if we yould accept Mr. J. L. Scott. At once I accepted, for I knew then we were in safe hands What we wanted was to have an umpire in whom. both sides had the fullest confidence and I do not know of abetter than Mr. Scott. (Cheers.) I had a most magnificent speech all reedy, this morning in which I intended to thank on, but I cannot do more now them to ask fears. Dyson and Langhorne to reply, and I will'ask the members of my team to drink the health of the Shanghai Team, coupled with the name of "Bill" Tyack, who is as good a John Ball sportsman a you'll find anywhere, (Loud cheers.)
The toast was drunk with musical honours, Mr. Tyack, who was received with great applause, eaid—Mr. Chairman, Dr. Row-son_and members of the Hongkong team, feel at a disadvantage in following two such good speakers as have. pro:
me, but on behalf of my team 1 must thank you very heartily for the way in which you have torst: d us, The only drawback is that I'am forced to confess my om incompetence in adequately speaking what I feel. Iam not, gentlemen, a speechmaker a3 you know I am a cricketer. On behalf of iny team, I must again thank you for drinking our health, I musi also express the very great pleasure' we all feel in seem, our visitors here and in giving them a cordial reception. I have two of the team with me and I know what good fellows they are. (Laugiter.) On the part of cricket, alas! we have been beaten, but although beaten we are not, I hope, exactly disgraced. I must accord great credit, however, to the winning team. They are all good cricketers; they, ato all, good fair bowlers, and good fielders. They have beaten us: it is very difficult to disguise that fact, They played us as though they had G. Lehmann in the slips and Briggs at cover. (Laughter.) The Hongkong team do. not want flattery. They know exactly. what they can do, and weare satisfied even ifwwe are beaten, because we have been very creditably boston. (Cheers). Dr., Lowson we are all glad to see, He has' brought up not only himself, but his jidue dchates—tho "Devil." (Loud laughter.) I" must, even it repent myself, confess. that we have been beaten by a better team, but if the will askeus to go dowa to them again we will promise them to bring back that flag and steam out of Hongkong with it flying from the mainmast ofan "Empress" boat. Cricket here has undergone changes already, but when many of tue old members have died outer have gone away, when some of the old fossils have retired into their shells, and ome of our younger players have come on, T can asstiré you we will then take: lot of I would like to conclude by adding 'Shanghai is satisfied that the Hong-Kong team is composed of as fine a set of men s you'll' mest anywhere, and I don't care where. They are the best I have ever met,.and I may say they have taught usa lot. This is the first time we have been beaten on our own ground, but T hope it will be. the last Cheers} Our visitors have taught us one thing, they have taught us to say nil: never say die. (Loud applause).
Capt. Dyson, in responding, said he was very much impressed with the fine buildings and the fine carriage drives of Shanghai, but more than all by the fine fellows he had met here. He predicted prosperity for Shanghai and that Shanghai instead of being boston cricket would wipe the floor with Hong-. cong. (Cheers)
Dr. Lowson—T will now ask: you all to rink to the prosperity of Shanghai. Floreat ighai 'Mr, R. M. Campbell—I am indeed. very proud to stand here-and to-be -asked to respond' for Shanghai. There are several
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.