A scene unprecedented in the history of Shanghai marked the departure of the Shanghai British Volunteer contingent, consisting of 110 men (including Capt. Hilton Johnson, Mr. K. M. Bourne and Mr. J. C. E. Douglas) which left for home by the Suwa Maru last Friday morning. The departure was timed for half past eight, but long before that hour the tender Alexandra was alongside the Customs jetty and a large crowd had assembled on the foreshore. By the time the launch was due to leave, it was almost impossible to walk along The Bund. Every available space, from the P. & 0. wharf to the Customs' shed was occupied, and many watched the farewell celebrations from the windows of buildings on The Bund. It is estimated that six or seven thousand people were present, and this figure dors not include those who were in the Iaunches and smaller boats on the har-hour. The sight was remarkable, a gathering of such magnitude and for such a purpose never—before having been seen in the Settlement.
It was a wine precaution to have the jetty and the main approach thereto reserved only for the volunteers. Had the pontoon been open to the publio, there would have tremendous rush, and possibly farewells would have been said in circumstances of consider-linger. As it was, the admire able arrangements made ensured perfect order and safety. The crowd took up the best positions on the foreshore, and on gangways and neighbouring pontoons, and some who were particularly anxious to get & last glimpse of their departing friends ventured out in junks and sampans. Some members of the Fire Brigade, who were in full dress uniform for the occasion, went out in style in a junk with a Union Jack at the mast, and got themselves attached to a launch which towed them down after the Alex-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.