Col. Marr Johnson, in making the presentation, said Captain Zee, I have the greatest pleasure in presenting you with! this sword as a personal gift from myself. I am, making you this small offering for three reasons—firstly, as a token of my gratitude to you for the many ways in which you have helped me in my work since I have been in command the Corps; secondly, to express my great appreciation of the services you have rendered and are still rendering to the Chinese Ca. of the high state of efficiency to which you have raised it; and, Jastly to commemorate the fact of your being the first Chinese officer to occupy the proud position of commander of that Company. have been able to think of no better way of expressing my appreciation of your energy, enthusiasm, patriotism, and devotion to the interests of your Company and the Corps, than by making you this present of British steel.
May you wear it for many years to come, and thereafter keep it as a souvenir of your command of the Company and may it bring you many happy recollections of these days.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.