Ico, Lid, were the first priv English firm in Canton, so. were they the first to build matsheds and granite godowns.at Hongkong. In 1639, when Commissioner Lin. besieged the Canton foreign community until they had surrendered all opium In Chinese waters, Insisted on the application of the Chinese system of mutual responsibility in future tasses of smuggling, and on Chinese Taw. being enforced in cases homicide, the British community. The so-called Opium War followed. For a time the firm's office was afloat. Nevertheless they continued to Wade with Canton, transhipping goods to and from American be! toms at the Hongkong and Toonkoo anchorages, consigning them to their agent Mr. Coolidge 0" the newly formed American firm of Augustine Heard & Ca.
As soon as Hongkong was annexed by Capt. Elliot, they built matsheds East Point and at the first land sale in 1841, they acquired the proerty which they still hold, buying {wice as much as any other frm: The present East Point " bungalow and godowns were completed in 1042, and are thus described in that year by Lord Saltoun, "I am going to the upper end of the bay to call on a Mr. Morgan, who manages here for the great house of Jardine Mathe-ison & Ca, and acts as my landlord. He lives at the upper end of the anchorage and has a sort of palace there "This house of Jardine, they say, made an immense fortune since the war began. They have their vessels, beautiful sailing ones called clippers, mall directions, and they are In concert with Chinese boats of an forty armed Chinese. The Sepoy guard of twelve men turned out, and assisted by the clerks in the office repulsed the robbers killing two of them. At half past eight one evening the following pencilled note was received from a neighbour, Mr. Stewart of Helenbank. "Pray' send me couple of Sepoys, men who will Aight If necessary, with ammunition. Also let_me have some pistol or fowling piece powder and some caps be had at hand. I will repay or return in good time. Mr. Franklyn notice advertises powder. Will answer my swivels? I it will, kindly let me have some and oblige Some swan shot or small balls will be aecepiable. Tam threatened with attack during the night"
Thirteen years later in 1857 it was still an adventure to go out to din-her—"It you dine with a merchant here, you notice that when your host takes leave of you at his outer door, he has-a Malay soldier standing sentinel in his hall with a loaded musket." wrote a resident. "He explains to you also, that the house [ps0 arranged that all those domes: les who waited at table are, or can' nese boat, that was waiting for the equally beautiful construction, saw Mrs. Morgan. She is a Bombay tady—a fat little woman with pretty eyes, and in a way very likely' soon, to increase the race of Morgans. She has turkeys brought over regularly from Banila, fattens them, and every now and then sends one as a present to Sir Henry (Pottinger, the Governor), who is an old acquaintance of hers!"
(ead Oflce Removed to Hongkong The frst carriage to be used In hilly Hongkong was purchased by Mr. Alexander Matheson in I044. Needless host and thave fortunate enough to accompany him.
The firm did not move their head office from Macao until. 1948, when Mr. Came, the Chief Magistrate welcomes Alexander Matheson with the note, "This Is just the year for East Point—capital duck shooting in your vicinity. "Here is a descrip: tion of the compound soon after they had moved in, "The buildings, whicn cannot fail to attract the attention of the most casual observer as being far more magnificent as well as better situated than any others, are the godowns of Messrs, Matheson Jardine, the merchant princes of the Far East. "They lie eastward of the town and are of immense extent.
Immediately above them are two handsome bungalows or summer resldencies belonging to the same proprietors."
In those days the land in front of East Point had not been reclaimed. [Ships and clippers consigned to the firm lay almost underneath the tal-an's window, so that he could not sleep when their bells were struck. He therefore hung a ship's bell up outside the bungalow and allowed no other to be rung. This custom is 'UL kept up, although it is over 50 years since vessels have been able to anchor so. close alongside.
Far from being an attract colony, Hongkong at first was ai Isle of ill omen: "Our rst and most anxious looks were directed towards Hongkong, whose mountainous peaks enveloped in heavy masses of cloud and covered with dark"unwholesome vegetation, lowered grimly over the scene, gave a saddened aspect to the scattered dwellings of the new settlement. The large dark rude looking mountain descended almost. pre= cipitously to the water's edge. A. few houses shelved into the side, or close to the shore were scattered at irregular intervals along a line nearly four miles in length, which was unpleasantly diversified by large patches of wet yellow graveyard ooking earth, where spaces wert being excavated for new buildings Gioomy, unhealthy, unsafe, without convenience for roads and settlements, indefensible in a. military point of view it seemed strange that The pis-ailer of the much abused Elliot; should have been the object of deliberate choice by the sagacious Pottinger....lorchas, fast boats and freight boats are attacked in the bay flselt almost under the guns of the Robberies are of nightly bbe, shut off from that part of the house in which the Europeans sleep. It your host should accompany you 8 few steps towards your own dom!- file, he is careful to buckle his, Fevolver round his waist, and say mine o'clock, he is uncomfortable if he goes ten paces without being challenged by an armed guard.
Some days since I went to dine fat a house high on the hill, and expressing some surprise at seeing all the guests solemnly depositing their revolvers as they entered, was told that a few weeks trunk was found. int passes by the wall of the garden.
The Sporting Firm In racing and yachting the firm were to the fore. Mr. Alexander [Matheson brought the first carriage the colony in 1844. Robert wrote to Mr. Joseph Jardine, "the nags are Jdoing better. Grey Friar is improv: ing the last few days, but Tam afraid he will not be as I could have wished. The Sheik and Moss Trooper are all but right, but J am obliged to be very tender with the fatter. T have two strings to my bow, that is I mean to send the: carriage horse if Moss Trooper goes wrong. The Sheik is a litre stiff at starting, but gets right after going For a short time. He easily can beat anything under 132 inches, but am anxious to try to best the lot for the Victoria Plate"
In yachting the firm was less suc cessful, since the Thistle was. generally beaten by the American-owned Raven. Mr. Joseph Jardine describes a race round Lantao—The match between. the Raven and the Thistle came off the day before yesterday, and I am sorry. to say the latter was beaten easily. Captain Anderson sailed the Thistle and appeared to me to handle her Deautifully, but Lamont does not seem satisfied about her having. been done justice to, and talks having another trlal- Captain Anderson says she carried a tremendous Jess helm, and until her mast is moved a couple of feet further for~
Raven. If you wish it I will endeavward, she has no, chance with the four to persuade Lamont to try the experiment. Tt is the general opinion that it would make a wonderful Mr. Alexander Matheson witnessed an attack on East Point by band of difference for the better in her sailing qualities, They had a good stil breeze the other day, quite as much as they could carry all sail to."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.