Mr, J. H. Macoun, who will be well remembered by many in China besides servants of the CustomiS has retired from the management of the London Office, which he has held for the past 4% years, coming back. into harness in 1933, though he had actually retired from China in July 1927. As Mr. Macoun first joined the Service in 1888, his connection with it ranges over a full half century.
Mr, Macoun was one of the small band of Customs men who were shut up in the siege of the Legations by the Boxers in 1900, and is one of the last Customs Volunteers who took part in the Legations' defence. He was wounded, was "mentioned in despatches" for his good work, and he holds the very scarce modal and clasp' ("Siege of. the Legations"k issued to the small body of Marines and civilians who fought at Peking, "Mr. Macoun is succeeded in London by Mr. W. O. Law who entered the Customs Service in 1905 but retired for reasons of health in 1930.
Something should be done to make these retired Customs Commissioners property.
Mrs. E. Gauntlett is on her way to China by the P. & O. S. Naldera. I met her the day before she left for Marseilles and she was looking forward to seeing Shanghai again after her long absence, though at the moment exchange was terrifying.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.