A commentator in the "Journal de Shanghai," who from his initials J.F., is thought to be none other than the indefatigable historian of the French Concession, made yesterday a very gratifying reference to the leading article in this journal on January 3 relative to the seventh anniversary of the amalgamation of the "North-China Herald," and the "Supreme Court and Consulare Gazette," in the course of which he writes:—
"Very few people search the files of old news-Papers. Nothing however is more curious and absorbing. I speak from experience, having had the good fortune, some fifteen years ago, to go Over, issue by issue, this same "North-China Herald" from 1850 to 1875.
It is an inexhaustible mine, and one sees emerge from its yellow leaves, small daily incidents, or grave events, all that which goes to make up the life and spirit of our town, of our Concession and the people who have gone.
J.F. from his own rich store of knowledge goes on to write of the numerous historical events which took place in the year 1870. A new branch manager of the Messageries Imperiale had arrived in Shanghai. There was the grave affair of the municipal elections, the fusion of the two fire brigades of the Settlement and the Concession. Alarming rumours followed the massacres at Tientsin. A French volunteer company was created. On August 15 the Quai de France was brilliantly illuminated with gas for the first time. News of the Franco-Prussian war arrived on August 10, of Sedan. There was an agitation concerning the imposition of a tax on wheelbarrows, a concert given by the Philharmonic Society, subscriptions raised for he war wounded, the unveiling of the statue of Admiral Protet, and the appearance of the first issue of a predecessor of the "Journal de Shanghai," in the shape of the "Nouvelliste." The paper on which all these matters were recorded has slightly yellowed it is true, but not so badly as issues of later years, for those were days when paper really was paper, and not merely wood pulp.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.