Page:Europe in China.djvu/490

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
472
CHAPTER XIX.

residents who saw unfairness in the unfriendly criticisms which the editor passed on the measures taken by Germany after the battle of Sedan. The restoration of peace was celebrated (March, 1871) by a public banquet. In November, 1871, the German Club raised, by a concert, a considerable sum in aid of the relief fund which was organized in Hongkong as soon as the news of the great conflagration at Chicago was received. The new building erected for the German Club in Wyndham Street, a line structure of Gothic design, was opened on 2nd February, 1872. About the same time, a collection was organized for the foundation of a new library at Strassburg (February 8, 1872) and a considerable number of Chinese works, including some rare manuscripts from Formosa, were secured for the new library.

Among the minor events of the social life of this period may be chronicled the dedication of the new Masonic Hall (December 27, 1865), a public farewell dinner given to Dr. Kane (May, 1867), the opening of the new Hongkong Hotel building (February 29, 1868), the arrival of the Austro-Hungarian expedition under Admiral Baron Petz, with Professor Scherzer (June, 1869), the public dinner given to Commodore Jones (April, 1870), the arrival of Mr. George Francis Train (September 3, 1870), a series of public lectures given by Dr. Legge on Confucianism and by Dr. Eitel on Buddhism (December, 1870 to February, 1871), the celebration of Beethoven's centenary by a concert given in the City Hall (December 20, 1870), the arrival of the Hon. Mrs. Yelverton (Lady Avanmore) from San Francisco (September 15, 1871), and a public lecture on Knox by Dr. Legge (December, 1871).

Fifteen different countries were by this time represented in Hongkong by officially recognized Consuls, viz.: Austria by G. von Overbeck (March 10, 1867); Belgium by H. Nicaise (August 29, 1871); Denmark, Sweden and Norway by G. J. Helland (December 26, 1865); France by H. du Chesne (January 14, 1865); Germany by A. Eimbke (August 7, 1869); Italy and Hawaii by W. Keswick (April 28, 1868, and April 10, 1869);