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Rh Sir J. Bowring's administration terminated at a time (May 5, 1859) when the passionate comments of the English press, reviewing the Parliamentary discussions of Hongkong's misdeeds, reached the Colony and thereby reproduced a considerable amount of popular excitement. Sir J. Bowring departed, like Sir J. Davis, amid the execrations of a large portion of the European community and the blustering roar of farewell condemnations poured forth by local editors. In one respect Sir J. Bowring fared even worse than his predecessors. Neither Sir H. Pottinger, nor Sir J. Davis, nor in fact any Governor of Hongkong before or after him, not even Sir J. Pope Hennessy, was so extravagantly abused as Sir J. Bowring. The venomous epithets and libellous accusations, continuously hurled at him by the public press (China Mail excepted) until the very moment of his departure, are unfit to be mentioned. It clearly was his personal character rather than his policy that provoked the ire of his political opponents. As in the case of Sir J. Davis, so now the European community marked their dislike of the Governor by lavishing extra favours on the departing Admiral while ignoring the Governor's exit. On 16th March, 1859, the leading merchants presented to Sir Michael Seymour, K.C.B., a magniloquent address and a draft on London to the amount of 2,000 guineas for the purchase of a service of plate, to mark the sense of the Hongkong community of his great services and of the respect entertained for him personally. In his reply, Sir Michael gracefully referred to the advantages he had enjoyed in having had, previous to the arrival of Lord Elgin, the advice and experience of Sir J. Bowring to aid him. But when, a few weeks later, the Governor left the Colony, the European community presented neither address nor testimonial, sullenly ignoring his departure, until the rare event of a public auction held at Government House (May 20, 1859) drew the European community together in sarcastic frolics over their ex-Governor's goods and chattels.

The Chinese community, however, stolidly indifferent to the dissentient views of foreign public opinion, came forward