Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/116

 Dr Laurent in proposing the motion said: "The Colony has lost a friend of many years and the Mother Country a distinguished Citizen."

This last act of sympathy on the part of Mauritius could not fail to touch deeply Lady Henniker Heaton, who knew how warmly he had loved his old friends in the beautiful Island.

In 1889 H. H. paid a flying visit to India and China, but, unfortunately, his stay in both countries was too short to yield much in the way of reminiscences. A complimentary notice, referring to his postal campaign, written by a Babu appeared in one of the papers two years later:

"Penny postage all throughout this wide world, which all pretty well belong with Great Britain, and the sun hardly never set on it shall be one of the certain accomplishments before conclusion of nineteenth century. When this desirable desideratum have been secured for us, to whom shall we lift eyes in token of gratitude for service done? Grand Old Man? No. Lord Lansdowne? No. Lord Salisbury? No, certainly not. When that day shall be arrived, let us then sacrifice ourself on bended knee and give all devotion and reverence—richly deserved—to the noble Marquis of Canterbury, who elevate himself after many years hard struggle with it, up from Australian merchant to dictate terms of penny postage to commercial Europe and the world. And get it too."

H. H. paid a second visit to China and Japan a few years later, and while in Pekin he had the pleasure of meeting Sir Robert Hart, the famous head of the Chinese customs. A warm friendship existed between Lady Hart and H. H.'s family, and it was with great