suggested that the petition to the Governor should first be withdrawn and an application for clemency made to the Court by prisoner's Counsel, released Mr. Welsh as soon as these conditions were complied with. To mark its sense of the proceedings, the Chamber of Commerce, at its next meeting, elected Mr. Welsh as Member of the Chamber. Another sensational event of the same year was a duel fought with pistols (July 29, 1872), on Kowloon Peninsula, on account of some card debt dispute between the Consuls for Spain and Peru, the latter being wounded in the arm. Warrants for the arrest of every person present at the affair were issued, but bail was allowed. The two duellists were tried in Supreme Court (August 25, 1872) and, having pleaded guilty, were fined each in the sum of $200.
Quite a number of new institutions brightened social life in the Colony during this period, the year 1872 being specially productive in this respect. The Philharmonic Society (Choral Society) which had been established in July 1872, gave concerts every winter, including also a choral festival held at the Cathedral (April 18, 1876). A Debating Society was established in July 1872 but came to an end in the following year. A series of lectures given at the City Hall found considerable favour with the public. The undertaking was inaugurated in the presence of the Governor (November 5, 1872) by a lecture on Hongkong reminiscences by Dr. Legge, and followed by four other lectures, by Dr. Dennys on Folklore (November 19, 1872), by Dr. Eitel on Fengshui (December 6, 1872), by Mr. J. J. Francis on Jesuitism (December 19, 1872) and by Mr. J. W. Torrey on American Humourists (February 4, 1873). Another institution of the year 1872 is the Victoria Recreation Club which was formed (May, 1872) by the amalgamation of the Boat Club, Gymnasium and Swimming Bath, and opened in its new form on 30th November, 1872. The publication of the China Punch was resumed on 5th November, 1872, and continued at irregular intervals until 22nd November, 1876, when its talented editor (Middleton) left
