BACK TO ROBERT GORDON 3 BACK TO ROBERT GORDON 4	Daily Gleaner, August 8, 1866 VALEDICTORY ADDRESS TO GOVERNOR STORKS. In accordance with a Requisition to his Honor the Mayor, a public meeting was held at the Court House, in this City, at two o'clock yesterday. Among the gentlemen present we noticed : -  J. S. Williams, Esq, -Advocate General; Edward Vickars, J. P., W. W. Anderson, Clerk Peace, Portland; A, H, Lewis, J. P.; David Martin, J. P.; Dr. S. Aitman, Coroner, Kingston; Dr. M. Stern; E. C. Lewis, Churchwarden; J. Dayes, Deputy C. P., Kingston; Dr. Major of St. Thomas in the East; Rev. Robert Gordon, Headmaster Wolmer's ; Dr. Alexnder Fiddes J. P.; Wm. Berry, J. P.; Jno. Nunes, J. P.; A. Salom, J. P.; Chas Ward; Andrew Lyon; Alex McFarlane; W. McCormack; Nathaniel Stines; H. Morris; A. E. Burke; Rev. J. F. Roach; R. Osborn, J. P.; R. S. E. Hepburn; James D. Ford; J. Hart, J. P.; George Henderson, J. P.; Samuel Mendes; George Levy; Hon P. A. Espeut, Custos St. Thomas in the East; Wm. Kelly Smith; Edward Aarons; Rev. Mr. Ellis, Baptist; Jno. Ware-: Wm. Andrews, Esquire, and upwards of three hundreds of the other inhabitants, of all creeds, and complexions. His Honor the Mayor was called to the chair; on taking which, he read the requisition and expressed a hope that the proceedings would be c onducted with that decorum for which Kingston was remarkable, and that allusion would be made to no other matter than that for which the meeting was convened. Mr. Andrew Lyon read a resolution, and another was proposed moving that an address be presented to His Excellency Sir Henry Knight Storks, which was unanimously agreed to. The Rev. R. Gordon, Head Master of Wolmer's Free School, read the draft of an address which he proposed for adoption. Mr. Williams eulogised the terms in which the address was couched and said that Sir Henry Storks was fortunate that a gentleman like Mr. Gordon had prepared his address. He was a Creole, and when the address was being read his blood tingled in his body. He heartily agreed in its terms. Mr. A. H. Lewis was glad to see the number of persons who had assembled, but was surprised to find that those who ought to be there had kept away and he was pleased to hear how Mr. Williams had expressed himself because it was an omen that he was coming over, to the other side. He agreed that Governor Storks had thrown oil on the troubled waters, he hoped that all would unite in one bond of peace and amity, without which there could be no prosperity. Dr. Alexander Fiddes was called on to speak. He said he appeared there as one of the requisitionists, and as one willing to do honor to Governor Storks for his conduct while amongst us. He felt that if Governor Storks had not been sent among us, there was no telling the horrible calamity that would have come over the people of this country. He desired to express his warm acknowledgements to his Excellency for his administrative ability and gentlemanly and courteous conduct. Mr. Henderson was about to explain why a number of gentlemen kept away, as he believed, in consequence of a report having neen circulated abroad, that other matters would be referred to at the meeting, but he was met by tumultuous shouts and hisses, and it was some time before order could be restored, and he was allowed to end his observations. Mr. George Levy thought Mr. Lewis wrong in referring to sides when speaking of the remarks that fell from Mr. Williams. There should be no party in the country, all should unite as one family. He knew of no sides in the country. Mr. Kelly Smith was glad that he was permitted the opportunity of addresing the meeting and concurred in the terms of the address. The Rev. Mr. Roach was satisfied to let by-gones be by-gones in a Christian spirit. Mr. Virkars said that Governor Storks had succeeded in pleasing all parties, by the manner in which he had drawn up the report of the Commission. After some further remarks: The address was unanimously agreed to. A deputation was then appointed to wait on His Excellency with the address. Deputaton: Dr Alexander Fiddes; W.W. Anderson, Esq.; Rev. Robert Gordon; Rev, J. F. Roach; Edward Vickars, Esq., John Nunes, Esq. and A. H. Lewis, Esq. His Honor the Mayor having left the chair, Dr. Fiddes was called thereto, when the thanks of the Meeting were awarded to His Honor the Mayor for his [ ] in the chair. It was proposed that the address should be signed by each individual willing to do so, and a number of gentlemen around the table appended their names to it. The deputation will wait on His Excellency to-day, to know when he would be pleased to receive the address. His Excellency will be in Kingston at 11 o'clock to-morrow, by which time it is expected a large number of signatures will be added. TOP
BACK TO ROBERT GORDON 3 BACK TO ROBERT GORDON 4	The Colonial Standard for both August 9 and 10, 1866, included a full version of the address in its accounts of the events surrounding the departure of Sir Henry Storks: The Revd Mr Gordon, at the request of his Honor [the Mayor], read the following address which he had prepared for submission to the meeting.:- To His Excellency, Sir HENRY KNIGHT STORKS, G.C.B., G.C.M.G. May it Please your Excellency, “ We, the Undersigned, Citizens of Kingston, deem it due to your Excellency, prior to your departure from this island to re-assume your exalted position in Malta, not to permit this present favourable opportunity to pass by without cordially expressing our gratitude to Her Gracious Majesty the Queen for having selected Your Excellency temporarily to guide the destinies of our Country in one of the most trying periods of its existence as an appendage to the British crown. That you have fully realized the well-founded expectations of the British Government in the pleasing circumstance that you have faithfully fulfilled your onerous as well as difficult and delicate mission, and earned golden opinions from all parties are such accomplished facts that we cannot but take note of them, and feel gratified at their contemplation. “Your Excellency's sterling worth has been exhibited in the firmness of character which you have brought to bear on matters requiring such a necessary qualification, whilst your rigid impartiality has caused your claim to the confidence of all classes to be fully acknowledged. Under such circumstances, it had been our fondly cherished hope that Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, would have made such arrangements as would secure your valuable services for at least the usual period at the helm of our somewhat chequered affairs. Were we fortunate enough to obtain those services, the indications of your Excellency's character to which we have referred, the extraordinary facilities which you have experienced for acquiring a sound knowledge of the country, and its various requirements, the certainty that you would strive to manifest yourself as a benign embodiment and exponent of British feelings and principles, would especially qualify you to inaugurate the blessed reign of of such moral, religious, educational, social and political levers as your ample experience has taught you to be necessary to raise our fallen island from its present prostrate position. “But, as your Excellency must leave us, and, at an early period, too – the sorrowful duty of expressing the doleful term, Farewell, must, however reluctantly, be at once perfpormed.. We shall always look back to the brief time of your being Governor of Jamaica with unfeigned pleasure and satisfaction, knowing that you did your best to promote the welfare of all classes. “In conclusion, we pray that the Great God and Father of all, will grant your Excellency a lengthened tenure of life and health to enjoy the earthly honors which your high professional and administrative abilities entitle you to receive at the hands of our Gracious Sovereign, and, that finally in another stage of existence, you may be dignified with those celestial honors, over which, in consequence of their intrinsic perpetuity neither death nor any external circumstances will have any power. “We have the honor to subscribe ourselves. Your Excellency's most faithful servants.” The Address was received with marked satisfaction and approval: cheers being given at the conclusion of each paragraph. TOP