Kenwoon Mengyee, Burmese ambassador

His Excellency Kenwoon Mengyee and his suite arrived at Dover on 5 June 1872. The Embassy were welcomed on behalf of the English government by Major Macmahon of the Indian Office, accompanied by other dignitaries, and the Burmese ambassador’s translator replied that ‘His Excellency cannot find words to sufficiently express and convey to you the pleasure it has given him to receive this friendly and propitious greeting, coming as it does from such an enlightened and free nation. He congratulates himself upon having selected this charming spot as a landing-place, and he will remember with the greatest pleasure the very flattering and cordial manner in which the inhabitants of this town have been pleased to meet him today.’ The ambassador was then introduced to members of the town council and the party then proceeded in four carriages to visit the castle, where they were given lunch by officers of the Royal Artillery before departing by train for London. The proceedings were witnessed by a large crowd of spectators.

Photographed by John Watkins of London.