injury on a fort with which we had and desired to cultivate friendly relations. The correspondence which was recently taken place with Mr Pedder, the 'moul at Hong Kong', setting forth in detail the circumstances in which a British subject of Chinese extraction narrowly escaped being beaten to death (as did actually happen to another some 15 years less at the same Port) gave me a favourable opportunity of asserting the principle of uniformity under Chinese laws for such persons, and insisting on a distinct recognition of our right of protection in all such cases. I enclose for your information Mr Pedder's report of the case, and my letter expressing the energy and promptness which were displayed, and which alone saved the man's life; also my correspondence with the Prince of Kung on the subject, my first communication not only broadly asserted this right, but called upon him to issue such injunctions to the provincial authorities, as should henceforth effectually prevent them in any case proceeding further against a prisoner in China, who should declare himself a British subject until the Consul to whom he appealed was able to testify his stated allegiance.
If this received a perfectly satisfactory reply, so far as the form it laid down is concerned. I inclosed to me at the same time the draft of the instructions he was sending to the Provincial authorities, distinctly enjoining them to at once take proceedings in all such cases and communicate with the nearest Consul. So far the question admits of easy solution, but the difficulty was caused by ...
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