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the legitimate:
The anomalous
aggressions
on
traute referred to in
my
communications
of the 30th December and 22nd of January. His Excellency is of course unable to
say how far it may
be in
your power
to
complete arrangement, but
His Excellency will probably feel that it would
at least contribute to restore Public confidence if some reparation
were
made to the
parties aggrieved by the marauders who attacked them under the guise of Authority from the Chinese Customs and robbed
them of more
than 1000 Dollars. If it
were
solidly established that the
Viceroy individually appears most willing to provide against the renewal of such outrages, which would sooner
or
later inevitably entail reparation, that belief would unquestionably be the best guarantee against similar aggressions hereafter.
I am further directed by His Excellency to point out that although a promise is given to punish the parties complained of, such promises seem rather to apply to the future and to those who may hereafter falsely assume the character of Customs Officers. Therefore it seems very desirable to ascertain whether any punishment has really been inflicted on the parties recently moved guilty, as also the nature
of the
punishment and the
names
of the
guilty parties, in order that
any attempt...