"
China Mail $5+ July 11
کچھ
1870.
Murderous Afault by
Foreigners
Chinese
on
at Tientsin.
Love
foli
*2
Enclosure No 2 in Major- General Stoneral Whitfeild = Respatch N. 447 of 6th July, 187.
2012
Zv
130
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, JELY 6TH, 1870.
MASSACRE OF THE FRENCH CONSUL AND OTHER EUROPEANS AT
TIENTSIN.
The following was issued in the form of an "Extra," yesterday morning :
The steamer Nile from Shanghai arrived last night, and was to start this morning, having left thas port on the morning of the 28th ultimo Captain Wright, who at considerable trouble consented to bring the despatches down, basi courteously banded as the Shanghai Courier of the 27th nltimo, which contains the following startling intelligence :~
Very serious news has reached us to-day by the Dragon. The Chinese have risen against the French. An official dispatch, the very bre vity of which is a significant commentary on its contents, says that the French Consulate, the residence of the Sisters of Mercy, and the French Cathedral were burning at the time the dispatch was being written. The French Con- sul, (Mons. Fontanier,) all the Siaters of Mercy and several other Frenchmen (Missionaries). had been murdered. The steamers Appin and Manchu were detained (well armed) to afford į some protection to foreigners. Mr. Lay, H.B.M.'s Vice-Consul, was collecting all the foreigners together.
In addition to the above official information, there is a rumor that Count Rochechonart, the French Minister, and some Russians had been killed at Pekin.
Immediately on the receipt of this news H.M.S. Dwarf got up steam, and Mr. Medhurst, H.R.M.'s Consul, considerately issued a circular giving those who have connections in the North an opportunity of writing by her. She left at 4 p.m. Meanwhile some degree of protection would have been afforded to the foreigners of Tientsin by H.M.S. gunboat Oppossum, which started for Tientsin immediately
the
that the Dragon arrived at Chefoo on night of the 23rd inst. The French Gunboat Flamme leaves to-morrow morning and Messrs. Russell & Co, have placed the S.S.N.S. Shantung at the disposal of the French authorities as a transport. In view of the departure of the Dwarf, leaving the Foreign Community here without British protection, Sir Ed. Hornby as the last commandant of the Shaughai Volun- teers, has issued a circular calling on all resident
members of the corps to hold themselves in! readiness should their services be required. Meanwhile we bave the protection of the French Guuhoats Aspic and Scorpion, and the Zebra has been sent for from Nagasaki. No explanation is given of the cause or origin of these dreadfal
occurrences,
The steamship Nile leaves at daylight with a full cargo, including 119 bales of Silk. She goes direct to Suez, calling only at Hongkong to deliver Government despatches relating to the news of the massacre at Tientsin.
Capt. Wright also reports that the greatest excitement prevails at Shanghai, in consequence of this news. There was a further rumour that the whole of the foreigu Legation buildings at Pekin were in flames. The news arrived at Shang- bai at 2 p.m. on the 27th instant, when the Nile was clearing for aea, and Captain Wright immediately proffered his services to the English and French Consuls to bring down the intelli- gence to the Senior Officer on this station. He had previously no intention of calling at Hong- kong, as be was bound bone with a full cargo, a large portion of which was engaged at the high freight of £6, on condition of his making voyage in 60 days, and for the remainder he was under guarantee not to call anywhere until be reached the Re sea. This guarantee was waived, however, in consideration of the urgency of the case, but the Nile is still to arrive in 60 days from Shanghai or to lose £1 of her freight. Under these circumstances Capt Wright's offer to bring down the news must be thoroughly appreciated, utterly disinterested as it is, and proceeding from motives of pure courtesy and humanity. The offer was duly appreciated by the French Consul, who was politeness itself, and full of acknowledgments of Cap- tain Wright's courtesy. The English Con.. sul, on the other band, was pleased to communicate with the captain through a subordinate, who was good enough to take off three from the list of four distressed seamen going bome by the Nile, in consideration of the proffered service. It was impossible to do more, ao the last "distressed seaman" remains on board to testify in mathematical language to the three-quarters-hearted kindness of British consular officers at Shanghai, in a case in which an hour's delay in delivering the despatches, which none but the Nile could take at the mo- ment, was fraught with danger to the whole foreign community of Tientsin.
Orders have gone to daigon for the imme. diate despatch of men of war.
UG.