To look up the whole correspondence.
Share written to the Consuls at Amoy & Foochow, the two ports most frequented by our Anglo-Chinese subjects, directing their attention to the Notification, but I am prepared for some difficulty in effecting any arrangement that will satisfy the Chinese Government without inflicting injury on our Anglo-Chinese.
The Chinese Government have much to complain of, so far as its interests are practically concerned. The fathers & grandfathers of these people, having owned property in the Country, have been no doubt in many cases connected with the disaffected, if not themselves members of affiliated societies. Their societies, which have a political character, which they will be sure to assert whenever rebellion is afoot, were formerly known, and probably still have branch lodges in the Straits.
In 1853 when the Taipings held Nanking, Amoy and Shanghai were manned by men of the same societies, and some of our Singapore friends proved useful agents. But they were very few in number. At the present moment I doubt that there are 100 in all the ports that they have in general been.
As...