So far as my action in the matter is concerned, I shall proceed with caution so as not to give umbrage to the High Chinese Authorities.
I feel, however, that it is none the less incumbent on me not to conceal from His Excellency the Governor what, after careful consideration, I believe to be the actual value of the promise given by His Excellency the Viceroy.
And I am, in the main, induced to write this unreservedly because there is no doubt, from confidential information that has reached me, that in spite of the most positive assurances to the contrary which were given by the former Viceroy Li Hsueh Kuang, torture in a horrible form was applied at the yamens within the City of Wuchow or at boats to extort confession from some of the thirteen criminals who were delivered over by the Hongkong Government on the application made by my predecessor Dr. Hance in his despatch No. 86 of the 21st May, 1879.
26th April 1881.
(Signed) A.R. Margesson should be (Signed) A.R. Hewlett.
Consul.
Corrected and formatted version in HTML as per the instructions:So far as my action in the matter is concerned, I shall proceed with caution so as not to give umbrage to the High Chinese Authorities.
I feel, however, that it is none the less incumbent on me not to conceal from His Excellency the Governor what, after careful consideration, I believe to be the actual value of the promise given by His Excellency the Viceroy.
And I am, in the main, induced to write this unreservedly because there is no doubt, from confidential information that has reached me, that in spite of the most positive assurances to the contrary which were given by the former Viceroy Li Hsueh Kuang, torture in a horrible form was applied at the yamens within the City of Wuchow or at boats to extort confession from some of the thirteen criminals who were delivered over by the Hongkong Government on the application made by my predecessor Dr. Hance in his despatch No.86 of the 21st May, 1879.
26th April 1881.
(Signed) A.R. Hewlett.
Consul.