place of the smuggling ships, about twelve miles below Shanghae.
I have since received the annexed despatch from Consul Alcock . It
appears that the Chinese authorities , after neglecting to apprehend the man,
who had escaped ashore from the ships, have since applied to the Consul for his
punishment, and expressed their apprehension that, if he escapes altogether, the
people of the neighbourhood will have the same feeling against foreigners that has
actuated those of Canton .
Inclosure in No. 45.
Consul Alcock to Sir J. Davis.
Sir, Shanghae, February 19, 1848.
REFERIN to my despatch of the 22nd January, I have the honour to
G
inclose, in translation , a communication recently received from the Taoutae,
conveying the purport of a letter addressed to that officer by the Governor
General, and my reply thereto .
The attempt to fasten upon British authorities and subjects the responsibility
of an offence committed by aa native of Manilla (not serving under the British
flag ), and of the apprehension of the offender, is too clearly untenable in justice
or reason to require comment. The motive for making this occurrence a pretext
of complaint for unredressed violence and loss of life in the present instance is
very obvious, by the reference made to the murders at Canton and the danger of
popular tumult. I believe the Manilla man in question was on shore after the
homicide, when the authorities took no pains to find him, and the report of a
black man having been found dead, apparently from cold and starvation , some
distance from Woo-sung, tends to confirm the suspicion.
I did not, however, deem it expedient to allude to this report, lest it should
seem that I was offering a defence somewhat too analagous to their own
subterfuges in similar cases. I may mention to your Excellency, however, that
the spontaneous offer of a reward of 100 dollars, for the apprehension of the
offender, by the masters of all the vessels at Woo-sung, and themutual agreement
entered into among them, that if he were found in any ship the master of that
vessel should pay the whole amount, would seem to render it highly improbable
that he either found shelter or place of concealment on board any British vessel
at that anchorage.
The tone which the Governor-General adopted, especially in reference to
Her Majesty's Vice- Consul and Interpreter, of whom he speaks as persons, and
alludingto their report as of doubtful veracity, and the intimationthat similar
events to those at Canton were to be contemplated if the criminal were not
apprehended, appeared to me to require a prompt and uncompromising answer.
I have,& c.
(Signed) RUTHERFORD ALCOCK .
N 2
88
No. 46 .
Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston .— ( Received May 24.)
(Extract.) Victoria , Hong Kong, March 4, 1818.
MY despatches of the 5th and 29th of February reported the circumstances
attending the murder of a Chinese by a Manilla man , at the smuggling station
at Woo -sung
I have since received the inclosed from Keying, applying for the punish
ment of the alleged murderer as a British subject, under the Treaty. In my
annexed reply I have informed the Chinese Minister that the man in question
was a Manilla man , and that the place where the homicide occurred is a
professed opium station, like so many others on the coast, which exist with the
perfect connivance of the Chinese Government.
Inclosure 1 in No. 46 .
Commissioner Keying to Sir J. Davis.
( Translation .)
KEYING, High Imperial Commissioner, & c . , sends the following com
munication .
I received an official note from Le , the Governor -General of Keang -nan and
Keang-se, to the following effect.
The Intendant of Soo-choo, Taet- seang, and Sung -keang, reported that the
magistrate of Paou -shan had written to him saying , that on the 11th instant
(January 16) towards evening, Seu -chang -paou, a villager, carried some fish along
the street, when a drunken black foreigner gave Seu -chang -paou a mortal blow
with a sword , on the left side of his body. That black man went then instantly
on board his vessel , in a boat. The brothers of the deceased immediately
reported the circumstance to the magistrate, who went, in conjunction with the
Vice-Consul Robertson , on board the ship , but could not discover the black man
who was the murderer . There are , however, many merchant vessels in the
harbour. And the Vice -Consul having made search only in a single one,
instantly said, that there was no murderer. I therefore request you to manage
this matter.
On the receipt of the above, it appeared to me, the Great Minister, that a
murderer has forfeited his life , according to the foreign as well as Chinese laws.
The black man in question inflicted aa mortal wound on the villager Seu -chang
paou, and must, in conformity with the existing Treaty, be found out and suffer
death .
When this letter reached me, I thought it therefore my duty to address the
Honourable Envoy on this subject, with the request to examine into the matter,
and order the Shanghae Consul, Alcock , to find out the black man who is the
murderer, and punish him according to the Treaty. This is of great importance.
Whilst sending this communication, I wish you much happiness.
Taoukwang, 28th year, 1st month , 25th day. (February 29, 1848.)
Inclosure 2 in No. 46 .
Sir J. Davis to Commissioner Keying.
(Extract.) Victoria, Hong Kong, March 3 , 1848 .
I HAVE received your Excellency's note concerning the death of a
Chinese named Seu-chang -paou at the hands of a black man in Paou -shan
district.
89
It has been ascertained that this black man was a Manilla man Lin
sung.jin ), and that Woo-sung, where the event occurred, is an anchorage for
smuggling opium , like Kumsingmoon and Namoa, in Canton , Chimmo Bay, in
Fokien, and Kintang near Ningpo.
No. 47.
Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston .- (Received May 24.)
My Lord, Victoria , Hong Kong, March 13, 1848 .
I HAVE received from Mr. Consul Macgregor, at Canton, the inclosed
report from Mr. Bird , ConsularAgent at Whampoa, of an affray at that place
between some Americans and Chinese, in which two of the latter were wounded
with firearms.
I have directed the Consul to inform Mr. Bird that I entirely approve of
his referring the parties concerned in this affair to the American Consul .
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. F. DAVIS.
Inclosure in No. 47.
Mr. Bird to Consul Macgregor.
Sir, Whampoa , March 9, 1848 .
I HAVE the honour to report , for your information, the following circum
stances, and have to state that in future I shall be more punctual in bringing any
unusual occurrence under your notice .
About half-past 5 o'clock on the evening of the 6th instant, the master of
the “ Menzies " called upon me with his upper lip cut, saying there was a very
serious affray in the neighbourhood of the billiard -room , in which Mr. Hunt
had shot two Chinese . I immediately went towards the spot, and on the way
was informed Mr. Hunt wished to see me at his aesidence. I called upon him ,
when I learned the affray was terminated , and that the following were the
particulars of it.
During the night of the 5th instant, some gunpowder was stolen from a
magazine belonging to Messrs . Hunt and Tobey ; the Chinese in charge of it
in endeavouring to trace out the robbers on the following day was attacked by
Mr. Ross' carpenters, and had his head severely cut. Mr. Hunt on learning
this , with several Americans and one Englishman (the master of the “ Menzies” ),
who were dining with him , went on shore, and having seized one individual who
they supposed had perpetrated the outrage, were stoned by about thirty Chinese
and obliged to swim to their boats, which were put off from the shore. Mr. Hunt
reached a boat in which he found a gun and fired it over the heads of the
Chinese, now increased to about sixty, but this producing no change fired a
second time amongst them . The foreigners having escaped, in a short time
returned with firearms, and found only two or three Chinese remaining on the
ground, and showing a disposition of revenge, at whom they fired .
It was supposed three Chinese had been killed ; but it was subsequently
ascertained only one was wounded in the mouth , and another in the left
thigh .
I declined interfering in the matter, and recommended Mr. Hunt to make
a report to the American Consul .
Trusting I have taken a proper view, I have, &c.
(Signed) ALEXR . BIRD .
90
No. 48 .
Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston.- (Received May 24.)
My Lord, Victoria, Hong Kong, March 18, 1848 .
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copy of a despatch from Mr.
Consul Alcock at Shanghae, detailing certain consequences resulting from some
thousands of junk men , hitherto employed in transporting grain on the canal,
being thrown out of employ.
Mr. Gutzlaff had drawn my attention to the fact of the increasing shallow
ness of the canal having obliged the Government, against its will, to transmit
grain to Peking by sea and the route of the Peiho. It now appears that the
great numbers of men long employed in the inland navigation, and, from their
serving in Government vessels , accustomed to domineer over the ordinary
people, are now loose in large numbers about the neighbourhood of Soo -chow
and Tsing-poo, not far distant from Shanghae. “ I understand,” says the
Consul , some 13,000 men , at least, of turbulent character and with just cause
of discontent, are left to create disorder and commit every species of depredation
upon the peaceable inhabitants ; ” while the Government authorities are discus
sing the amount of bounty to enable them to follow some lawful occupation,
when they are driven from their homes, the grain junks.
The Consul goes on to state that on the 8th instant, a party of three
missionaries went on a journey to Tsing -poo, about thirty miles from Shanghae,
for the purpose of distributing tracts. It would seem that, without any provo
cation on their part, they were involved in a disturbance with a party of these
junk men , which terminated in the violent maltreatment of the missionaries,
who were ultimately rescued by some Chinese police, and escorted back to
Shanghae.
The Consul has in consequence issued the annexed notice to British
subjects, calling their attention to the temporary disorder occasioned by these
disbanded junk men, and very properly recommending that, while the evil
continues, they should abstain from distant journeys into the interior. He
concludes his despatch by stating that he has demanded the apprehension and
punishment of the ringleaders, and insisted upon their being brought to Shang
hae for identification .
I have , &c.
(Signed ) J. F. DAVIS.
Inclosure 1 in No. 48 .
Consul Alcock to Sir J. Davis.
Sir, Shanghae, March 10, 1848.
I HAVE the honour to inclose a notification I have thought it prudent to
issue for the guidance of British subjects, enjoining them for the present to
refrain from any extended excursions into the country, more especially in the
neighbourhood of Tsing-poo -heen and Sung-keang -foo, where the large granaries
are situated, and near which are collected in large numbers the men hitherto
employed in the grain junks, with whose services the Chinese authorities have
endeavoured to dispense, omitting the necessary precaution of first satisfying the
men's claims, and providing for their location in a manner calculated to prevent
their becoming a source of danger and difficulty .
Throughout the circuit of the three departments of Soo -chow -foo, Sung
keang -foo, and Taet -sang - chow , I understand some 13,000 men at least, of
turbulent character, and with just cause of discontent, are left to create disorder
91
and commit every species of depredation upon the peaceable inhabitants, while
the Government authorities are discussing ways and means, and haggling about
the amount of bounty to be given on their dismissal, to enable them to settle
with their families, and follow some lawful occupation when they are driven from
their homes, the grain junks.
This state ofthings has now existed for some months, with a continually
increasing sense of insecurity, extending from Soo-chow to Woo-sung, wherever
these grain -junk men make their appearance .
The course adopted by the Chinese Government to get rid of the expense
entailed by the services of so large a body of able-bodied men, employed for
generations in conveying the grain collected from these maritime departments, by
inland navigation, to Peking, without any well-concerted measures for equitably
settling their claims upon the Government, in whose employment they have
been broughtup, or means at hand for repressing the disorders consequent upon
such acts, unfortunately only too aptly illustrates the mixture of imbecility and
arrogance which so frequently characterize the acts of Chinese officials.
Nevertheless, unless some remedy is applied, and that promptly, not only
greatmischief must ensue to their own people, but our security is endangered.
This has been brought home to the authorities by the narrow escape of
their lives which three of our missionaries have had in one of their excursions.
On Wednesday the 8th March, a party, consisting of Messrs. Medhurst, Lock
hart, and Muirhead, went on a journey to Tsing-poo, about ninety-six le from
Shanghae, for the purpose of distributing tracts. I'wo of them had visited that
city several times previously , and it being within the distance that could be
reached, and the return to Shanghae effected in the prescribed time, it was
considered, and justly so, within the limits assigned by the port regulations.
While engaged in distributing tracts and conversing with the shopkeepers,
it appears a number of Shan-tung men , who navigate the grain junks, then
lying off Tsing -poo, came behind, pushing, and striving to get a larger number
of the books than would come to their share, and also throwing stones. In
order to prevent any disturbance, the party very properly determined on leaving
the city, and returning to their boats ; but one of the grain -junk men , in pushing
past Mr. Lockhart, who, with his back to the crowd, was endeavouring to keep
his companions from being pressed on, accidentally scratched the face of one of
the most forward, with the end of his stick-a trivial circumstance, of no other
importance than that it seems, in the sequel, to have been made the pretext,
founded possibly upon exaggerated reports, for a murderous attack by another
party of junkmen .
They had not got above half-a-mile from the city when they heard a
number of people hooting after them , and threatening to beat them ; the party
consisting of a fresh set of men from the grain junks.
Armed with poles , iron bars, swords, and one among the rest with a heavy
iron chain, apparently the ringleader, stripped of his upper garments, began to
attack and beat the objects of their anger and cupidity, for plunder and murder
seemed equally in their contemplation.
After being struck down, their heads laid open with blows from clubs and
hoes, and otherwise cruelly maltreated and plundered of watches, & c ., the
ruffians determined on taking them to the grain junks , and there either holding
them to ransom , or taking their lives, as they repeatedly vociferated . When
>
approaching the city, it appears a number of police runners, and others, mingled
with the party, and at the city gates finally succeeded in separating the mission
aries from the grain-junk men, and conducted them to the Che-heen ,who received
them with courtesy , and provided them with chairs, and an escort to their boat,
some five miles distant, and thence to Shanghae, where they arrived in safety,
at 6 o'clock the following morning, but covered with bruises .
It is quite clear that the same lamentable loss of life as recently occurred
at Canton , and under circumstances of equal atrocity , but for providential causes
must have taken place at Tsing-poo.
- I attribute much to the rare example of
Christian forbearance and temper which seems to have marked the conduct of
these missionaries from first tolast. This, added to the power they fortunately
possessed, from fluency in the language, of remonstrating and parleying with
their assailants, seems to have been the means of their preservation. There can
be no doubt that had they attempted resistance, or had any act of theirs caused
blood to flow , they would have been beaten to death on the spot.
92
I have demanded the apprehension and punishment of the ringleaders, and
insisted upon their being brought to Shanghae for identification . I will, by the
first opportunity, communicate further with your Excellency on this subject, and
report the steps taken to obtain redress, and prevent a recurrence of scenes as
disgraceful to the Chinese as they are dangerous to us.
I have, & c.
( Signed) RUTHERFORD ALCOCK.
Inclosure 2 in No. 48 .
Notification.
Shanghae, March 10, 1848.
HER Majesty's Consul has to regret the occurrence of a most unprovoked
outrage on the part of some junkmen, placing the lives of a party of mission
aries visiting Tsing-poo in the greatest jeopardy. While engaged in earnest
efforts to secure the apprehension of the ringleaders and provide for adequate
measures being taken by the Chinese authorities to prevent the recurrence of
acts alike dangerous to life and injurious to our interests in China, Her
Majesty's Consul deems it necessary to urge in the strongest manner upon
all British subjects the prudence of abstaining for the present from any
lengthened excursions into the country.
Some 13,000 grain -junk men are scattered between Soo -chow and Paou-shan,
hitherto in the employment of the Chinese Government, but about to be
dismissed without satisfactory or final arrangements having yet been made to
provide them with means of finding other homes, and in the meantime they
remain at Tsing -poo and other places, a terror to the peaceable inhabitants,
whom they plunder and maltreat with impunity.
The danger of such a state of things to British subjects has been so fully
shown by the recent attack upon three inoffensive missionaries, who seem
greatly to have owed their lives to the praiseworthy forbearance they exhibited,
that it must be obvious no one, with common prudence, can at present visit the
neighbourhood of these grain -junk men .
( Signed ) RUTHERFORD ALCOCK, Consul.
No. 49.
Mr. Bonham to Viscount Palmerston .- (Received May 24. )
My Lord, Victoria, Hong Kong, March 25, 1848 .
IN continuation of my predecessor's despatch of the 18th instant,
I have now the honour to submit to your Lordship’s information copies of two
despatches from Mr. Consul Alcock, detailing further proceedings that he had
adopted, in order to compel the Chinese authorities at Shanghae to bring to
trial and punishment such of the persons implicated in the assault on the
missionary gentlemen as could be identified. The despatches and disclosures
are so extremely voluminous, that I have been unable to forward copies of
the latter, which perhaps, indeed, the comprehensive nature of the former
renders unnecessary .
Having been only one day in office when these despatches reached me, I
thought it my duty to show them to my able and experienced predecessor, and
to explain to him my own views on the subject; and Sir John Davis, after fully
considering the matter, entirely concurred with me in the necessity of preventing,
if possible, any rupture with the Chinese Government ; and as it appeared to me
the Consul's proceedings and demands were calculated to disturb the friendly
relations heretofore existing with the Chinese authorities at Shanghae, I wrote
to that gentleman my sentiments on the subject.
The substance of that communication will inform your Lordship that I
93
conceived Mr. Alcock had exceeded the just limits of his authority, while at the
same time I fully admit that every allowance should be made for the trying and
embarrassing position in which he has found himself placed.
It is satisfactory to observe that this outrage on British subjects was not
committed by the ordinary inhabitants of Shanghae, or of its vicinity, but by
certain mariners belonging to some grain junks at a distance of thirty miles
from the Consulate. Indeed, it would appear that the injured gentlemen met
with the sympathy of the inhabitants, and also received, perhaps, as much
protection fromthe officers of police as it was in their power to afford.
The Consul on the spot has, doubtless, much better means of judging of
the temper and intentions of the Taoutae at Shanghae than I can possibly
possess with my very limited experience, and at this distance from the scene of
action, but I confess I am disposed to think it may be more difficult than he
supposes for the authorities to apprehend ten of the principal culprits, who are
alleged to form a part of a body of some 13,000 men at least, described to be of
a turbulent character, at all times reckless, without any fixed abode, and at
present in a state of desperation, arising from causes already reported in
Sir John Davis's despatch of the 18th instant.
Under these circumstances, should this matter not have been brought to a
conclusion before my letter reaches Shanghae, I am in hopes that Mr. Alcock
will, on its receipt, take steps for its peaceable adjustment, until I can receive
your Lordship’s instructions in reply to my predecessor's letters on the subject
of the Hwang-chu-ke affair, from the tenor of which I may probably be able
to form some idea of what your Lordship's views are likely to be relative to the
occurrences and proceedings now reported.
Your Lordship will be aware, from Sir John Davis's despatch of
January 28,* that had I the disposition, I am peremptorily forbidden from
taking any measures of an offensive nature against the Chinese, without the
previous sanction of Her Majesty's Government.
I have, &c .
( Signed) S. G. BONHAM .
P.S. - Since writing this despatch, I find I have time to have copied the
two inclosures of Mr. Consul Alcock's latest despatch, dated the 18th instant ,
and therefore forward them for your Lordship’s information . S. G. B.
* Sir John Davis to Viscount Palmerston.— ( Received March 25.)
( Extract.) Victoria , Hong Kong, January 28, 1848.
On the receipt by the mail just arrived of the inclosed despatch from Earl Grey, it was a great
satisfaction to me to reflect that the anxiety and readiness which Keying hari evinced to do what was
right, would not render necessary any measure of coercion. In this despatch I am told that Her
Majesty's Government peremptorily forbid any further offensive operations to be undertaken without
their previous sanction .I have accordingly recalled the application before made by me to Lord
Hardinge at Major -General d'Aquilar's suggestion, for an Europeau regiment.
Inclosure .
Earl Grey to Sir John Davis.
Sir, Dorning - street, Norember 24, 1847.
I HAVE received from the Governor of Ceylon, a despatch dated the 22nd of September last,
communicating to me an application which had been made to the Major-General Commanding Her
Majesty's Forces in that island, by Major-General D'Aquilar, for a reinforcement of half a company
of Artillery, with two guns, and a proportionate supply of ammunition, to be held in readiness to
be forwarded to Hong Kong, should circumstances render it necessary to undertake any further
military operations at Canton.
I have desired the Governor of Ceylon not to send to Hong Kong the detachment for which
application has been made by Major-General D'Aquilar, and I have now to signify to you that Her
Majesty's Government peremptorily forbid any further offensive operations to be undertaken against
the Chinese, without their previous sanction. Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that, although
the late operations in the Canton River were attended with immediate success, the risk of a second
attempt of the same kind would far overbalance any advantage to be derived from such a step. If
the conduct of the Chinese authorities should , unfortunately, render another appeal to arms inevitable,
it will be necessary that it should be made after due preparation, and with the employment of such
an amount of force as may afford just grounds for expecting that the objects which may be proposed
by such a measure will be effectually accomplished without unnecessary loss.
I have, &c.
( Signed ) GREY .
O
94
Inclosure 1 in No. 49 .
Consul Alcock to Sir J. Davis.
Sir , Shanghae, March 17 , 1848.
REFERRING to my despatch of the 10th instant, I have the honour
to inclose a mass of documents, which have rapidly accumulated in the pro
secution of negotiations for prompt and full redress.
The inclosure marked No. 2 gives the evidence of the three Missionaries
who were attacked, and in danger of being murdered , in the immediate neigh
bourhood of Tsing - poo. These depositions clearly establish the fact, that from
the first arrival of these British subjects in the city, a band of turbulent and
dissatisfied grain junk men sought to create a disturbance, that they might
have a pretext for setting upon, and afterwards robbing, if not killing, the
foreigners, more or less obnoxious as such to all Chinese .
The evidence further abundantly confirms my first report, that the outrage
was wanton and wholly unprovoked, and the attack which finally took place
some time after they left the city, was characterized by all the features of
savage atrocity which seem to have marked the fatal catastrophe at Canton,
when six British subjects actually lost their lives ;* and that in this instance their
escape is to be attributed to no absence of murderous or evil intention on the
part of the assailants, but to various incidental and unforeseen circumstances of
a seemingly providential nature.
I have already reported how they finally escaped such imminent danger,
and the part played in the rescue by police runners and the Che-heen.
While the officers were yet in Shanghae who had accompanied them, I saw
the Taoutae, forcibly represented to him the dangerous character of the outrage,
and urged him by every consideration of interest and obligation to take the
most prompt and energetic measures to guarantee British subjects from a
recurrence of such lamentable scenes, by the apprehension of the chief
criminals. This he promised to do ; but I have strong grounds for believing
that he took no effective steps whatever for many days.
The attack took place on the 8th instant. On the 9th, early in the
morning, he was fully cognizant of all the details. On the 10th, to my
surprise, Mr. Medhurst handed me the letter marked No. 3, received the
previous evening from the Taoutae . His Excellency writes, that although very
sorry for what has happened, he was of opinion that the party in going to
Tsing -poo had infringed the regulations, and congratulating him on his
fortunate escape ; he then explains the dangerous nature of a visitation from
these junk men to all the inhabitants, and assures Mr. Medhurst that he had
directed the district Magistrate, in communication with the officers of the
fleet, “ to apprehend and severely punish the murderous sailors.”
The motive of thus endeavouring to open a communication with the
injured parties direct, and without the intervention of the Consul, could not be
doubtful. To affix blame on the injured parties, and cajole them into acqui
escence in the policy of letting the affray pass over, he evidently conceived
possible, if the Consul could be put aside, and the affair be treated as a private
or personal matter of interesi between the Taoutae and Mr. Medhurst.
In my communication addressed to the Taoutae the same day, I returned
the letter, as one which he was not authorized to send and Mr. Medhurst was
equally precluded from receiving, and rebutied the charge conveyed in it, of the
party injured having infringed the regulations. I also insisted upon the right
by Treaty, of all British subjects within similar limits, to full and entire protec
tion . Prompt redress was again demanded , and I remonstrated against the
danger entailed upon British subjects by the ill -advised measures of the
Chinese Government, in letting loose a body of 13,000 disbanded malcontents
on the surrounding country; and urged the necessity for some efficient means
being adopted, to remedy the evil .
The Taoutae, in his answer marked No. 5, made a lame apology for his
deviation from the regular course in addressing Mr. Medhurst, and in a con
cluding paragraph stated he had again written to the grain intendant “ to
institute strict inquiries after the grain junk sailors and give them up."
* See “ Papers relative to Murder of Six Englishmen in the neighbourhood of Canton, in the
month of December 1847," presented 1848.
95
The following day, 12th instant, I deemed it necessary again to address the
Taoutae, inclosure No. 6, and inquire if the offenders had been seized, pointing
out thatseveral days had elapsed, and considering that the parties implicated
were numerous and must be personally known to the policemen who assisted
in the rescue, that they were all men in the employment of the Government,
the appearance of hesitation and delay in their apprehension was a subject of
deep regret and anxiety, lest a further denial of prompt justice and full redress,
should compromise our friendly relations ; delay in such a case being tanta
mount to a denial of justice.
It had now become quite evident that there was no disposition to take any
effective or energetic steps to meet these demands, and that the outrage was
treated as an affair which would eventually be got over, without the disagree
able necessity of putting forth all their powers to seize from the midst of these
turbulent sailors the guilty parties ; or if at the worst, the British Consul was
not to be pacified by promises, that a declaration of inability to afford redress,
would only lead to his referring the matter to your Excellency, whence it must
go to Keying, who having taken a similar line of argument, and having on his
hands a worse case , so far as the catastrophe was concerned, might not be
disposed very severely to blame other authorities in similar circumstances. At
all events time would be gained ; the grain junk men might be dispersed in a
few weeks, the offenders be out of reach irretrievably, and effective redress be
thus rendered palpably impracticable and impossible.
I had already felt it imperative to issue a notification, inclosed in my
former despatch , warning British subjects of the danger of any lengthened
excursions, the first consequence having been thus virtually to narrow the
limits to the immediate vicinity of Shanghae — a result too consonant with the
wishes of the authorities to be regarded otherwise than with satisfaction, and as
an advantage cheaply gained by a little embarrassment and trouble, from the
unavailing remonstrances of the British Consul.
It became, therefore, at once a serious question what further steps could be
taken to enforce attention to my just demands for redress, and thus avoid the
pernicious limitation, the sense ofinsecurity rendered compulsory. Beyond this,
lay another, and still more important question, of vital moment to our interests,
and deeply affecting our local and political position at this port. A plea of
inability on the part of the Chinese authorities to redress our injuries, is in
other words a plea of irresponsibility for any outrage to British subjects within
the Chinese dominions, and forms too facile an answer to every complaint of
violated Treaty Rights, ever to be laid aside, if once admitted as a valid argu
ment. Without protection, in the midst of a population which regards us
generally with more or less of dislike, and often with aa feeling of active hostility,
there can be no security for life or property, and without prompt and full redress
for injury, insult, or violence is to be obtained, there is no protection. If the
obligation to afford this can be evaded on any frivolous plea or pretext, more
especially on the large and ever ready ground, of inability to control or seize
their own people, the Treaty is valueless as waste paper, for its most important
provisions are virtually null and void. Accordingly our resistance to this plea,
and the difficulty of enforcing responsibility for the protection of life and
property, form the chief features of our intercourse since the peace, and the
efforts of the Chinese on the one hand, to establish the nullifying clause of
inability, and our determination to enforce the opposite principle of responsi
bility, as the essential condition of the Treaty, and of all Treaties, is the whole
question at issue with the Imperial Commissioner Keying, and one which seems
at the present moment to threaten the necessity for recourse to active
hostilities .
I trust I shall be excused if I dwell upon conclusions so obvious ; but they
are all -important, and require, especially at this distance from superior autho
rities, to be ever kept in view, and acted upon unhesitatingly and firmly by the
officer charged with the responsible duties of Consul. For theft and loss of
property the plea of inability is generally so plausible from the nature of the
circumstances , as to be in almost every instance effective. Rarely, indeed, are
any efforts on the part of the Consul to recover stolen goods, or to procure the
discovery and seizure of the offenders,followed by success, when either the one
or the other depends upon Chinese authorities and their underlings. This is an
evil of some magnitude; vigilance and care, however, on the part of the British
02
96
may keep it within some moderate limits ; but let the same rule be applicable to
acts of violence, or outrage to British subjects, in open day and frequented
places, and a residence in China must be limited to the range of our own guns,
and prove fatal to all hopes of improved commercial intercourse and prosperity
in this country .
These considerations were all forcibly impressed on my mind by the tone
of the Taoutae, and the character of supineness and indifference which marked
his proceedings. An outrage of the most aggravated , and, indeed , murderous
character, had been offered in broad day to three perfectly inoffensive British
subjects (one an aged man , whose hair is grey ), in the vicinity of a large city.
The deplorable state to which they had been reduced by the brutality of their
assailants, was seen by many thousands. They had been led through the
crowded streets covered withi blood, after they had been trampled in the mud,
and their clothes torn off. This outrage, in all its revolting details, had become
known to the whole country round, between Tsing -poo and Shanghae.
My urgent and reiterated efforts to obtain justice were equally known , and
their inutility canvassed by the population which immediately surrounds us.
What would be the probable effect of the ultimate escape of these criminals, and the
refusal of all redress at the hands of the local authorities ? I do not think there can
be a doubt in the mind of any one who has ever been in China, that such a result
was calculated , and that promptly , to exercise the most disastrous influence
upon our position at this port. To restrict our limits within the narrowest
bounds ; to expose us to similar outrage, if these were ever exceeded ; to subject
us to the insults and molestation of those by whom we are surrounded, from
which the fear of consequences, and the prestige of our power alone protect us,
even at Shanghae ; and, in a word, to strip the port of all its advantages as a
place of residence for foreigners, and convert it into a second Canton. These
were among the first and more apparent of the consequences which impunity to
the offenders, and triumph to the authorities in their miserable policy must
bring.
To avert, if possible, the menaced danger to our best interests, and preserve
unimpaired all the advantages hitherto legitimately engaged, it was evident that
neither ordinary exertions, nor the usual course of proceeding would suffice, and,
above all, to leave the matter in abeyance during several weeks while reference
was made to Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary for specific instructions, was to play
the game ofthe authorities, and lose certainly, if not irretrievably, all the advan
tages it was my duty to maintain , by every means at my disposal.
Under these circumstances, I have not hesitated to enter upon a course of
action, for which no instructions could have provided, so unforeseen are the
circumstances, and exceptional the position in which our interests are placed.
The measures taken I am convinced, are calculated, if not to insure success by
the apprehension and punishment of the offenders, yet effectually to prevent
any deterioration in our position ( unavoidable by any other means that
suggested themselves ), and to enable me to hold the vantage ground unimpaired
until your Excellency shall have the opportunity of giving full consideration to
all the circumstances, and determining upon such measures as may appear best
adapted to meet the difficulty.
On the 13th instant, five days after the attack had taken place, the Taoutae
had obviously done nothing ; he said he had written and had sent chai-yuh, or
policemen, but had received no information, and scarcely expected any.
Finding remonstrance and entreaty equaliy fruitless, I announced to him my
conviction that nothing effective had been done or attempted, and urging in the
strongest terms upon his attention the serious prejudice to British interests
which resulted. I notified to him that I would stop all payment of duties
for British ships, until full satisfaction should be obtained ; that no grain junk
should leave the river in the meantime, and that if in forty-eight hours
the chief offenders were not apprehended, I would adopt such other measures
asthe due enforcement of our Treaty Rights might seem to demand. This I
subsequently communicated to him in writing in my official communication
marked No. 7 , and immediately issued the notification inclosed, marked
No 8, announcing the untoward progress of the negotiations, and the stoppage
of the ships' duties. I communicated at the same time the steps taken to the
other foreign Consular Agents, as will be seen by inclosure No. 9, and to
Captain Pitman, commanding Her Majesty's Ship “ Childers,” in the inclosed
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letter No. 10, placing before him the gravity of the questions involved, and
requesting his active co- operation to enforce any demands for justice and
redress.
I believe this, after mature deliberation, to be the only course of action
adequate to the exigencies of the case, and felt at the same time that, having
entered upon it, to retrace my steps or falter in the way, would be impossible,
without wholly compromising British interests at this port.
I was not, however, prepared, having consulted or communicated with no
one, for the general and unanimous concurrence of opinion spontaneously
conveyed to me by the inclosed letters marked 11, 12, and 13, from the
principal British residents, the foreign Consular Agents, and the commander
of Her Majesty's Ship “ Childers,” who had fortunately arrived the previous
evening with his ship.
My answer to the letter of the British residents, marked 14, placed before
these parties the chief grounds for the measures taken , and the cordial manner
in which these were approved, as regarded their respective interests, by the
foreign Consular Agents (further recorded in the minute No. 15), gave
me satisfactory assurance that the course adopted would at least furnish no
subject of complaint to other powers..
While these communications were taking place, I received a joint private
letter from the Sub -prefect and District Magistrate, inclosure No. 16 ,
adverting to my interview with the Taoutae, on the morning of the 13th instant,
the chief purport of which was, no doubt, to intimidate me by fears of a
popular tumult, intimating their inability to protect me, knowing full well,
of course, my exposed and isolated position, living with my family in the
centre of the city , ostensibly they treated all that had passed with the Taoutae,
as the ebullition of anger , and proposed coming the next day to talk the matter
over with me . To this letter, the tone and the tenor of which were alike
unsatisfactory, I made no reply, but sent my card with a message that I was
engaged, and could not receive them .
The foreign Consuls at Shanghae the following day called upon me in
a body, to inform me that the Acting Consular Agent of the United States had
been waited upon by a Wei- yuen from the Taoutae, to represent the
impossibility of his causing the offenders to be seized in the short limit of forty
eight hours, and to request that they would use their joint influence, that
it might be extended to a period of ten days.
The foreign Consular Agents repudiated any extension for so long a
period, and I consented to waittwenty-four hours longer, on condition that his
Excellency himself made the request at the Consulate, and would undertake to
produce the offenders at the expiration of this prolonged period. The minute
already referred to, marked No. 15, was drawn up on the spot, as a record of the
perfect unanimity of the whole Consular corps.
This being notified to the Taoutae by the French Consul and his colleagues,
I received the visit of his Excellency the following morning, and Mr. Parkes the
officiating Intrepreter, having been dispatched up the river in the direction of
Tsing -poo, to obtain some needful information in reference to ulterior steps,
the Reverend Mr. Medhurst was requested to officiate as Interpreter, and his
services were rendered with great good temper and effect.
The inclosed minute, marked No. 17, will show that the only plea of
the Taoutae was inability to comply with my demand. He stated that he could
only call upon others to act, and if they did not do so, there was no remedy.
He declined entering into any promise, even if the time of ten days, which he
had indicated as necessary, were conceded, that the chief offenders would
be forthcoming, adding he had done, and would do his best, but could
undertake nothing further. He had not yet heard from Tsing-poo, in answer
to his letters, or by his messengers, probably because it was found difficult
or impossible to do anything. In reference to the measures already taken or
in contemplation by the Consul, his Excellency stated that he was but the
Taoutae here, and whether the duties and the grain junks were stopped, or
expenses entailed for detention of ships of war, or any other measure of
this nature were taken, it was a matter for his Government, he could say
nothing and do nothing to decide the question at issue..
I contented myself with enforcing by every argument the justice and
moderation of my demand, and the imperative necessity for redress being
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afforded. It was very obvious that remonstrance and argument were alike
useless. I therefore merely notified that I should hold him as the chief
authority and representative here, responsible for any expense, loss, or damage,
that might ensue by the detention of vessels, or other causes incident to his
denial of redress ; and adverting to the joint letter of the Sub - Prefect, and
Che heen , commented briefly upon the bad taste of their menaces, and my
determination to remain with my family in the city, satisfied that I might do
so without fear or danger, and well assured that the consequences of any
outrage upon Her Majesty's Consul in his position, would be too immediately
and seriously felt by the inhabitants and city of Shanghae, for any such acts to
be contemplated
Although I had distinctly stated that I would seek to enforce my just
demand by no acts of violence, I repeated the communication made to him on
the 13th instant, that if any insult, injury, or molestation was offered to a
British subject, I would immediately summon all the armed vessels at Woosung
to the upper anchorage, and if violence were offered, it should be promptly met
and resisted from whatever quarter it came, and for the consequences his
Excellency would be responsible.
Nothing could be more unsatisfactory than this interview , and I took leave
of him with a painful impression of his impracticability, a question arising as
to what part of this might, under the circumstances, be put on for the occasion ,
as the most baffling policy.
Something of this no doubt there was, for the evening had not passed
before I received a communication , marked No. 18, announcing the non - arrival
of information from Tsing -poo, and the dispatch of the Sub -prefect, the civil
officer next in rank to himself, with orders to proceed in all laste to that place ,
and in conjunction with the local authorities seize the offenders.
Either he had therefore some hope of seizing these men , or this step,
which I had suggested, was merely taken as a blind for the purpose of gaining
time. The result will show , but I am far from sanguine. I believe that the
proceedings of the whole of the authorities of this province have been so
impolitic, not to say unprincipled, that they have raised in these junk men a
band of malcontents so formidable by their number ( some 20,000 I am assured ),
that until they are themselves threatened with destruction by the evil they have
created , no adequate effort will be made to relieve the peaceable inhabitants
from the terrible penalty of being plundered by these marauders with impunity ,
for they are at open feud with all the authorities. On the contrary , if my
information be correct, they coolly contemplate allowing these lawless bands to
feed upon the country, and if they muster in large enough bands, to sack
villages and towns for a period of eight months, at the end of which time they
will again take them into their employment and transport the grain as here
toforeby the same expensive process inland, as the only compromise they can
devise .
The only doubt thrown upon the accuracy of this estimate of the actual
state of things seems to be a report, that not long ago when clamouring for pay,
or a bounty on dismissal, larger than the authorities were prepared to give,
these junk men threatened to murder the treasurer at Soo -chow , upon which
the Lieutenant- Governor sent out, and seizing the first twenty, had their heads
struck off without delay. If a strong -handed measure of this nature has lately
been taken, then have they miserably played with us in respect to these
offenders whom I have demanded .
The truth seems more probably to be midway. The Taoutae cannot compel
the Military Commandant here, who is not immediately under his orders, to
proceed to Tsing-poo, and the task being one of difficulty and danger, the
latter is very unlikely to volunteer his services. Precisely the same difficulty
exists at Tsung -keang -foo, in which district Tsing -poo is situated, and therefore
under the more immediate jurisdiction of the authorities of that place. The
Che- heen again at Tsing-poo, is without any very large physical means, and as
to seize junk men for an outrage offered to foreigners, is a peculiarly obnoxious
and unpopular duty, he falls back upon his superiors for assistance, and says he
has not the means.. In the interval, the junk men not only escape with impunity,
but probably feel that if the opportunity occurred again to -morrow to repeat
their brutality, they would not fail to profit by it - only taking better care to
99
leave no one alive to give any evidence, or stir up the British authorities
against them.
The Lieutenant-Governor may have the means of moving a force adequate
to the duty of seizing the offenders among the division of junks at Tsing-poo
(consisting of thirty-seven junks , and probably mustering some 700 men , as
Mr. Parkes by personal observation has acertained ), but to report this affair in
all its details to the superior authority, and involve that officer in the
disagreeable necessity of a hostile collision with this formidable class of junk
men , who, as it is, are a serious cause of anxiety to all the local authorities,
would probably cost the Taoutae his office and his baton , and therefore as this
is about the worst that can happen, he will at least defer the evil day, if it is to
come, and face as he best may any coercive means I may have at my disposal
here .
I am very thoroughly persuaded that this is a close approximation to the
truth ; and looking at our chances of redress, or security from renewed outrage,
under this aspect, I come to the conclusion that neither the one nor the other
are attainable through the present Taoutae. If he were removed, another
might succeed in obtaining the culprits, because, having no responsibility for
the origin of the difficulty, he might employ all his means with energy,, and
apply to his superiors for more, with hope of reward if he succeeded. The only
danger he could incur would be from want of success . With the present incum
bent it is just the reverse ; the responsibility rests upon him for the first occur
rence of difficulty, and the more he moves in it the greater is the chance of it
reaching the ears of higher authorities, and the more imminent the danger to
him of a loss of office. His policy in these circumstances is to endeavour to ride
a
out the storm by a declaration of helplessness and inability either to resist the
measures of Her Majesty's Consul, or to remove the provocation by seizing the
offenders.
If this view of his position and plans be, as I imagine, correct, even the
pressure of the strong measures already adopted may fail in obtaining the
punishment of these junk men, and without this, or some signal act of reparation
on the spot, our position is so deeply compromised, and our security from
further and continued molestation so slight, that, I repeat, Shanghae will be no
better than Canton in an incredibly short period.
Too many incidental circumstances have been generally observed in the
demeanour and acts of the people and authorities, since the last catastrophe at
Canton, for those who have them daily under their eyes to avoid the conviction ,
that our position at that port has exercised a most material and prejudicial
influence upon the minds of both people and authorities. I have long been
fully convinced, from the result of my observationsat all the three ports where
I have resided , that Canton and our relations there have the most serious effect
upon our position at all the other ports, and our standing, with the authorities
at least, throughout the empire.
The negotiations upon which I have entered, and the compulsory measures
taken to support them , can scarcely rest where they are, without a compromise
of security .
The policy of the Taoutae being to avoid appeal for assistance or
support from his superior authorities, it should very obviously, I conceive, be
ours to carry the affair beyond him, either to his next immediate superior, the
Lieutenant-Governor at Soo - chow , or still further to the chief authority of the
province, the Governor-General at Nanking, where the presence of a brig of
war, having a messenger and letter from the Consul at Shanghae, demanding
redress for an outrage on British subjects, must be well calculated to rouse
attention to the facts, and to compel some energetic steps on the part of the
Governor -General to put an end to all just cause of complaint, either by the
seizure of some of the chief offenders, and their punishment after identification,
or the dismissal with disgrace of the local authority, whose bad management or
inability allowed the outrage to pass unpunished, and the criminals to escape.
Nothing short of this can possibly meet the exigency of the case, or afford
adequate security to our interests at this port . At the present moment, this
would seem to be the best line of conduct to prevent immediate mischief, and
the loss of the advantageous position hitherto maintained .
After mature examination of the present aspect of affairs, the hopelessness
of advancing further with the Taoutae, who, I am well satisfied, is acting under
100
the worst advice of some subordinates who were with him at Canton , and the
necessity for attaining the end in view — redress — in whatever of the two forms
it may come, I am disposed, if no satisfactory intelligence is received in a few
days, to contemplate the expediency of intimating to the Taoutae my intention,
in accordance with clauses both in the American and French Treaties, to address
myself to the Governor-General at Nanking, putting him in possession of all the
facts by letter, of which the Interpreter should be the bearer, and claiming that
redress which I found it impossible, by any pacific measures, to obtain at the
hands of the Taoutae. One of the two results so indispensable to our security
may thus be facilitated or attained ; and failing this it will then only remain for
Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary to take such other measures as the total exhaus
tion of all local pacific efforts may suggest.
By the IVth clause of the American and French Treaties, it seems to have
been distinctly recognized, on the part of the Chinese Government, that a right
of appeal against the local authorities, by direct communication with the
supreme authorities of the Province, should be reserved to the foreign
Consuls, and although it may not have been contemplated that a foreigner, or a
ship of war would be the bearer of the representation, when the most important
of our Treaty Rights are trampled under foot, and our security at this port
compromised, it does not appear to me that there is need for much hesitation
in taking the most direct and only sure means of arriving at the legitimate
object in view. Before taking any further step in advance, however, I shall
most carefully weigh all the circumstances, and if I move in the direction I
have intimated, it will only be in the entire conviction that our interests
imperatively demand such a step.
I trust very earnestly that the measures already taken in this most
harassing and anxious negotiation, may meet with your Excellency's approval,
and be ultimately sanctioned by Her Majesty's Government. Too distant to
refer for instructions, I have been compelled, without delay or hesitation to do
all that seemed possible with the means at my disposal, and conducive to the
important end in view. If fear of responsibility had deterred me,, I
conscientiously believe, that long before your Excellency's better judgment
could have been brought to bear upon the circumstances, our position would
have been materially deteriorated, and our security seriously endangered.
This, it is evident, is the earnest conviction of every foreign resident, and of
all the Consular Agents of other Powers, and the Naval officer on the station ,
Captain Pitman , fully coincides in the same opinion.
Under any circumstances, should it appear to your Excellency that I have
unnecessarily exceeded my powers by the steps adopted to protect British
interests at this port, I still very earnestly hope, that the imperative necessity
of continuing to insist upon reparation of a public and satisfactory character,
may be the policy adopted. by whatever means carried out, and that its whole
influence may be so shaped, that it shall be felt and recognized throughout the
whole of this province .
The outrage, and the measure taken to obtain such reparation, I must
repeat, are canvassed wherever Chinese meet ; and nothing could be more fatal
to our prestige and intluence here, if negotiation were dropped without redress
having been obtained . I must trust your Excellency will do me the justice to
believe, that had I consulted my own safety or personal interests in this affair,
I should have avoided the heavy responsibility entailed by the course adopted ;
but with the conviction that this freedom would be purchased possibly at the
expense of life and property, and certainly by the loss of advantages our
interests render indispensable , I cannot feel that I had any alternative.
The inclosures numbered 19, 20 and 21 , will put your Excellency in
possession of the precautionary measures taken to hold our ground, and guard
against any disposition on the part of the authorities, to excite trouble or
disturbance to our injury.
I also thought it right to obtain information as to the general result of the
excursions of the Missionaries into the country, more especially in reference to
the chances incurred by their preaching, and distribution of tracts, of collecting
disorderly crowds, thus endangering the peace, or otherwise giving just cause of
complaint to the Chinese.
Mr. Medhurst's answer is, I think, very satisfactory, and I am bound to
state, that all the information which has reached me tends to the same
101
conclusion, that not the slightest ground for alarm or complaint has ever been
observed on either side.
It is true, that without reference to the Missionaries, whose knowledge of
the language, and familiarity with the people, must generally be a great
protection from annoyance , others, as your Excellency has been informed, have
not been quite exempt from injury ; and if all the circumstances of the last six
months are brought together and weighed in connection, the menace of a night
attack by the Canton men and junk men — the stoning and pursuit of two
gentlemen — the Lieutenant-Governor's letter from Soo - chow, holding out
something very like a menace of similar occurrences as at Canton, if the
Manillaman was not seized - keeping in view also recent events at Canton, I
feel it cannot be doubted that there is a growing tendency to mischief, and I
confess my own impression is that it comes from the authorities in the first
instance.
Here, there is, unfortunately, no doubt that Canton influence is most
injuriously brought to bear. Sam - qua, the Canton merchant and Mandarin,
who has been here for some time, with no official post, nor any very ostensible
object, has, I know from good authority, been in close communication with
the Taoutae, and his influence, as far as it extends, bodes no good, but may
tend to embroil us with both people and authorities.
Under these circumstances I would venture to suggest the expediency of a
steamer being sent up with your Excellency's despatches, to remain if required
for a time, until the termination of this affair can be more clearly seen .
I have, &c .
(Signed ) RUTHERFORD ALCOCK .
Inclosure 2 in No. 49.
Declaration .
ON Wednesday, 8th March, a party of Missionaries, consisting of Messrs.
Medhurst, Lockhart, and Muirhead, went on a journey to Tsing -poo, about 96 le
from Shanghae, for the purpose of distributing tracts. Messrs . Medhurst and
Lockhart had visited that city several times before ; and it being within the
distance that could be reached, and the return to Shanghae effected in twenty -four
hours, it was considered within the limits assigned by the Consular Regulations.
On their arrival at the city, they proceeded, as their custom was, to distribute
tracts, which is generallydone from house to house among those persons who
appear able to read. While thus engaged, a number of Shan -tung men, who
navigate the grain junks belonging to Tsing-poo, came behind the Missionaries,
pushing and striving to get a larger number of the books than would fall tó
their share, and also throwing stones. In order to prevent any disturbance or
interruption, Mr. Lockhart proposed to the other two, to go forward a few paces
and distribute the tracts generally to the shopkeepers, while he kept the crowd
from pressing forward so as to incommode them . In order to effect this, he
had to stretch out both his hands, which (with a walking -stick he held in one
hand) reached right across the street. In this manner he moved forward, with
his back to the people and his face toward the other Missionaries, and succeeded
in keeping back all but a few boys, who crept underneath and passed him . One
of the men , not satisfied with this restriction, endeavoured to push by, and
through inadvertence on the part of Mr. Lockhart (for he could not see behind
him ) received a slight blow on the face. Upon this the other navigators of the
grain junks began to make a noise and throw more stones, threatening further
mischief. Mr.Medhurstthen turned round, and facing the mob, asked them
what they meant by making such a disturbance, desiring to be informed who
the ringleaders were, that they might be sent to the Magistrate ; upon this the
whole multitude became still,and moving to each side of the street, left a free
passage for the Missionaries to go back theway by which they came. Several other
streets of the city were then traversed in quietness, and a sufficient number of
books having been distributed, the Missionaries passed out at the East Gate on
their return home. They had not got above half a-mile from the city, however,
before they heard a number of people hooting after them and threatening to
beat them. On coming up, it appeared that the party consisted of a fresh set
P
102
of men from the grain junks, who had not been seen in the city, and who had
probably become excited and influenced by overstrained reports of what had
taken place ; these came on with the most infuriated looks and gestures, and
armedwith poles ,bars, swords, and other weapons ; among the rest was onewith
a heavy iron chain, apparently the ringleader, who immediately stripped off
his upper garments in order to enable him to act the more freely ,and who was
brandishing his chain ready to beat the objects ofhis fury. TheMissionaries then
began to talk quietly with the men, and asked them what they wanted, when
without further parley, each of them was attacked in a most furious manner by
the men just referred to . Finding it impossible to make head against such
numbers thus armed, Messrs. Medhurst and Muirhead being free from their
grasp , ran for their lives. Mr. Lockhart, however, was soon found not to be
with them, and the two above -named returned to endeavour to rescue their
companion. In the meantime the mob had thrown Mr. Lockhart on the ground,
and were beating him with the heavy chain above described, the blows of which
were heard to some distance. Happily Mr. Lockhart was enabled to get again
upon his legs, and joining his companions, they all ran as fast as they could
with the mob after them . The chase was continued for more than a mile in the
direction of the boat which had been left five miles from the city, that the boat
men might take rest while the Missionaries went to the city and returned.
Being unable to run any farther, the Missionaries were overtaken by their
pursuers, who now came on with redoubled fury, and in increasing numbers,
cutting off all chance of retreat and surrounding the victims of their attack .
Here another attempt was made to reason , but in vain. The pursuers
approached nearer and nearer, with long poles, heavy hoes, having teeth like
rakes (the iron part of which weighs generally six pounds), and murderous
weapons in abundance. While warding off the blows from one of these, as well