Cantonese, and I consider it most desirable to avoid any action which might possibly lead to a collision between Her Majesty's Forces and the Chinese populace.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your Excellency's obedient Servant, W. H. Sumping,
Signed
Commodore.
C.O.
Hong Kong
2nd October 1883
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter in reply to mine of the 30th ultimo. I need hardly say that I quite agree with you that the Viceroy, as representative of the Chinese Government, must be held entirely responsible for the maintenance of order amongst the Cantonese, at the same time I am bound to remember that in similar cases, whether from inability or from dilatoriness, the Chinese Authorities have not always proved equal to their responsibilities and that their failure Commodore Sumping R.N.
involves ...
Hong Kong