arrested in the City of Victoria by eight; wearing uniform, belonging to a Chinese Jumboat, who were captured by the Police. These sailors were afterwards liberated upon representation made to W. O'Conor by the Lung-li Yamen; that the action of the Official, under whose orders they were acting, they highly disapproved; that he would be punished; and that the Viceroy of Fokien had been directed to apologize.
I feel sure that Your Excellency will take the necessary steps to protect the interest of the Colony, and to obtain due satisfaction for the gross outrage that has been committed, for the second time this year, by Chinese Officials within the jurisdiction of this Colony.
It is not so long ago I was assured, on good authority, that some of the better class of Chinese doing business in this Colony, would become permanent settlers here, and would bring families from China, if they could only feel certain that this Government would protect them from any exactions or interference on the part of the Chinese Government. I fear that any confidence they may have had in the power of this Government to protect them will be dispelled by the action of the Chinese Authorities, in seizing, a second time this year, a person whilst within the jurisdiction of the Colony.
I annex copies of all the papers referring to this matter, for Your Excellency's information.
I have to,
(Signed) W. H. Marsh
DS. 31st October — Yesterday afternoon, the head and body of a man who had been beheaded were brought into British Territory by the Mandarin of Kaulung and given up to the relatives. They were identified by his relatives in the presence of a Police Magistrate on oath.