H.E. till the 2nd now, when the Viceroy said he would have the matter investigated, & yet, at the time, he must have known that the man had already been executed, the execution having taken place on 28th Oct.
The ministers stated that they had called upon the Viceroy for a report on the case, as he had not yet made any communication to them on the subject, my notes to the Tsungli Yamen being the first intimation they had received of the occurrence which had given rise to the complaint of the Hongkong Govt.
At the same time they felt sure that there could not have been any intention on the part of the Chinese Authorities to disregard the rights of the Colony.
I have &c., John Walsham