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to us but heaped much abuse on us and forced us to take the lead. We knew that if, on the one hand, we complied we should offend against those in authority, while if, on the other, we refused compliance we should be beaten to death by our fellow villagers. Being in such quandary, we were constrained to assent.
Afterwards we received the proclamations issued by His Excellency the Governor and the Viceroy and numerous letters from our friend in Hong-Kong, Mr. Ng Sheung Shang, in which he vigorously refuted the false reports which had been spread. Your petitioners then at the risk of their lives undeceived the people by telling them the facts of the case and they became somewhat more settled.
Your petitioners know that their offence is such that they ought not to escape punishment, but the clemency of the Government of Her Majesty the Queen is so great that we hope that a leniency which the law does not allow may be mercifully extended to us.
Knowing that you, Sir, are ever ready to act as peace-maker and are willing to endeavour to save people from extreme danger, we come forward to state the cause of the recent trouble and beg you to transmit our petition to the Honourable Colonial Secretary so that he may submit it to His Excellency the Governor. We humbly pray that His Excellency may be pleased to examine it and mercifully grant us pardon so that when we return to our villages we may use every exertion