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the Viceroy has withdrawn certain troops from Canton
but the utmost number does not exceed 3,000, including several hundred forming his own bodyguard which accompanied him from Ssu-ch'uan.
There is absolutely no excitement among the Chinese generally in any part of the Province; and the reports from British missionaries in the interior, as conveyed to me, announce everything quiet and orderly.
I have succeeded in tracing down to its authors the information on which the United States Consul General and the French Consul are acting. The Viceroy has recently called upon the Canton officials to furnish another 1,000 men for service in Kwang-hai; and in connection therewith a demand for 500 men has been made on the Chief Military Officer who commands the body of troops, supposed to be 800 in number, known as the Shameen Guard, specially employed in protecting the Custom House and the Foreign Concessions.
It now transpires that this officer has only 300 men at his disposal; and fearing disclosures and degradation, he has succeeded in alarming both the American and French Consuls, with whom he has always been a persona grata, and has now induced them to move their respective Governments to obtain the retention of himself and guard in the neighbourhood of the Concessions, where, when occasion arises for inspection of his force, he finds no difficulty in placing some 800 men on parade in uniform, who next day disappear among the populace as coolies.
An ex-interpreter of the Viceroy, named Li Chih, but better known as Li lum Kwai in Hongkong where he underwent a long term of imprisonment for blackmailing, is assisting this officer of the Guard by corroborating to the United States and French Consuls the truth of these alarming reports. Both the Captain of the Guard and Li Chih have amassed large fortunes, and I now hear that they daily expect denunciation and confiscation of their property, a fate similar to that which has befallen the Namhoi Magistrate and certain other officials of high rank in Canton.
(Signed)
I have, &c.,
James Scott,
His Majesty's Consul General.