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approached us with the offer that if we paid the gratuity of $3,200 to them as trustees for the relatives of the dead man, posted the notice on the "Tatshan" warning the crew not to molest Chinese passengers (which of course they never did), and finally guaranteed to ultimately change the master of the steamer they would withdraw the boycott. We agreed, and the boycott, so far as the Amoy men are concerned, ended there and then, but it is still in active operation by the Cantonese who continue to take their orders from the Self Government Society.
The latter appear as determined as ever to keep the fire alive, but it is doubtful if they have any fuel left - if they have it is possibly rather damp, and the result of further agitation is not unlikely to result in much smoke and little destruction! However one can never tell; I have learned from experience not to be surprised at anything the Chinese do; it is the least likely thing from our point of view that they will do and it always comes as a surprise because so unexpected.
As far as I can learn the Society is apparently fighting hard to have a "tea-party" on the Shameen at our expense with the British and Portuguese Consuls present. I told their Agent that I would see what we could do if they secured the attendance of the Viceroy. They returned saying they could, but Mr. Fox refuses to attend unless they withdrew their