460
Journal of Occurrences.
Aug.
selves under the example of Governor Så, for their tacit compliance. No foreign- ers have heretofore had a residence within the precincts of the walls, except those connected with or residing at the English Consulate, the others all taking their houses in the suburbs. Some two or three months ago, the Rev. Messrs. Welton and Jackson made an effort to locate themselves within the walls by leasing some tenements connected with the Shin-kwáng sz', or Divine-Light monastery, situated east of the Wu-shih shán, or Black-rock hill on which H. B. M.'s Consulate is located. The priests were willing to rent these houses, the price and other points were agreed on, and these gentlemen had taken possession, when the people assembled with the evident purpose of forcing them to remove, but no damage was done to life. The people were, it is sup- posed, urged on by the literati, and there is some reason to believe that they were countenanced and directed in their schemes by Lin Tsehs0, the late governor-general of Yunnán and Kweichau, now residing at Fuhchau for the benefit of his health. Soon after the first expression of popular discontent, a Notice of a few pages appeared, which though drawn up in respectful terms, was determined in its tone; and was generally regarded as having been issued with Lin's approval, if not written by him. The paper is called, "A Notice to the scholars and people within and without the city for a public con- sultation to expel the fan tst, or foreigners;" but the inner heading is, "A public letter from the scholars and people of Fuhchan to the English foreign officer, "i. e. H. E. Gov. Bonham; the reason for this discrepancy does not ap- pear. By the kindness of Rev Mr. Peet, we have been furnished with a copy of the tract, and give a translation of it entire.
A Public Notice. Having lately heard that your honorable consul had rented the Shin-kwang monastery for the missionaries (kiáng-king min-jin, people expounding the sacred books), and that the lease had received the seal of the district magistrate, and that they were about to move in to reside, the scholars and people of this city were all much surprised at it, and immediately repaired to the magistracy to present a petition. In accordance with its request, we now hear that the magistrate has consulted with your honorable consul, and [requesting] that the lease be immediately revoked, to the end that there be mutual harmony. Should the missionaries of your country still desire to move in at any rate, there will then be dissatisfaction in men's minds. If we con- sider these three points-the feelings of the people, the reason of the thing, and the consequences of forcing it, they all forbid it; and the united will of myriads of people clearly exhort him (Gov. B. ?) who manages affairs to stop. The residence of your country's merchants at Fuhchau for trade, should be, according to the Treaty of peace, only at the mouth of the river; and at the time the consular officers came within the walls, and took a residence at the Tsih-tsui monastery on the Black-stone hill, we, the gentry and people of the place were not at all pleased at it; but because of the repeated intreaties of the officers, who declared it was only a temporary matter, we treated them kindly at the time, and looked forward to a future adjustment, unwilling to act as the Cantonese did, and oppose force to them. In all our bearing towards your country, we have ever been liberal.
If those who reside at the Tsih-tsui monastery are officers of your country, it may be allowed; but what will be the result if missionaries also rent residences within the walls? This does not at all correspond with the Treaty. The people residing within the gates formerly assented to it as a matter of favor; and now having got one thing, you think about asking for two,-which shows that you not only have not had a due sense of our liberality, but that you presume upon it to insult us. Are not the tens of thousands in this city as able to quit them- selves like men as those of Canton ? Do not arouse us, and peace will still exist; but egg us on, and it is to be feared the wrath of the populace will not soon be appeased. These remarks show how the first proposition-the feelings of the people forbids it.
The original treaty says (Treaty of Wánghiá, ART. XVII.), “ When persons from any country wish to rent land the local authorities of the two governments shall examine with a duc regard to the feelings of the people, and settle the matter in an equitable manner, the proprietors on the one hand not demanding