reached England where Chinese criminals intended by the tyranny of the Government to be surrendered to the Canton authorities had frequently suffered the punishment of death by slow degrees.
The Government and people of England, indeed those of every Western nation, while still accepting the necessity of capital punishment in the case of particular crimes, have learned to regard with horror the subjection of a prisoner to torture when under examination, or if he be found guilty and sentenced to death, the prolongation of his pain in the execution of the sentence.
The records of this Government now show that the feeling entertained by foreign nations on these points has been brought to Your Excellency's attention, and Your Excellency will not therefore be surprised to find that His Majesty's Government, however anxious to fulfil its obligations under treaties, is most anxious to guard itself against participation in proceedings the result of which is at variance with the laws of humanity as understood by Christian States.
His Majesty's Government is therefore desirous that you should promise verbally that in deference to the feeling of the British Government, criminals surrendered by a British authority should not be tortured on trial, or that if any such were put to death, the aggravation of the penalty to offensive torture should be precluded. His Majesty's Government necessarily desires that this assurance should be given as formally as possible, and I leave it to Your Excellency to decide in what form the guarantee shall be respected.
(Signed) Rutherford Alcock
t
reached England trata Chinese criminal intendered by the trykany Goo = to the Canton authenties hadd intrequently suffered the purinduments of death by slow degrees.
The Gist and people of England, indeed those of every
Western hation While stile accepting the
accepting the necessity. capital punishment in the lake off particular crimes have learned to "Regard with horror the subjection of a Jirisoner to torture when under
lxamination, or if he be framed quilty of death the prolongation of his pain
of in
参
oxcention of the sentence.
The Oxe
The records of this regation Now
moe
Fran
once
me that the feeling entertained Meign nations on these hunts has been
wreed upon Y. of's attention, and Y. If wike not purefore be surprised to find that 4. der Grot
416
4. His Gost however anxious to fethil it's' Aligations under reaty's most anxions to guard itself against participation in proceedings the pout of which is to at variance with he laws of humanity as understood by Christian State!
"Dunderstood & 7. to promite verbally that in deference to the feeling of the British You as Crimmed surrendered by a British authenty should be tatured on trial, or that if any such were put to death the aggravation of the penalty to offensive Wer thould be pregone off us Grot withe naceparily desire that this apurance should be given at Muallyns persible, and Ileave it LY. J. 4. to decide in what form of conds the quarantee shall be repected
Drenew
(Signed) Rutherford Alcoch
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