258
COPY.
No. 5.
N. Townley, Esq.,
Sir,
From H. B. M's. Consul-General, Canton, to H. M's.
Charge d'Affaires, Peking.
H. B. M's. Consulate-General,
Canton, February 13th.190.
35004
RECH
[R 28 CEP 03!
In continuation of my telegram No. 2 of
the 30th. ultimo, I have the honour to report that during last
month rumours were current of an intended plot against the
Viceroy and the Canton Officials. Certainly, a strong and un-
easy feeling existed, and that it was not without reason was
proved to me by the information given by Missionaries returning
from their travels in the interior. It was generally stated that :
the movement was directed solely against the Chinese Authorities
for their oppression and exactions, and that it in no way
manifested any antipathy towards Europeans.
The Viceroy and his officials, though they
were fully aware of the agitation, entirely failed in their
efforts to discover and arrest the authors. A few days, however,
prior to China New Year, a raid was made by the Hongkong Police on a tea-shop in Hongkong in which information was found of certain consignments of uniforms, cartridge-belts, provisions &c., to Canton. Confirmation was thus given to the Chinese Authorities of suspicions already entertained by them against a native shop in the City of Canton, and an investigation of the Customs import returns revealed the fact that the stores &c., mentioned in the documents found in the Hongkong tea-shop had actually been sent to Canton. It was further elicited that the Compradore of the German Firm of Pustau and Company had been the medium of import, and that the stores &c., themselves were con-
-cealed
B. M's. Charge d'Affaires,
Peking.
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