china — Page 16

The Prefect Le to Acting Consul Elmslie.
( Translation .)
LE, Brevet Prefect and Acting Chief Magistrate of the Nan -hae District, &c.
makes a communication in reply.
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from you, the Honourable
Consul, stating that a person named Chin -tang -chuen had assembled a mob, and
carried away Mr. Seth, a British subject, and requesting that I should dispatch a
sufficient force of police to effect his rescue.
On receipt of this letter, I sent out a party of police to search for the
person named, and subsequently lie was found ; and Chin -tang -chuen being at
the same time taken into custody, both were brought before me.
Chin -tang -chuen, on being questioned, stated that Mr. Seth owed to the
people of his village 1,000 dollars, which had been paid him as bargain -money
for a ship, and would not repay it ; and that he besides barboured the agent
Chow -keao- shing, and refused to give him up . The villagers had therefore
carried Mr. Seth away , to discuss the affair with him .
Mr. Seth being interrogated by the linguist Heu -lan , said that it was true
he had received the bargain -money from Chin -tang - chuen, for the vessel ; but
he had declined to repay it except to the agent Chow -keao-shing.
It appeared, therefore, to me that both deponents concurred as to the fact
of the debt ; but Chow -keao-shing has absconded, and it will be necessary to
procure his appearance before deciding on the case.
On Mr. Seth's whereabouts being discovered , I had him conveyed under
escort to your office, and directed the Te-pao (head -man of the quarter) to detain
Chin -tang-chuen for further examination .
Before instituting other proceedings, I address you, the Honourable Consul,
to inform you of what has already been done .
Heenfung, 4th year, 5th month , 22nd day. (June 17, 1854.)


Inclosure 2 in No. 86 .

Mr. Seth to Acting Consul Elmslie.
Sir, Canton, June 17 , 1854.
AFTER leaving the Consulate yesterday noon , and on my way home, I
was attacked just within three or four yards of the hong gate of my hous e a
considerable number of Chinese, headed by the four strangers, also Chinese,
unknown to me by name, but the same persons that I saw in the Consulate
yesterday, and theydragged me most unmercifully through the Old China-street,
and then to the back streets, and took me a long way down to a narrow lane,
where they lodged me in a house, and kept close watch with the door closed . I
continued in this miserable position - with my clothes wet by rain , and covered
with dirt and filth, as they threw me down several times on their way — until
about 6 P.M., when I was taken out by the assistance of your good self, as Her
Britannic Majesty's Consul, and by the instrumentality of the local authorities,
and conveyed to a Mandarin Station, where a higher mandarin arrived, and, by
assistance of Mr. M. C. Morrison, I found my way to your hospitable roof, and
latterly home, at about 8 o'clock in the evening. During my shameful carriage,
I was plundered of a gold ring forced out of my finger, which was very amiable
 211

and valuable to me , and in case of its not forthcoming, I beg you to claim 100
dollars, and a silk umbrella valued 3 dollars.
I have also to beg your assistance to have the four Chinese head ringleaders
arrested and secured, and handed over to the authorities to undergo their trial
and punishment, for the most unwarrantable, atrocious, and shameful acts
committed in a broad daylight, and on a public lighway. And I beg, in addition
to this, to make aa claim , through your kind assistance, a sum of 10,000 dollars
from the parties that have taken the law into their hands, and so shamefully
discredited and treated me, as compensation for the wrong done to my credit,
person , and character, thereby causing great injury to my present and future
prospects in China and elsewhere, and driven me to the utmost shameful
position in life amongst my other foreign and Chinese acquaintances and
dealers, with whom I have a good deal of business , either directly and
indirectly .
And the last thing I have to beg of you is, to persuade and compel the
Chinese authorities to give you an indemnity of a large amount, say 25,000
dollars, binding themselves and their subjects interested in my present affairs, to
keep peace for a length of time, which I leave to your own judgment to name :
if not, I suspect I shall very often be put to such unpleasant and dangerous
circumstances, to the annoyance of the whole foreign community in Canton , and
injury and consequences thereof, and especially I could not be considered safe
out of doors, but what my life will be in danger.
I am, &c .
(Signed ) S. A. SETH ,



No. 87.

Sir J. Bouring to the Earl of Clarendon .—(Received Sepiember 18.)
(Extract.) Shanghae, July 6 , 1854.
MR. ACTING CONSUL ELMSLIE has sent me the copy of a despatch
addressed to Mr. Under-Secretary Hammond, dated the 19th ultimo, on the 11




subject of violence committed on the person of Mr. Seth, a native of British
India.
Mr. Elmslie does not inform me whether he proposes to take any, and what,
ulterior measures in reference to this case, should the mandarins refuse to listen
to his proposal of making a money compensation to Mr. Seth ; and I send to
your Lordship copy of my letter to Mr. Elmslie, recommending much caution in
his proceedings .


Inclosure in No. 87 .

Sir J. Bowring to Acting Consul Elmslie .
Sir, Shanghae, July 6, 1854.
I HAVE received your despatch dated 23rd June, in which you
inform me that you have communicated directly with the Under-Secretary of
State on the subject of an outrage committed on the person of Mr. Seth ; and
you send me copy of your communication, and of Mr. Seth's letter to yourself,
in which he puts forward aa claim of 10,000 dollars “ from the parties that have
taken the law into their own hands,” and requests you will “persuade and
>




compel ” the Chinese authorities to give you an indemnity of 25,000 dollars to
keep the peace .
You do not state what course you intend to pursue should the mandarins
refuse to make a money-compensation to Mr. Seth, but I doubt not you will has
felt the necessity of much caution.
It appears pretty clear that Mr. Seth got hold of 1,000 dollars from a China
man, which he did not return to him when he had failed to perform the contra:
for which the money was paid.
The contract was in itself an illegal one ; and, though Her Majesty's subjecis
 212

are entitled to every protection while engaged in the prosecution of their lawful
business, when honourably conducted, the amount and the character of our
interference must be influenced by a consideration of the whole of the attendant
circumstances .
I am happy to observe, by your despatch of June 27, that the general state
of Canton is satisfactory.
I have, & c.
(Signed) JOHN BOWRING .




No. 88.
S.




The Earl of Clarendon to Sir J. Bowring.
Sir, Foreign Office, September 25 , 1854.
MR . ELMSLIE'S report respecting the violence committed at Canton on
the person of Mr. Seth reached me some weeks ago ; and I have now to acquaint
you that I approve of the instruction which you gave to Mr. Elmslie on that
matter, and of which a copy is inclosed in your despatch of the 6th of July .
I am , &c.
(Signed) CLARENDON .




No. 89 .

Sir J. Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon .- (Received August 30.)
(Extract.) Hong Kong, July 3, 1856.
I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a despatch I have received from
Mr. Consul Parkes, dated Canton, July 2 , on the subject of an incendiary placard
which has been circulated in that city ; and conveying copy of a communication
Mr. Parkes had made to the Imperial Commissioner.
As your Lordship will perceive by my reply, I have approved of Mr. Parkes'
conduct in this matter.




Inclosure 1 in No. 89 .

Consul Parkes to Sir J. Bowring .
Sir, Canton , July 2, 1856.
I HAVE the honour to report to your Excellency that, shortly after my
arrival here, I heard of rumours being current among the Chinese that the
foreigners had again demanded entrance into the city of Canton , and that prepa
rations were being made at Hong Kong to enforce this demand , in the event of
the Governor-General refusing to admit it .
From the universality of these rumours, and other circumstances, there
appeared grounds for the supposition that they had been spread abroad, in the
first instance, through the instrumentality of the authorities ; probably with the
view of strengthening the latter in the sympathies of the people at a time when
they seem to stand in need of their pecuniary and moral support.
Some talk was heard as to enrolling volunteer corps, similar to those assem
bled in 1849, when it was understood that the British Government intended to
assert the right of entry, and foreigners passing through the streets were taunted
with the futility of all their attempts , present or future, to secure the desired
right .
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The excitement this awakened, which had at no time assumed a serious
aspect, appeared, however, to be subsiding, when, the day before yesterday, it
came to my knowledge that a printed paper, menacing foreigners with death if
they continued to extend their excursions into the country,was extensively
circulated in the city and suburbs ; and, after satisfying myself, by inquiries in
various directions, that such wasthe case, I thought I could not omit to bring it
to the notice of the Imperial Commissioner. I therefore addressed him the
inclosed letter, giving cover to one of these obnoxious documents, copy of which
I now forward to your Excellency.
I did not think it necessary to make any allusion to the excursions therein
declaimed against, as the right of foreigners to the enjoyment of this freedom
should not admit of question, and has been safely and temperately exercised,
without let or hindrance, for some time past ; and , from all I can glean on the
subject , I am led to believe that this public expression of hostility proceeds
rather from the Government than the people, and is chiefly to be deprecated as
tending to awaken old feelings of animosity, which the lapse of time and the
altered circumstances of the country appeared to have, in a great measure,
allayed.
I have, &c.
( Signed) HARRY S. PARKES.



Inclosure 2 in No. 89.

Hand - Bill.

( Translation .)
THE absence of interruption to the peace of the country is of the same
vital importance, in our opinion, as the maintenance of regularity in the
avocations of its inhabitants. We now call public attention to the fact, that
in the province of Canton, from the earliest to the present times, barbarians
have never been allowed to go into the villages . Recently, however, a set of
unprincipled vagabonds have been met with, who, without any fear of shame
or exposure, carry on a secret intercourse with the barbarian dogs, and combine
with them in a number of ways for working out their crafty schemes. Night
and day we see them entering the villages, and occasioning so much trouble by
their irregularities, that gods and men must unite in detestation of their
practices. To judge of the extent of the evil to which our provincial metropolis
is thus exposed, we have only to look to Shanghae and Hong Kong, and take
note of the iniquities that are there committed.
Hereafter, therefore, whenever any barbarian dogs come within our limits,
we ought, by calling together our families, to maintain the dignity of our city
(or province), and, bravely rushing upon them, kill every one. Thus may we,
in the first place, appease the anger of Heaven , in the second give evidence of
our loyalty and patriotism , and in the third restore peace and quiet to our
homes . How great would be the happiness we should thus secure !


Inclosure 3 in No. 89.

Consul Parkes to the Imperial Commissioner.
Canton, July 1 , 1856.
I HAVE learned that a printed paper in the form of a hand-bill, containing
menacing language against foreigners in general, has been extensively circulated
during the last few days, in the streets of this city. A vulgar vaunt of this
description can only be viewed with utter contempt by the parties against whom
it is directed, but the local authorities cannot mark too strongly their disapproval
of behaviour so extremely lawless, since it is calculated, by exciting the minds of
the ill-disposed, to provoke a collision on some future occasion .
I consider it my duty, therefore, to bring this paper, copy of which I beg to
2 F
 214

forward herewith, to the notice of your Excellency , and to request that the subordi
nate authorities may receive from your Excellency directions to put a stop to this
flagrant offence ; such a course being requisite to preserve, in the first place, the
reputation of the Chinese Government, to avert from it,in the second place, the
danger that might otherwise ensue , and, in the third place, to enable the local
authorities to acquit themselves of the responsibilities and the duties of their
position .
I have, &c .
(Signed) HARRY S. PARKES.



Inclosure 4 in No. 89.

Sir J. Bowring to Consul Parkes.
Sir , Hong Kong, July 3, 1856 .
I HAVE received your despatch dated yesterday, bringing me copy of an
anonymousincendiary placard, which has been circulated in the streets of Canton,
menacing the lives of foreigners who may visit the neighbouring villages.
I quite approve of the communication you have made in consequence to the
Imperial Commissioner, and wait with some anxiety his reply, in order to
determine whether it is desirable I should make any representation or take any
further measures in this matter.
It would be important, if possible, to ascertain with whom the offensive
document originated , and by what agency it has been circulated .
I have, & c.
(Signed ) JOHN BOWRING .




No. 90 .


Sir J. Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon .— (Received August 30 )
My Lord, Hong Kong, July 8 , 1856 .
REFERRING to my despatch dated 3rd instant , I have now to forward
a further communication from Mr. Consul Parkes, containing evidence of
the ill -will which has been excited among the vagabond Cantonese by the
publication of the incendiary placard to which my despatch referred. I approve
of the energetic remonstrance of Mr. Parkes to the Inperial Commissioner, and
am glad to learn that the local magistrate is instituting an inquiry for the
purpose of discovering who attacked Messrs. Johnson and Whitta.l.
I have, &c .
( Signed) JOHN BOWRING .




Inclosure 1 in No. 90.

Consul Parkes to Sir J. Bowring.
Sir, Canton, July 5, 1856 .
I HAVE the honour to state in reply to your Excellency's despatch of
the 3rd instant, that careful and protracted inquiry brings me little additional
information respecting the authorship of the late placard. It has been suggested
to me by several Chinese, that it may have emanated from a commission of the
gentry, elected among themselves, with the approval of the Government, for the
enrolment and drill of volunteer corps. Other grounds, I think, exist for
supposing it to have proceeded from the inhabitants of the Great West street, the
route usually taken by foreigners on their riding excursions to the back of the
city. To these excursions the people of this quarter are said to object, and it
 215

would only be following a native mode of proceeding for them to give expression
to their objections or their threats in the names of other persons, or to incite the
inhabitants of the villages to which these excursions are taken to join them
in their schemes of hostility .
If it did not originate with the Government, as is also not uncommonly
believed, the local authorities appear to have taken no steps für the suppression
of this inflammatory placard, or the attendant excitement; but at present I do
not anticipate any more serious results than what have already occurred . I
regret to report to your Excellency that the ill-will of the people has manifested
itself in an attack on two English gentlemen, particulars of which are given in the
accompanying affidavit of the parties assailed . The affray, I should observe, took
place in the quarter of the town above-mentioned, and though neither of the
gentlemen sustained injury, I thought the outrage, viewed in connection with
previous circumstances, called for no milder tone ofreinonstrance than that which
I adopted in the inclosed letter to the Imperial Commissioner.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HARRY S. PARKES .



Inclosure 2 in No. 90.

Affidavits.
FRANCIS BULKELEY JOHNSON, duly sworn , states :
On the afternoon of the 2nd instant I was riding out with Mr. James
Wbittall . We went a little way beyond Sam - yuen - lee. We met with no moles
tation going, but on our return, as we were riding down the Long Street, which
is a continuation of Curiosity Street ( Te-sze-poo ), and , as it was getting rather
dark , we observed the people much more uncivil than they usually have been
of late . When we were a little on this side of the West Gate, I was struck with
a stone, on the back . The stone was held by the man, in his hand, and only
dropped after the blow was given. I turned round sharp on the man, but he
ran away, up a street or lane, and disappeared, so that I could not get hold of
him During the rest of our ride we were hooted at , and pelted with stones
and bricks, at various times, until we arrived at the factories . We were riding
slowly , at a walking pace. We injured no one during the ride, and gave no
offence to any one .
(Signed) F. B. JOHNSON.

Sworn before me, at the British Consulate, Canton , this 4th day of July,
1856 .
(Signed) CHARLES A. Winchester , Vice - Consul.



JAMES WHITTALL , duly sworn , states :
I was riding out with Mr. F. B. Johnson ; when on this side of the West
Gate he said to me, “ I have been struck with a stone." I was riding first.
I had previously noticed a good deal of ill-feeling on the part of the people.
While I was speaking to Mr. Johnson about what had occurred , a second brick
was flung at me , which fell in front of my pony. As we continued our ride
home, several more stones were flung at us, and the people hooted and cried at
us . We were riding quite inoffensively, at a walking pace, and troubled no one.
(Signed) JAS. WHITTALL .

Sworn before me, at the British Consulate, Canton, this 4th day of July,
1856 .
(Signed) CHARLES A. WINCHESTER , Vice -Consul.



2 F 2
 216


Inclosure 3 in No. 90.

Consul Parkes to the Imperial Commissioner.
Canton , July 4, 1856 .
THE British merchants Johnson and Whittall have formally represented
to me that, on the afternoon of the 2nd instant, they took one of their usual rides
in the direction of San -yuen -lee, outside the north gate of the city, and met with
no molestation either on going or returning, until it began to grow dusk , and
they had arrived within the Te-sze-poo (the fourth ward near the west gate ), on
their way home, when they noticed that the people were much more uncivil
than they have usually been of late, and one man among them , grasping a stone
in his hand, struck Johnson with it in the back, but avoided arrest by imme
diately escaping. The said gentlemen were riding at the timeonly at a walking
pace : the people continued to pelt them with stones and bricks, and to hoot at
them until they reached the factories.
In bringing this unprovoked attack to the notice of your Excellency I have
to state my conviction that the ill-willwhich occasioned it, has been awakened by
the very reprehensible placard which I forwarded to your Excellency in my letter
of the 1st instant, and greatly, indeed, do I regret that the fears I then expressed
should so soon have proved well founded ; that the authorities should have
apparently lent their sanction to so wrong and dangerous a proceeding by
permitting the sale of the placard in the public streets. As far as I have been
able to learn, the people in the villages know nothing of its having been issued,
and it is only the inhabitants of this city and suburbs that commit the acts of
violence of which I now complain .
If these are to continue, and foreigners should defend themselves, as they
cannot be expected to avoid doing, when thus assailed, where are these evils to
end ? Will the Chinese Government, bound both by Treaties and by their
obligations as the constituted authorities of the country, protect them , or are
foreigners themselves to devise means for their safety ?
The measures which your Excellency sees fit to adopt in reference to the
two complaints I have now had to submit to you, may afford a solution of this
inquiry
It cannot be difficult for your Excellency, with the powerful means at your
disposal, to trace the offenders in both these instances, and prevent a repetition of
such offences ; and I need not add, that the exercise of good faith on your
Excellency's part will be most cordially appreciated by his Excellency "Her
Majesty's Plenipotentiary, to whom it is my duty to report these particulars.
I have, & c.
(Signed ) HARRY S. PARKES ,



No. 91 .

The Earl of Clarendon to Sir J. Bowring.
Sir, Foreign Office, September 8, 1856.
I HAVE to instruct you to convey to Mr. Parkes my approval of the
letters which he addressed to the Imperial Commissioner, and of which copies
are inclosed in your despatches of the 3rd and 8th of July last, upon the subject
of the incendiary placard which had been circulated in Canton, tending to
exasperate the Cantonese against foreigners.
I am , & c.
( Signed) CLARENDON.
 217


No. 92 .

Sir J. Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon .- (Received September 15.)
My Lord, Hong Kong, July 17 , 1856 .
I HAVE to report to your Lordship that Mr. Cunningham , a citizen of
the United States, has died in consequence of a wound received in a riot which
took place at Foo-chow on the 3rd instant. Particulars of the event will be
found in the despatch , dated 4th instant , from Mr. Vice-Consul Hale, of which I
inclose a copy, as well as of my reply.
Mr. Consul Medhurst was absent at Shanghae when this sad event
occurred . I am happy to say he has now returned to his post , and writes to me
that his health is greatly improved ; so that I hope he will no longer wish to
leave China for the present.
Your Lordship will observe that I quite concur with Mr. Vice-Consul Hale
in his opinion as to the dangers to the public peace, and to the interests of
commerce, which are associated with the presence of the lawless population of
Canton wherever they introduce themselves.
I have, &c.
(Signed) JOHN BOWRING .




Inclosure 1 in No. 92 .

Vice - Consul Hale to Sir J. Bowring.
Sir, Foo -chow - foo, July 4 , 1856 .
IN the absence of Mr. Consul Medhurst it is my painful duty to report to
your Excellency the particulars of a most lamentable affray which took place
yesterday afternoon at Nan -hạe, and in which Mr. Cunningham , a citizen of the
United States, received his mortal wound, under the following distressing
circumstances :
Whilst Messrs. Augustine Heard and Co., an American firm established at
this port, were removing furniture, &c. , to their new bungalow , aa few potatoes
were dropped on the road from one of the packages , which a Foo - ch: w lad
picked up, and was carrying them away, when a Canton man belonging to
Messrs. A. Heard and Coi's hong, and the private servant of Mr. Cunningham ,
struck the boy and secured him by the tail. The lad explained that “ he had
>
picked them up , and did not steal them ." The Canton man, however, kept 1


hold of him, and was dragging him to the hong, when the inhabitants made a
rush and rescued the lad . The Canton boy made for Messrs. A. Heard and
Co.'s house, and again came out armed with a double s'vord . The crowd , seeing
this, retired , pursued by the Canton boy, who seized the first man he found
running. This person,, with his uncle, were in a necessary house, and hearing
>


the rush and disturbance attempted to get out of the way, but the Canton man
dragged the nephew into Messrs. A. Heard and Co.'s house, followed by his
uncle, who represented that they were both peaceful citizens and were in no way
concerned with the disturbance , and prayed the release of his nephew . The
Canton man, however, likewise seized the uncle, and had them both tied in the
house. The mob outside cried out at the injustice, and, arming themselves,
made aa rush to rescue these two men, when the Canton man took up a double
barrelled gun and advanced outside the gate ; the crowd retired before him ; he
fired , and wounded two men ; the crowd thereupon immediately turned, finding
that the musket was discharged, surrounded and seized him , at the same time
severely beat him .
Somewhere about this time, Mr. Comstock , the resident partner of
Messrs . A. Heard and Co. , passed by , and observing the Canton boy attached
to his hong being maltreated, went to inquire the cause, and placing his hand on
one of the ringleader's shoulders, asked him to desist and let the boy go free ;
whereupon Mr. Comstock was knocked down, and on rising was knocked down
a second time ; he then appears to have thought it prudent to make his escape
 218


from an infuriated mob, and took to luis heels, amidst the yells, and shouts, and
pelting of the surrounding people, and made the best of his way to the United
States' Consul to seek redress.
In the meanwhile, notice having been conveyed to Mr. Cunningham that
his servant had been taken by the mob, he seized his revolver and ran to the
spot, followed a short time after by Mr. Vaughan, a tea -taster to the samehong,
who, on reaching the place,found Nr. Cunningham prostrate on the ground, with
a severe stab in his side, and surrounded by many of the mob, who were beating
him over the abdomen with heary bamboos. Mr. Vaughan then drew his sword.
cane and made a thrust at one man ; he then made a point at another, when the
sword broke short off at the hilt ; this, however, was sufficient to rescue
Mr. Cunningham , who, getting up, ran towards the gate of the new bungalow
(about sixty yards from where he was wounded ), but just before reaching the
door he fell to the ground from loss of blood , and was carried into the hong by
Mr. Taughan and others.
At this time all the shops in the neighbourhood were closed ; and at
3 o'clock P.M., Mr. Jones, the United States' Consul, returned with Mr. Comstock,
accompanied by several American citizens, who were armed with rifles, revolvers,
and cutlasses. Mr. Jones likewise enlisted into his service, without any reference
to me or Captain Barnard, some few seamen who were lent for the purpose of
decorating his rooms for the 4th July festivities, and to whom swords were
supplied. At about half -past 3 o'clock, whilst sitting in my office, one of the
seawen came into the room , stating that he was desired by Mr. Jones to present
his compliments to me, and bey that I would immediately send him any
assistance in my power, as he was in great danger : this was the first intimation
I received of the matter. I immediately proceeded, in company with Captain
Barrard and Mr. Gingell, to the scene of action, and Captain Barnard ordered
his boat's crew to supply themselves with sticks, and to accompany us . On
arriving at the place we found Mr. Jones standing on the spot where it is
believed Mr. Cunningham was stabbed, as there was a large pool of blood close
by. The street was kept clear for about 200 yards by some twelve or fifteen
Americans, and four or five seamen of the “ Racehorse" without arms; the mob
numbering some hundreds, and in a very excited state . On inquiring I found
that Mr. Jones had sent for the Hae-tang, who arrived in about half-an -hour
aiter ourselves. He was told by the United States' Consul what had taken
place, and that most ample redress would be required from the hands of the
authorities, as one of his countrymen had been seriously wounded . the temples
Some marks of blood having been traced to the gate of one of
in the immediate vicinity, the Americans, believing Mr. Cunningham's Canton
servant-boy might possibly have been murdered and taken inside, as it was
known that he had been seized by the mob , urged on Mr. Jones to have the
gaie opened . Many applications were made to the Hae-fang on the subject, but
without effect; at length some one saw through the chinks of the door what
appeared to be two dead bodies stretched out. Mr. Jones gave orders for the
gate to be forced open , which was found to be strongly barricaded, and the two
still bleeding bodies presented a horrible spectacle, the one having been wounded
with small shot, and the other, almost lifeless, with his head most frightfully
disfigured. The whole matter was then left in the hands of the Chinese
authorities for investigation, and all the foreigners present returned to their
homes .
It is now my sad duty to inform your Excellency that the wound received
by Mr. Cunningham proved fatal last night, about ten hours after its infliction ;
the poor fellow wished to be raised in his bed for a particular purpose, and in
five minutes afterwards, being placed in a recumbent position, he died without
pain and without a struggle, I presumefrom severe internal hæmorrhage. This,
of course , has cast a most melancholy gloom over the place.
I do not apprehend any further disturbance, but as there is still much
excitement prevailing, and fearing that British subjects might, by their sympathy,
mix themselves up in the affair, I deemed it prudent to circulate the inclosed
notification for their guidance, which , I trust, will receive your Excellency's
approval; and I am very thankful to report that this is purely an American
atlair, and that no Englishman was present, or in any way implicated in the
matter, excepting Mr. Vaughan, who is attached to an American firm , and who
rescued Mr. Cunningham from being killed on the spot.
 219

I cannot close this despatch without reference to the number of idle Canton
vagabonds who are now settled Foo -chow without employment ; and as these
men are detested by the natives of the place, I venture to offer, as my humble
opinion, that if some steps are not immediately taken for their removal, there
will be endless quarrels among the populatio , which will certainly endanger the
safety of foreign property .
I have, &c .
(Signed ) FRED. HOWE HALE .




Inclosure 2 in No. 92 .

Notification.
British Consulate, Foo -chow -foo, July 4 , 1856 .
AS much excitement continues among the native population , consequent
on the lamented death of one of the foreign meinbers of this community , which
may occasion a further collision , Her Majesty's Vice- Consul in charge hereby
notifies to all foreign residents at Foo -chow -foo, that the Commander of Her
Britannic Majesty's naval force, stationed at this port, will protect them to the
utmost of his power . But at the same it is his duty to caution all British
subjects that he cannot be responsible for any undue interference on their part,
which may embroil them , and trusts they will see the propriety of refraining
from any act that may lead to more melancholy consequences.
(Signed) FRED. HOWE HALE ,
Vice - Consul in charge.



Inclosure 3 in No. 92 .

Sir J. Bowring to Consul Medhurst.
Sir, Hong Kong, July 17, 1856.
e
I HAVE to acknowledg the receipt of Mr. Vice- Consul Hale's despatch
dated 4th instant , giving an account o the unhappy tumult during which
Mr. Cunningham , a United States' citizen, lost his life.
I have to express my approval of the steps taken by Mr. Hale, in reference
to this unfortunate affair.
My experience leads me quite to concur with Mr. Hale in opinion that the
presence of the loose Cantonese population in all the ports is a source of danger
and disorder, and I should be glad to find the authorities more alive to the perils
which are associated with their presence.
I have, &c .
(Signed) JOHN BOWRING .




No. 93.

Sir J. Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon.— (Received September 15.)
My Lord, Hong Kong, July 19, 1856 .
SIR GEORGE BONHAM was instructed, in a despatch from the Foreign
Office, dated 23rd October, 1851 , to make inquiry into and report on the fate
of aa Roman Catholic missionary, named Schofiler, who was put to death by the
mandarins in the Province of Tonquin, particulars of which were forwarded in
despatch of 24th December, 1851.
Having received from the Procureur -Général of the French Missions in
China an account of the murder of a French missionary, named Chapdelaine,
 220


in the Province of Kwang -se, which is immediately under the jurisdiction of the
Imperial Commissioner at Canton, I have the honour to forward a copy of
M. Libois' letter for your Lordship’s information .
I have, &c.
(Signed ) JOHN BOWRING .



Inclosure in No. 93.

Mr. Libois to Sir J. Bowring.
Mon cher M. Bowring, Hong Kong, 12 Juillet, 1856.
JE viens d'apprendre que M. Chapdelaine, missionnaire Français, de notre
société, a été mis à mort le 29 Février dernier, par le mandarin de Si-lin , hien
situé à l'ouest de Quang -si, près des frontières du Yunnan . Arrêté le 24 Fevrier,
il fut de suite conduit au tribunal: le mandarin commença par lui faire donner
100 soufflets avec une semelle de cuir ; il lui ordonna ensuite de se coucher
sur le ventre et lui fit appliquer 300 coups de rottin. Comme pendant ce double
supplice, M. Chapdelaine n'avait proféré aucune plainte, ni fait entendre aucun
soupir, le mandarin , attribuant sa patience à la magie, fit égorger un chien et
ordonna d'asperger de son sang le pauvre patient, pour rompre le prétendu
charme. Le inandarin ayant appris le lendemain que M. Chapdelaine pouvait
encore marcher, il ordonna de le frapper jusqu'à extinction de forces ; quand
il fut bien constaté qu'il ne pouvait plus se remuer, on lui mit une espèce de
can gue à ressort qui le tenait conime sous un pressoir ; puis on le suspendit dans
cet état Enfin, quand on le vit sur le point d'expirer, on le décapita. Sa tête
fut suspendue à un arbre, mais bientôt les enfants la détachèrent à coups de
pierres, et elle fut dévorée par les chiens et par les pourceaux. Pour le corps, ,
les uns disent qu'il a été enterré, d'autres qu'il a été jeté à la voirie ; niais
a ' paravant il fut ouvert pas les bour aux pour en arracher le cœur ; ils le
coupèrent par morceaux, le firent cuire avec de la graisse, puis ils s'en régalèrent .
Deux des néoplıytes ont été décapités avec lui, pour avoir refusé de renoncer à
hur religion ; quartorze ou quinze autres étaient encore dans les prisons de
cette ville à cause de leur religion .
Voilà, mon cher monsieur, comment s'observent les Traités en Chine, et
comment se conduisent les chefs d'une nation que l'on entend quelquefois
vanter comme l'une des plus policées du monde.
Je suis, &c.
(Signé) N. F. LIBOIS .

P.S. - Au départ du courrier, les rébelles commençaient à se montrer du
côté de Si -lin .




No. 94.

The Earl of Clarendon to Sir J. Bowring.
Sir, Foreign Office, September 25, 1856 .
I HAVE received your despatch of July 17 , and its inclosures, reporting
the death of a citizen of the United States, from a wound received in a riot
which took place in the streets of Foo-chow ; and I have to instruct you to
convey to Mr. Vice -Consul Hale my approval of the steps which he took on that
occasion, in order to prevent the undue interference of British subjects in any
further disturbances that might result therefrom .
I am, &c.
( Signed) CLARENDON .
 221



No. 95.

The Earl of Clarendon to Sir J. Bowring.

Sir, Foreign Office, September 29, 1856 .
WITH reference to your despatch of the 19th of July last, I transmit to
you , herewith , for your information, a copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's
Ambassador in Paris, stating that the French Government are determined to
exact ample reparation for the murder of M. Chapdelaine, a French missionary
in China .
I am , &c.
(Signed) CLARENDON .



Inclosure in No. 95 .

Lord Cowley to the Earl of Clarendon.
Extract.) Paris, September 28, 1856.
IN the course of conversation, yesterday, Count Walewski alluded to the
murder of a French missionary in China. He said that the French Chargé
d'Affaires in China had stated his intention of taking up the matter very
warmly - an intention which the Imperial Government highly approved. It was
their firm determinationto obtain ample reparation for this cruel murder, and, if
the French Chargé d'Affaires did not succeed by negotiation , and had not other
sufficient means at his command , an expedition would be sent from hence.
Nothing, however, would be settled before the arrival of the next mail from
China, but in case measures of coercion were found to be necessary, Count
Walewski did not doubt that both Her Majesty's Government and that of the
United States would join them in avenging the slaughter of unoffending
Christians .



No. 96 .

Sir J. Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon.- (Received October 30.)
My Lord, Hong Kong, September 3 , 1856 .
REFERRING to my despatches of the 3rd and 8th of July respectively ,
I have the honour to forward copies of further correspondence with Mr. Consul
Parkes, on the subject of the issue of the incendiary placard, and the
assault on two British subjects (Messrs. Johnson and Whittall), in the neigh
bourhood of the factories at Canton . Stones were thrown (an event of
common occurrence, though much less common than formerly ), but as no
serious injury was inflicted, and as the placard complained of has been with
drawn, I have concurred with Mr. Parkes in thinking that no benefit would
accrue from any further interposition .
I have, &c.
(Signed) JOHN BOWRING .



Inclosure 1 in No. 96 .

Consul Parkes to Sir J. Bowring.
Sir , Canton , August 23 , 1856.
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Excellency translation of a letter
received by me from the Imperial Commissioner in answer to my representations
of the 1st and 4th of July, relative to the circulation of an incendiary placard,
2 G
 222

and the assault of Messrs. Johnson and Whittall, copies of which have
been submitted to your Excellency in my despatches of the 2nd and
5th July respectively. His Excellency's reasoning does not alter my opinion
that the placard in question is not to be considered as an exhibition of aa malevo
lent feeling on the part of the village population, as it emanated, in my belief,
from parties in the city, on the occasion of the late rumour becoming current
that the foreign Governments had it in contemplation to force an entry into the
city .
I have endeavoured in my reply to the Imperial Commissioner, copy of
which I also inclose, to refute his account of the authorship of the placard , and
to protest in terms which I trust your Excellency will consider the circumstances
of the case deserves, against the unsatisfactory nature of his proceedings, but as
all excitement on the subject seems to have died away, and the placard has been
withdrawn from circulation, it appears to me scarcely necessary to appeal to
your Excellency's intervention for more complete redress.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HARRY S. PARKES .




Inclosure 2 in No. 96 .

Commissioner Yeh to Consul Parkes.
( Translation .)
YEH, Imperial High Commissioner, Governor-General of the Two Kwang
Provinces, & c ., makes this declaration in reply .
On the 1st and 4th days of the 6th month (2nd and 5th July), I received
the two statements addressed me by the Consul, with which , and the printed
placard in one of them, I made myself fully acquainted, and thereupon directed
the local authorities to examine into and interdict (its circulation ).
In their reports made me upon the subject they state that your honourable
countrymen in traveling to and fro between Hong Kong and Canton have
hitherto invariably adopted the water passage ; but recently it has been stated
that some foreigners have travelled overland by way of the north road. This
road, the officers observe, is not frequented by foreigners, and the people of the
villages thereabouts having never seen them cannot lay aside the doubts and
fears which their presence occasions, and have, therefore, printed and published
this placard.
Such are the reports of the officers, and in connection therewith I (the
Commissioner) learn that on the 1st day of the 5th month (3rd June) a foreign
merchant rode out on horseback to San - yuen -lee, outside the north gate, and
on passing through Looking -Glass Street on his return , he happened to meet a
workman from one of the shops, who being unable to get out of the way was
trampled on by the horse and hurt. It is possible that this circumstance may
have led to the sale or distribution of the placard.
I, the Great Minister, have already directed the local authorities to discover
the parties who cut the block , and I have also to call upon the Consul, as I do
in this declaration , to make known among all the merchants and the people on
board the ships that in future they must travel as they formerly did by way of
the water passage, and must not again commit the irregularity of taking the
land route, which leads them into the north road, such a course being calculated
to excite doubts and fears among the village population, which might, it is to be
feared , occasion trouble at some future period. In this case, the Chinese
Government have, indeed , rendered you efficient protection. I earnestly charge
you to act in the above -mentioned manner.
Heen -fung, 6th year, 7th month, 28th day. (August 20, 1856.)
 223



Inclosure 3 in No. 96.

Consul Parkes to Commissioner Yeh .

Sir, Canton, August 23, 1856.
ON the 20th instant I received your Excellency's declaration , acknow
ledging two representations I lately addressed you, the one under date ist July
bringing to your Excellency’s notice the publication of an incendiary placard,
menacing the lives of foreigners in this neighbourhood ; the other reporting, on
the 4th July, an unprovoked attack made by certain people armed with stones
upon two of the English merchants of this community, while riding through the
street known as Te -sze-poo, near to the West Gate .
Your Excellency now informs me in the declaration under acknowledgment,
that having inquired into the cases, you learn from the reports made to you by
the subordinate officers that “ British subjects, in travelling to and fro between
Hong Kong, have hitherto invariably adopted the water passage, but recently it
has been stated that some foreigners have travelled overland, by way of the
north road . ' Your Excellency then goes on to observe, that “ on the 3rd June
last a foreign merchant rode out on horseback to Sau- yuen -le, outside the North
Gate, and on passing through Looking-glass Street on his return he happened
to meet a workman from one of the shops, who, being unable to get out of the
"
way, was trampled on by the horse and hurt ;" and the conclusion drawn by
your Excellency is, that the placard may have had its origin in the above circum
stances .
With reference to the cases thus adduced , I should remark that I have
never heard of the journey to Hong Kong being made by way of the north
road ; and if your Excellency considers the position of Hong Kong, that it is an
island situated in the outer waters , and lying to the south -east of Canton , you
will , I can scarcely doubt, at once perceive that it cannot be reached by persons
travelling hence by land in a northerly direction . I may add that the placard is
without any local allusion suggestive of the inference that it originated among
the population of the villages on the north road.
As to the unfortunate occurrence in Looking-glass Street, presuming this
to be the same case that formed the subject of a correspondence between this
office and the Pwan -yu Magistrate at the close of May , I have to observe that
the misconduct on the part of the foreigner complained of, was wholly accidental,
and not designed. Similar casualties are not of uncommon occurrence in great
thoroughfares, as your Excellency is,
, I presume, aware . The sufferer was not
seriously injured, and was at once taken to the hospital, where he remained until
he recovered from the hurt, and on being sent away, received five dollars as a
gratuity. But if this treatment were insufficient to remove all feelings of ill will
in the case, it is clear from the accident having occurred in a street of the city,
and not among the villagers, in whose name the placard is issued , that no con
nexion can have existed between the one and the other.
I am constrained to say, therefore, that these counter-statements, having
reference to matters altogether distinct from the serious one on which I
addressed your Excellency , have been furnished you , with the view of diverting
attention from the real case at issue, and imparting to it a colourirg not
warranted by facts .
Wherever there may exist, on either side, grounds for complaint, either as
to foreigners passing in their journeys the limits assigned to them, or in any
other matter, the provisions and penalties of the Treaties and Laws prescribe
the course to be pursued, and the redress to be obtained . How , then, can the
national authorities suffer their people to follow the bent of their own inclina
tions, when these prompt them to commit acts of violence and wrong ? In the
matter now complained of, the highly criminal language of the placard elicits
from your Excellency no word of condemnation. You simply observe, that you
have directed the local authorities to find out the parties who cut the blocks on
which it was printed ,—with what effect may be learned from the fact that eight
-




weeks have elapsed without their being discovered ; and the stoning of two
2 G 2
 224


British merchants is passed over by your Excellency without a single obser
vation .
Can it be said that proceedings such as these constitute the efficient pro
tection which your Excellency, speaking in the name of the Chinese Government,
states that you have herein rendered ?
I have, &c.
(Signed) HARRY S. PARKES .




Inclosure 4 in No. 96.

Sir J. Bowring to Consul Parkes.

Sir, Hong Kong, August 25, 1856.
I HAVE received your despatch dated the 23rd instant, accompanying your
correspondence with the Imperial Commissioner, on the subject of the attack
upon Messrs. Johnson and Whittal. I approve of the steps you have taken,
and shall forward the correspondence to the Secretary of State ; and I agree
with you that further interference on my part is scarcely necessary or desirable.
I have , &c .
(Signed) JOHN BOWRING .




No. 97 .

The Earl of Clarendon to Sir J. Bowring.

Sir, Foreign Office, November 1 , 1856 .
I HAVE received your despatch of the 3rd of September, inclosing copies
of Mr. Parkes' correspondence respecting the issue of an incendiary notification
and the assault on Messrs. Johnson and Whittall , and I have to state to you
that I approve of Mr. Parkes' proceedings, and of the opinion he has expressed
that no benefit would result from any further interposition in this matter.
I am , &c.
( Signed) CLARENDON .




No. 98.

Sir J. Bowring to the Earl of Clarendon.- (Received December 1.)

(Extract.) Hong Kong, October 8, 1856 .
I HAVE the honourto forward to your Lordship copies ofcorrespondence with
Mr. Consul Parkes, on the subject of the arrest and conveyance to Canton of a
missionary, Mr. Burns, from a district beyond treaty limits, in which he has
lately been engaged.
Mr. Burns is a most zealous person ; and having heard that it was his
purpose to return to the district from which he has been just sent away, I have
thought it necessary to instruct Mr. Parkes to caution him against so doing.
The caution is all the more necessary from the disturbed state of the locality.
 225


Inclosure 1 in No. 98.
Consul Parkes to Sir J. Bowring.
Sir, Canton, October 6 , 1856.
I HAVE the honour to report that the Rev. Wm . C. Burns, known to have
been lately apprehended by the authorities of Chaou-chow, whilst engaged in a
missionary tour in that department of this province, was handed over to me by
the Imperial Commissioner on the 30th ultimo, the local authorities having in
this instance pursued the course prescribed by Treaty, and forwarded Mr. Burns
as a prisoner to Canton. On the following day, I received from the Imperial
Commissioner the letter of which I herewith inclose translation, detailing the
circumstances under which Mr. Burns was apprehended, and simply requiring
me toverify the account given by that gentleman of his own proceedings, and to
place him under some degree of restraint.
The Imperial Commissioner has shown commendable moderation in not
calling upon me to take more stringent notice of this infraction of the Treaty.
Perhaps it is, that being satisfied of the harmless character of Mr. Burns' pur
suits, his Excellency considers forty days ' confinement, ten days of which were
passed at Chaou - chow , and thirty on the route thence to Canton, as a sufficient
penalty for the indiscretion ; or it may be that his Excellency, having some
knowledge of the liberty so long allowed by the local authorities of Chaou - chow
to foreigners at Swatow , justly deems it anomalous to call for the punishment of
Mr. Burns for breach of Treaty, when he knows his own officers to be similarly
implicated , but to a far higher degree. Not only is a foreign trade amounting
annually to several millions of dollars, carried on openly at Swatow, as your
Excellency is doubtless well aware, in vessels under all flags, which either lie in
ordinary or visit that port at will, but the local authorities have been known to
seek , and in more than one case, I believe, to obtain , the aid and alliance of these
foreign visitors in their operations against insurgents or powerful marauders.
Such being the case, it is almost surprising that the authorities of Chaou
chow should have considered themselves bound to incur the trouble and expense
of forwarding Mr. Burns to Canton, instead of dismissing him with a caution not
to appear again in that vicinity.
From what Mr. Burns could gather during his confinement, it would appear
that this was their first intention, as they applied to certain native merchants at
Swatow to give bail both for Mr. Burns and his Chinese associates ; and these
merchants, with remarkable generosity, at once came forward with the security
required. Subsequently, however ,this course was altered, by the advice, as
Mr. Burns believes, of Wan, late Prefect of Kea-ying-chow, who is at present
at Chaou -chow waiting for employment, an officer already notorious to foreigners
by the persecution he set on foot in August 1850 , against the Christians in his
district, but whose acts in this respect were repudiated by the Imperial Commis
sioner Seu , at the instance of the French Minister.
Mr. Burns was arrested on the 19th August, but did not leave Chaou - chow
until the 1st of September. The route traversed in his way to Canton lay up
the Han river, across Chaou -chow and Kea-ying departments to that of Shwuy
chow, and down the East river to Canton ; a more direct road which passes