Angell to Prince Kung, February 9, 1881

Mr. Angell to Prince Kung.

Your Imperial Highness: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt this morning, of Your Imperial Highness’s communication of the 7th instant, inclosing an edict from His Imperial Majesty concerning the death of his excellency Shen Kuei-fen, assistant grand secretary of state, and president of the board of war.

I desire to express to you, my high appreciation of his signal merits and my sincere Borrow at his decease. In my brief acquaintance with him, I was much impressed with his ready grasp of all subjects brought before him, his perfect mastery of details, his singularly retentive memory, and the courteous and amiable spirit which he evinced in the most earnest discussions. The empire may well mourn the loss, while in the full vigor of his intellectual strength, of one who has performed so many eminent public services, who was so wise a counselor to His Imperial Majesty, and who was so esteemed by all the representatives of foreign powers.

I shall communicate the edict of His Imperial Majesty to my government, who will, with deep regret, receive the sad tidings of the decease of the distinguished statesman, whose name has become so well known to them.

I have, &c.,