Benj. P. Avery to Benj. P. Avery. United States, July 19, 1875

No. 172. Mr. Avery to Mr. Fish.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of dispatches from Consul-General Seward and from Mr. Consul Colby, giving the particulars of a grave disturbance which occurred at Chin kiang on the 14th of June, and of the subsequent proceedings to bring the offenders to justice.

Although no actual violence was suffered by any of the foreigners assailed, wanton insults to the consul a officer of the United States and his wife, and an open assault upon the British consular premises, were offenses of too grave a nature to be lightly treated. The prompt intervention of Consul-General Seward, followed up by the firm persistence of Mr. Colby, resulted in securing, with little delay, the full measure of satisfaction demanded.

The dispatches inclosed give all the facts with sufficient clearness. I have approved the action of Mr. Seward and Mr. Colby, which was at once energetic and judicious.

I have, &c.,

Proclamation.

Whereas a foreign official and his lady were lately followed by braves, and accosted with insulting language in the settlement, and the said braves tumultuously assaulted a municipal policeman who interposed; and whereas, two of them being arrested on the spot, a number of soldiers repaired to the front of the English consulate and cried a rescue, apparently intending to force the palisade, the offenders first seized and those subsequently captured have now been delivered to the magistrate for trial and punishment;

And whereas following and impudently insulting a foreign officer and his lady, in the settlement or elsewhere is beyond doubt a lawless proceeding, and combining to mob the English consular office and to raise a disturbance and riot, the serious consequences of which were only averted by securing the palisade, is to evince an utter contempt for law; the offenders have now severally been sentenced, as the law directs, to flogging with the heavy bamboo and severe canguing of two months; the case has been reported to the high authorities to be placed on record, and this proclamation is Issued:

Know ye, therefore, soldiers and people, that since the opening of trade natives and foreigners associate on terms of mutual consideration a foreign public office must therefore be regarded with respect, and foreign gentlemen or ladies, immaterial where they are, walking in the settlement or elsewhere, treated with deference and politeness, to the confirmation of friendship and good feeling.

Henceforward, therefore, let there be no more such disturbance and defiance of law, only leading to arrest and punishment. The foreign settlement is devoted to the purposes of trade. Let soldiers and braves attend strictly to the duties of the camp, and not create trouble and disorder by strolling about the settlement and congregating in knots, thereby causing disturbances to arise.

Let all obey a special proclamation.