Charles Seymour, Consul to John Russell Young, March 3, 1884

Mr. Seymour to Mr. Young.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that several matters involving claims of American Presbyterian and native Baptist, or American Baptist, missions, for losses sustained at the hands of Chinese mobs, have been satisfactorily adjusted, and will no longer encumber this consulate or the United States legation with correspondence or negotiations for settlements.

The first one to which I will refer was the case of outrages by the Chinese mob against the mission and missionaries and native members and attendants of the American Presbyterian mission at Chik Hom, where a small loss, of about 33 taels, occurred, but where the American missionaries were rudely treated, and where the native friends of that mission were persecuted with much cruelty and brutality. The disturbance was in June, 1883.

References to this case were made in my August (1883) correspondence lists. Under date of August 1, 1883, I mentioned having received a statement of these outrages at Chik Hom, from Rev. H. V. Noyes, who, with Rev. B. C. Henry, had full knowledge of the occurrences which I forwarded to the grain intendant (August 4, 1883), who gave the business prompt attention.

The troubles of August and September in Canton temporarily overshadowed the Chik Hom affair; but with reasonable promptness appropriate proclamations were made by the authorities in the vicinity of the Chik Hom mission, and early in October the chapel was reopened and the missionaries notified by the local magistrate of a desire to make full restitution, which was duly made to the satisfaction of the friends of the mission.

In December, 1883, considerable wrath was manifested in Canton and surrounding country against foreigners and Christians, and there seemed to be simultaneous acts on the part of the natives indicative of a strong purpose to demolish all missions.

The week of the imperial commissioner Pang’s arrival in Canton, with several regiments of soldiers from Northern and Central China, and the publication and circulation of many thousands of Chinese documents, purporting to have been issued by that high official, with the sanction and approval of the Emperor, against foreigners, is memorable. That was in the first week of December, 1883, and will long be remembered by all who witnessed the excitement among the natives and anxiety among foreigners.

The churches, chapels, and missions of all denominations and nationalities, as well as the property of all foreigners, were in jeopardy until the Chinese authorities (at the urgent suggestion of the United States consul, in advance of the united action of the consular corps, whose services were in requisition by foreigners of various nationalities) took vigorous measures to counteract the serious measures and effects of an ill-advised proclamation, which has never yet been repudiated, although its circulation has been declared “unauthorized.”

The only religious establishment which was actually injured in Canton at that time was the “Preaching Hall” of native Christians, in connection with the American Baptist missions, and that has been repaired, reopened, and occupied, without further troubles or threats.

Proclamations from the viceroy and the Hanhoi magistrate, as well as from the imperial commissioner, and military protection, assured all concerned that such atrocities as the destruction of chapels and the molestation of foreigners by natives would not be permitted by the authorities.

Numerous other chapels, that had been closed for several days under threats from the populace, were reopened under assurances of protection by Chinese officials.

While matters were quieting down in Canton, the excitement of the first week of December in this city had extended into the country.

At Sheklung (about 60 miles east of Canton) the American Presbyterian missionaries, Rev. B. C. Henry and W. J. White, of Canton, were holding religious services with the members and friends of the mission at that place, on Sunday, December 16, 1883, when a native mob assaulted the chapel and the missionaries and persecuted the native. Christians, until the chapel was unfit for use and the missionaries fled to save their lives. After the outrages against the American Presbyterian mission had been perpetrated, the Chinese mob proceeded to the French Roman Catholic mission and destroyed its chapel and the buildings occupied by the priests and leading members of the Roman Catholic Church, whose priest was conveyed for safety by a mandarin’s boat to Canton, to which place the American missionaries and a native preacher in the employ of the Berlin mission went for safety. Considerable personal violence occurred.

A reference to the letter-lists of this consulate will show I laid the Sheklung case before the viceroy December 17, 1883, and before the United States legation in No. 45, dated the 11th January ultimo, eliciting due attention.

I have the pleasure of stating that a military officer from Canton last week went to Sheklung and paid up in full all claims for indemnity, the American Presbyterian mission receiving $370.

The claim of and indemnity to the Roman Catholics amounted to about 3,000 taels. The French consul in Canton has no advices of payment yet, but the money is ready, as Rev. Mr. Noyes, American Presbyterian missionary, informs me.

Please take into consideration the fact that the settlement of the several claims herein stated by remittance through the official channels (legation and consulate) could not have been accomplished without prolonged negotiations and circuitous processes and ways, involving months or years of delay, or interruption or suspension of missionary labors.

Apart from such inconveniences to all immediately concerned, it is very evident that the moral effect of prompt settlement for damages, and early resumption of missionary work, is greatly to the advantage of those who are engaged as missionaries and preachers or co-workers in religious organizations in China.

If it is possible to bring that Ngchow case to a final settlement, it is very desirable that it may be settled; for no attempt can be made to resume missionary work at Ngchow while the unfriendly natives indulge the prevalent idea that destruction and pillage of chapels, dispensaries, and dwellings occupied by foreigners and missionaries is cheap sport.

The viceroy Tseng, while here, did not act upon any case that was brought before him touching interests of foreigners, except in the admirably prompt suppression of the Honam (South Canton) riot in August, 1883.

The present viceroy, Chang, does not seem to be inclined to procrastinate, but acts more promptly.

Having reported the Ngchow case to the legation and to the State Department, and been informed by the latter that it had been placed in the hands of the United States minister for settlement, I do not feel at liberty to interfere with it, especially as I went through a long siege in regard to it, and completely exhausted or upset their subterfuges as to provocation, all of which has been set forth fully in my No. 19, dated May 15, 1883, and its inclosures, including correspondence between this consulate and the viceroy. There is positively no defense.

Affixed is a letter from Rev. H. V. Noyes in regard to the settlement of the Sheklung affair, and designated A.

Affixed also is an extract from the annual report of the American Presbyterian mission in Southern China, as per copy sent to this consulate by the secretary, Rev. W. J. White, and marked B.

Hoping what has been done will meet with your approval,

I am, &c.,