CHARLES SEYMOUR, United States Consul to Viceroy Chang, December 5, 1883

Mr. Seymour to Viceroy Chang.

B.

Sir: I have the honor to call your excellency’s attention to the fact that a Chinese mob yesterday made an attack upon a Christian chapel, and renewed the attack this morning.

The chapel is located on the north side of and near the river, between the American Baptist and Berlin and American missions, a short distance from the hospital and the exchange; and as further depredations may be perpetrated unless prevented by the authorities, your excellency is respectfully asked to meet the case so promptly as to stop the mob from doing more mischief.

I also have the honor to call your excellency’s attention to the inclosed publication, which has been publicly and extensively sold and circulated for two days on the streets, and to ask whether it is an authentic, true, and authorized expression of what it purports to be in regard to the removal of merchandise of foreigners to prevent its destruction, as it has already produced much uneasiness and general excitement, especially among natives and foreigners in business circles, and seems to be regarded by the turbulent element as an encouragement to destroy the merchandise of foreigners whenever it is thought France shall have assumed a warlike attitude toward China, the danger being that many Chinese will consider the war as already inaugurated and proceed to an indiscriminate destruction of merchandise of foreigners, under the cover of what they are construing as authority.

I am, &c.,