Cheng Tsao Ju to I hereby certify that Cheng Tsao Ju, known to me to be the envoy extraordinary and, April 25, 1885

Mr. Cheng Tsao Ju to Mr. Bayard.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 24th instant, informing me that in compliance with an act of Congress, approved March 3, 1884, directing the President to pay to the Chinese Government the sum of $583,400.90 out of the residue of the indemnity received by the United States from China in pursuance of the claims convention of 1858, first deducting the sum of $130,000 to satisfy the claims of the executors of Charles E. Hill for the use and loss of the steamer Keorgeor, the President desired you to pay over to China the sum of $453,400.90, being the remainder of the sum of $583,400.90, and that you send by one of the officers of your Department a draft duly in dorsed to my order for the amount.

I have the honor to state further that on yesterday the officer designated handed to me the draft above mentioned, together with the two receipts of the executors of Charles E. Hill, and that I officially executed receipts for the sum refunded to China, and returned one to you by the officer authorized to witness their execution.

I shall report to ray Government an account of this transaction, and procure from it a receipt for the sum paid over to me, which I will forward to you when received.

I take great pleasure, Mr. Secretary, in expressing to you my thanks for your courtesy and kindness in this matter. This generous return of the balance of the indemnity fund by the United States to China cannot fail to elicit feelings of kindness and admiration on the part of the Government of China towards that of the United States, and thus the friendly relations so long existing between the two countries will be strengthened.

Accept, sir, &c.,