CURRIE, For Granville to Charles R. Lowell, May 24, 1883

Lord Granville to Mr. Lowell.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have received a dispatch from Mr. Lascelles, Her Majesty’s agent and consul-general in Bulgaria, inclosing a report from. Mr. Dalziel, the British vice-consul at Roustchouk, with reference to an attack which had been made on the house of the American missionary, Mr. Challis, at Loftcha.

Mr. Dalziel states that Mr. Challis called upon him and reported that on the 17th ultimo five apparently drunken men made an attack on his house and school at Loftcha, burst open three doors, and beat Mr. Jones, the missionary, who was in charge of the establishment. During these proceedings two Bulgarian priests are said to have been standing at a short distance off laughing, and it was believed that the outrage was incited by them.

The police were at once sent for, upon which the assailants retired, and consequently when the police arrived all was over.

Mr. Dalziel states his belief that one or two arrests have been made in consequence, and understands that Mr. Challis is about to proceed to Constantinople to lay the matter before the United States minister.

Mr. Challis also informed the British agent at Sofia of the matter, but as some persons had been arrested by the police in connection with the attack, Mr. Lascelles did not think it necessary to take any action in the matter without instructions.

I have, &c.,