DE LANO, United States Consul to Chester Holcombe, September 5, 1878

Mr. De Lano to Mr. Holcombe.

Sir: Recurring to my dispatch No. 109, on the subject of the riot in the city on the 30th ultimo, I have to report that much excitement prevails still, and there is reason to fear that, on account of the complete immunity of the rioters from punishment, more serious trouble may yet follow. The ringleaders have been pointed out to the high officials, and, as I understand, their arrest and punishment has been urged, but to no purpose. The rioters were allowed to assemble on the premises of the mission on Saturday and Sunday after the burning of the school building, and no effort was made by the officials to disperse them. On Sunday they commenced to tear down the walls of the building which were left standing, when Her Britannic Majesty’s consul, accompanied by the commander of an English man-of-war, appeared on the scene, and they were checked in a marked degree by the unsupported efforts of the commander.

This I mention as proof of the ease with which the outrage might have been prevented had the Chinese officials made an effort in that direction. In point of fact, it is positively asserted that the new Futai, Wu, has sanctioned and encouraged this demonstration, which has been openly planned by the literati and gentry, and executed by the rabble, egged on by many of the first named, who were on the scene with the officials when the building was destroyed.

On Sunday the commander (Napier) accompanied Mr. Sinclair to the government general and asked to have an armed guard of native soldiers sent to the scene to protect the property from further destruction, and the missionaries from further insult and assault, but his excellency first protested against it, saying that if armed men were sent there it would encourage the populace and more serious complications would arise. The request was then repeated in the form of a demand, and after a good deal of parleying his excellency promised to send the guard. They informed his excellency that they would return to the scene and await the guards’ arrival, which they did, and after a good deal of delay the men appeared, but without arms. They were sent back for arms and again came with arms, but without ammunition.

They at last returned with arms and ammunition, and were disposed upon the premises by order of Captain Napier, since when the rioters have been restrained from further acts of violence; but they openly declare that the balance of the property shall be destroyed, and avow their purpose to drive all missionaries from the city. Anonymous placards have also been posted about the city, calling upon the people to rise and complete the destruction of the Wu Shih Shan property.

A good deal of uneasiness prevails among the foreign residents, and it is not easy to predict how the matter may end. If there should not be some positive and decisive action on the part of the British Government, there is sure to be, to say the least, a protracted controversy over the subject of the restoration of the school building, and it is doubtful if the Chinese allow it to be rebuilt, though it stood upon ground which was acquired twenty or more years ago.

I have, &c.,