Frederick F. Low to His Imperial Highness Prince Kung, October 17, 1870

E.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Highness’s two dispatches of the 5th and 10th instant, the contents of which I have carefully noted. In the first, you mention the reception of imperial decree in relation to the riot at Tientsin, ordering that the prefect Chang Kwang-tsao and the district magistrate Lin Kieh be banished to the region of the Amoor to toilsomely work out their time; that Fung, with fourteen others, be executed; and Wang and twenty others be banished to different regions; in the second, you state that another decree has been received condemning Liu and four others, since arrested, to death, and Táng and his fellows, five in all, to banishment.

The sentences on the criminals connected with the dreadful tragedy at Tientsin, involving the loss of many lives and producing momentous consequences, must necessarily be reported to the President of the United States, for his information; and when I have received his instructions upon the matter, I shall again address your Imperial Highness.

I have, &c.,