Frederick F. Low to P. S.—Since writing the above we have received from Rev. G. E. Moule a copy of the order of arrest which is herewith inclosed. It will be seen that there are ten names included instead of eight. Those marked 0 have already been arrested; the others are said to be absent from, the city or in concealment. Mr. Moule states that the list includes the former owners of all the property now held by foreigners in the hsien (district) in which he lives, embracing the property held by the American Baptist Mission, American Presbyterian Mission, (North,) and the English Church Mission. We beg leave to inclose with this a note from Mr. Moule , which he has requested might be forwarded with this. Note .—The copy of the order of arrest, being little more than the names of the accused, is not sent to the Department. F. F. L, October 23, 1872

No. 46. Mr. Low to Mr. Fish.

Sir: About two months ago a covert hostility on the part of the officials to missionary operations appeared at Hangchow, the capital of the province of Chekiang. That city being nearer to Ningpo than any other port, the missionaries reported their troubles to Mr. Consul Lord, and asked his assistance. The consul, in company with the interpreter of the British consulate, proceeded to Hangchow without delay to look into the matter.

The letters of the missionaries to the consul and the dispatches of the latter to me, copies of which are inclosed, will put you in possession of all the information in my possession as to the cause of the trouble, the action taken by the consuls, and the results so far as known.

It is to be hoped that the local officials, finding that notice was promptly taken of their action by the consular representatives of England and the United States, will cease their opposition and refrain from further acts of indirect hostility. Of this, however, I am by no means certain.

This case affords a striking illustration of the difficulty, if not practical impossibility, of affording “protection” to missionaries when residing inland; it also shows the unusual and cruel devices to which Chinese officials will resort to accomplish their purposes, and at the same time avoid transgressing the letter of treaty obligations.

A perusal of the inclosed correspondence can hardly fail to impress you with the utter lack of good faith on the part of Chinese officials, which renders the settlement of questions such as this, which are constantly cropping up, a matter of extreme difficulty.

I have approved and commended all that Mr. Consul Lord has done, and have instructed him to use all reasonable and proper efforts to save from harm the missionaries at Hangchow, and obviate if possible the necessity of their removal.

It should be stated in this connection that the city where this trouble arose is about one hundred and forty miles from Ningpo, the nearest port.

In responding to Mr. Lord’s request for instructions as to the rights of the missionaries and his duty in the premises, I have sent him a copy of my No. 40 to the Department, and the reply approving of my views.

But while my opinion is clear and decided that missionaries have no right to reside permanently away from the open ports, it should, on the other hand, be stated that for some years after the treaties of 1860 were ratified a contrary opinion generally prevailed; nor do the Chinese openly question the right of residence in the interior now, as will be seen from the consul’s letters to me.

A retrograde movement on the part of the missionaries would be impolitic now, hence I shall do what I can to keep them where they are in safety. But while doing this I shall not fail to impress upon them that neither treaty right nor good policy will sanction the extension of old or the establishment of new missions in the interior.

The slender compensation which the fees afford the consul at Ningpo hardly warrants him in undertaking long and expensive journeys into the interior on public business. Mr. Lord’s trip to Hangchow may properly be considered an extraordinary duty, which was promptly and ably performed. I would therefore suggest that a suitable allowance be made him to cover extraordinary expenditures of the kind alluded to. It is proper that I should say in this connection that this suggestion is made on my own motion, and does not come from any request of Mr. Lord.

I have, &c.,