Governor-General Chang to Her Britannic Majesty’s Acting Consul Hance, December 5, 1884

Governor-General Chang to Her Britannic Majesty’s Acting Consul Hance.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of dispatch from you, dated the 21st ultimo.

I have to observe that the printing of the memorial was in the 5th moon, when my predecessor, his excellency Chang, was in office, and is not a matter which has occurred during my government. In [the pamphlet] the phraseology is incorrect, and there are many places where it does not agree with the original draft. It is a characteristic of the Canton people to love novelty and dislike what is antiquated. When they happen to see or hear anything in the market-place, they will arrange and concoct circumstances and compose an article on it, which they print and sell with a view to making a profit. Hitherto, as nothing of importance was touched on, the local authorities took no means of prevention; but the printing of these two pamphlets and their wanton falsification is most blameworthy. Orders have been given to the prefect and magistrates to take vigorous measures for their suppression, and to find and destroy the blocks from which they were printed. Friendly relations have existed for many years between our respective countries, and the intercourse of the [two] states is constant and stable. The people and the converts, however, cannot get on together, and are eternally in quarrel and litigation, whereby disorder is bred. Preaching the gospel was long since allowed by treaty, and can by no means be now disallowed. Now, missionaries from western lands of course keep strictly to the rules of their doctrine, and do not interfere in matters outside it; but many unprincipled people in the interior, not believing in the doctrine from the bottom of their hearts, become converts in name only, and, relying [on Christianity] as on a charm to protect them, create trouble to the detriment of order in the villages. Thus do they injure the reputation of the chapels and give birth to suspicion and dislike between Chinese and foreigners. This class of persons does double harm [i. e., to the chapels and to the people], and should undoubtedly be sought out and preventive regulations made, so as to avoid a further continuous series of troubles, and re-establish the former state of tranquillity. This year the Chinese and foreign ministers have been holding a discussion, with a view to devise a plan of united action, so that internal affairs may be tranquil and foreign relations friendly.

There is not the slightest desire to incite the hatred of the Chinese against converts, or to injure the interests of the officials and merchants of other nations. The examinations are now over, and the country is quiet, as formerly. You may, therefore, cast away all suspicion and doubt.

I have, &c.,