Benjamin H. Helm 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, September 3, 1872

Messrs. Houston and Helm to Mr. Lord.

Sir: We, the undersigned, missionaries of the Presbyterian Church (South) in the United States, would respectfully beg leave to ask your attention to some facts which have just occurred in this city, which we deem of interest to ourselves as to other foreign residents here.

The main substance of the facts of which we speak is that proceedings have been instituted by the Chinese officials in this city against natives who have been concerned in disposing of landed property to foreigners. On Sunday, the 1st instant, according to native accounts, a warrant was issued, at the instigation of the fantai, for the arrest of eight persons who had at one time been engaged in transactions of this kind with foreigners. Of these eight four are known to have been apprehended, viz, three men who were engaged about six months since in conveying a piece of land to the mission with which we are connected, and one man who sold land about three years since to the American Baptist Mission. The remaining men, whose names are said to have been on the warrant, were concerned at different times in disposing of property to the other missions, American and English, which are represented in this city. Of the three men who were engaged in conveying land to this mission we have had some personal acquaintance with two. One of these is a master stone-mason, named Ouq, doing a good business here, and the other a physician named Be. Both of them are regarded by natives as very respectable men. They are not Christians. They are now confined in the prisons attached to the yamêns of the hsien, (district magistrate.) The warrant ordering their arrest is said to have contained the statement that they were to be examined in regard to their being engaged in practices injurious to the people. The man Ouq was decoyed from his house on a false pretext, and arrested in a neighboring tea-shop. He is said to be suffering at present from a severe attack of sickness, and his family have sent to us a request to do all in our power to procure his release.

The immediate cause of the present action of the officials is represented by the natives to be as follows: The property held by the mission of which we are members is situated on the side of a hill facing the yamên of the fantai, (treasurer.) About a month since this official lost one of his children by death, and soon after his wife also died. On inquiring of the soothsayers as to the cause of his misfortunes, he was told that the fung shui had been disturbed by the foreign buildings opposite. Upon this he issued orders for the arrest of all persons engaged in selling property on which foreign houses had been erected. We speak of this only as the immediate cause, for we suppose that none here doubt that the general cause is to be found in the old-seated aversion of the upper classes of the Chinese to the presence of foreigners, an aversion which found expression here in the month of May last in the posting of a great number of hand-hills calling on the people to rise and punish any one found engaged in selling property to foreigners. A specimen of those was, we believe, furnished you at the time of their appearance. As to the demeanor of the people in general toward us, it has been everything we could have hoped for. Indeed, it has been a matter of comment among us within the past year how much the bearing of the people here toward foreigners has improved. Thus far there has not been the least sign of any disturbance coming from them.

We have deemed it proper to advise you of the facts above stated, both because they seem to be the beginning of a course of action against the foreign residents here, which may be extended further, and because we have hoped that you might feel at liberty either now, or after further developments, to take some action looking to the relief of the unfortunate men, whose only crime seems to be that they gave help and comfort to the foreigner. These men have not yet been examined by the magistrate and it is not known, of course, what judgment will be taken against them.

As regards the property which is said to have given offense to the present fantai, it may be proper to say that the larger portion of it was acquired by the mission about three years ago, and that a foreign residence was built on it just a year since.

Neither at the time the land was acquired, nor at the time the house was built, was any objection raised against our course in the matter from any quarter.

In September of last year the hsien, in whose jurisdiction we reside, (Ch’untang-hsien,) sent a request that he might see the title-deed by which we held the property. His request was complied with at once, and a copy of the deed was taken in the yarn en in the presence of a member of the mission. Since then we have heard nothing in regard to the matter. On another occasion, just before this, when our place was disturbed by some soldiers, who climbed over the wall of the compound in the absence of the foreigners, the hsien sent a man from his yamên, without any request or representation from us, to assure us that we would be protected from annoyance on our property here. We mention these facts as showing the recognition by the officials here both directly and indirectly of our claim to this property. Indeed, no one here, as far as we know, has ever questioned our right in the matter, nor are we aware of any intention to raise such a question now. We deem it prudent, however, to inform you at present of these facts, as it is not certain that they may not have some bearing on our case here in the future. We will endeavor to keep you advised as anything of further interest may be developed.

Begging leave to offer you assurances of our very high esteem, we remain,

Very, &c.,