James Burrill Angell to Walker Blaine, August 15, 1881

No. 170. Mr. Angell to Mr. Blaine.

Sir: During the year I have had some reports of petty depredations upon the property of American missionaries at Teng Chow Foo, in the province of Shantung. But the missionary who has given me the information has not been without hope that the local magistrates could be brought to administer justice without being warned by the imperial authorities.

But this hope proving vain, another of the missionaries, Rev. Charles R. Mills, sent me a formal communication reciting in detail the depredations which had been committed, and invoking my assistance. The substance of his letter is given in a communication which I at once addressed to Prince Kung, asking him to urge the local authorities to punish the thieves, to secure the return of the value of the property taken or destroyed, and to guard more vigilantly against depredations in the future.

I inclose a copy of the prince’s reply, in which he assures me that instructions have been given to the local authorities in compliance with my request, and also of a later communication from him embodying a report from the Taotai of Teng-Lai-Ching.

I have, &c.,