John Russell Young to P. S.—The only American citizen who has suffered loss by the Chinese mob’s pillage and incendiarism is E. T. Hoi will, November 8, 1883

No. 32. Mr. Young to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Sir: In several recent dispatches I have had occasion to refer to a riotous demonstration against foreigners which took place at Canton upon the 10th of September last, and I have now the honor to submit various papers in reference thereto, which will place you in possession of all the information now in the hands of the legation upon the subject. These papers consist of copies of six dispatches received from Mr. Consul Seymour, and extracts from newspaper reports of the affair.

From these reports you will gather that the immediate cause of the riot was the accidental or intentional drowning of a Chinese by a Portuguese watchman employed on the British steamship Hankow, but that the feelings of the populace had previously been roused to an intense degree by the wanton murder of an inoffensive Chinese by a British subject named Logan while the latter was in a state of intoxication, by the release of two of Logan’s companions, and by the fear that Logan himself would either be released or escape with a trifling punishment. I shall have occasion to address you more at length upon this unfortunate occurrence within a few days. In the mean time I may add that Iogan has been tried before a British court, convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. The viceroy at Canton and the foreign office here have protested against this punishment as inadequate, but, so far as I can learn, without effect. The air is full of rumors of further and more serious disturbances at Canton, which, however, cannot be traced to any reliable source. There is much uneasy feeling among the Chinese at other ports, and the situation as a whole is far from reassuring.

I have, &c.,