MAYERS, Acting Consul to Thomas Francis Wade, September 2, 1870

C.

Sir: I have the honor to report to you that on the application of Mr. Holmes, the United States vice-consul at this port, the American missionaries residing at Tungchow, forty miles distant from Che Foo, were yesterday removed hither by her Majesty’s ships Barossa and Grasshopper, at the urgent request of the missionaries themselves.

I received a note late in the evening of Tuesday, the 30th August, from Mr. Holmes, who inclosed to me a letter he had received from Tungchow, and intimated his intention of soliciting assistance on the following morning from Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Kellett.

Correspondence took place on the 31st between Mr. Holmes and the admiral, who subsequently furnished me with copies of the four letters mutually exchanged, transcripts of which I now inclose for your information.

Having been requested by Admiral Kellett to call on the United States vice-consul after the receipt of his first letter, I found Mr. Holmes apparently sharing my own opinion, that the apprehensions of the missionaries of official designs against them were exaggerated and based on insufficient information, although excusable, doubtless, in view of their exposed position, the prevailing popular excitement, and the anti-foreign spirit evoked by the massacre at Tien-tsin. The reasons given by the missionaries for deciding on immediate removal are set forth in the letter from Mr. Nevins, which is annexed to Mr. Holmes’s first letter to the admiral, in addition to which Mr. Holmes further supplied me with a letter written at the same time by the Rev. Mr. Capp to Mr. Corbett of this place, a copy of which I also inclose herewith.

After seeing Sir Henry Kellett, I called, at his request, upon the Taotai, whom I sounded in the course of the conversation, with reference to the affairs at Tungchow. He professed surprise on hearing that the missionaries were again disturbed by rumors of hostile designs, which he treated with ridicule, and begged me to take notice that he held himself personally responsible for complete security of the missionaries. I expressed my satisfaction on hearing these assurances from his lips, coupled with the further undertaking which he volunteered, to write at once to his subordinates at Tungchow to take measures for checking the spread of idle reports, and for assuring the safety of the foreign denizens of the town. I did not think it expedient to make known to him that they contemplated immediate removal, as I was still uncertain whether this would actually take place. I communicated to Mr. Holmes the result of nay interview with the Taotai. In the course of the day further letters came in from Tungchow, announcing the fixed determination of the missionaries to leave the place at once, and expressing continued alarm. I am permitted by Mr. Holwill, of the customs, to whom one of these letters is addressed, to forward a copy to you, and I inclose the same herewith.

Mr. Holmes thereupon addressed a positive application to Admiral Kellett for the immediate dispatch of a vessel of war, and the corvette Barrossa and gunboat Grasshopper were accordingly ordered to proceed at daylight on the following morning to render assistance as requested. Sir Henry Kellett being desirous that an interpreter should accompany the commanding officer, to assist him in communication if necessary with boat people or others near the vessels, I directed Mr. Lolbe to proceed on this service, with instructions, copy of which I inclose. The two vessels reached Tungchow at about 11 a. m., and the embarcation of the missionaries and their families was completed by 3 p. m., without any difficulty or molestation on the part of the people. The number brought away consisted of three men, five women, and five children, two of the missionaries remaining behind to arrange, if possible, with the local officials respecting the safe custody of their houses and property.

The Rev. Mr. Nevins called upon me this morning, and explained to me at some length the reasons which had actuated himself and his colleagues in retiring from Tungchow. Without giving credence to the numerous reports of malignant intentions toward the missionaries and foreigners generally, which emanated, they are informed, from the governor of the province, they nevertheless thought their position so insecure as to leave them no option but to abandon it. The circumstance giving the greatest cause for alarm, among the multitude of minor incidents, was the reported approach of a reinforcement of 2,000 men to the garrison of Tungchow, who were said to be marching from the provincial capital.

It appears to have been openly stated throughout the city that the foreigners would be murdered on the 10th of this month, (the 15th of the 8th moon,) and it was thought that the constant repetition of such a prediction, unhindered by the presence of any protective force, might work its own fulfillment, through the excitement of the masses, even if no such sinister design originally existed.

The resident missionaries are, it may be presumed, the best judges with regard to the steps it behooves them to take in view of their feeling of insecurity and the known faithlessness of the Chinese officials, but I cannot repress a feeling of regret that so much encouragement should have been given to the anti-foreign party as this withdrawal from Tungchow will, I conceive, result in. I am apprehensive that their departure will not only produce a profound impression locally, but, being reported in an exaggerated form in distant parts of the country, may be expected to embolden the hostile spirit which appears to have grown up of late.

Your obedient servant,