SHEPPARD, United States Consul to Wells Williams, June 25, 1874

Mr. Sheppard to Mr. Williams.

Sir: It affords me much pleasure to be able now to report to you the final and most satisfactory settlement of the serious disturbance, or succession of riots, which occurred last December in £he district of Chi-mi, province of Shantung, and originated in a feeling of hostility stirred up among the people of that district by evil-disposed persons against an American missionary who had been peaceably living and quietly pursuing his calling in their midst. This outbreak against missionaries is the first of a serious nature that has happened in the north of China since the massacre of French missionaries at Tien-tsin, in 1870, and it is the only organized disturbance that has occurred in the interior, far from a treaty-port, since the attack made upon missionaries at Yang-chow, in 1868.

The history of this case seems, therefore, in my opinion, interesting from several points of view. In the first place, it serves as an indication of the progress of public opinion regarding the labors of Christian missionaries in this country, since the previous disturbances above referred to; it shows the peculiar causes which continue to affect the peaceable residence of foreigners in the interior, and the jeopardy their lives may be placed in at any hour; it also shows to what extent the treaties existing between China and other nations are known and respected in the country at large; and, lastly, the record of this case exhibits the attitude generally assumed by Chinese officials, at the treaty-ports and in the interior, when called upon to administer justice in behalf of foreigners, whether it be asked under the treaties, or under the plainest requirements of Chinese law.

The following brief summary of the voluminous documents composing the record of this case will explain the origin, nature, and consequences of the outbreak, as well as the course of action I pursued, and the results attained by that course. About the 1st of September, 1873, the Rev. Hunter Corbett, ah American missionary residing in Che Foo, left that place, accompanied by his three children, and went to the district of Chi-mi, on the sea-coast of Shantung, about four hundred li (one hundred and thirty miles) south of Chefoo, for the purpose of residing temporarily among the native Christians of that district, in response to their earnest solicitations. He was provided with a passport, as required by treaty, bearing the seals of the consular and Chinese authorities of Chefoo. He took up his residence in the village of Ko-fau, twenty-five li from the city of Chi-mi; and besides the native converts, numbering one hundred and fifty adults, Mr. Corbett found a large number of people in his vicinity desirous of professing the Christian faith.

It was Mr. Corbett’s practice to move about among the neighboring villages, in company with his native helpers, preaching and distributing religious books to the people; and on such occasions the people had been found, with few exceptions, friendly and well disposed. It was not until the 30th of November that any active hostility was shown; but on that day, as Mr. Corbett was passing through the village of Hwa-yin, on his way to preach at a more distant place, a crowd of people, who had been witnessing a theatrical performance, assailed Mr. Corbett with stones and threatening language. Still later in the day, as Mr. Corbett was passing through the same village on his return home, he was still more violently attacked by the same people, who had remained in waiting for him. Mr. Corbett, being on horseback, made his escape in safety, and the next day he complained to the district magistrate of Chi-mi, and asked for protection under his passport, in accordance with the treaty. The magistrate promised to protect Mr. Corbett and to punish those guilty of the assault; he also showed Mr. Corbett a draught, of a proclamation he proposed to issue, asserting the right accorded to missionaries by the treaty to propagate religion, and the protection to be extended to native converts as well. But none of these promises were fulfilled; and it was not until Mr. Corbett had several days afterward again begged the magistrate to take action that the latter expressed his sense of duty in this matter by simply issuing the proclamation. The inevitable consequences of such official inaction in this country soon followed.

On the 17th of December Mr. Corbett went with some native converts to preach and distribute books at a fair held in the Yuh-hwang temple, thirty li south of the city of Chi-mi. On reaching the temple he was soon surrounded by an immense mob hooting and throwing stones. Nothing that Mr. Corbett and the native Christians could do or say would pacify the raging crowd, who appeared to be bent on some bloody work. Mr. Corbett took refuge in the temple, but there his position became more precarious every moment. The mob surrounded the building, filled the courts, and showered stones into the room where he was, one of the stones striking him in the face. Seeing no way of escape, at the peril of his life, and with the assistance of a few native Christians, who nobly stood forth to defend him, he attempted to force his way through the midst of the mob, and barely succeeded in doing so. He mounted his horse and galloped off amid a shower of missiles, and with the crowd in full cry after him, but he managed to make good his escape. Disappointed of their victim, the mob then fell upon the Christians who had been left behind, beating all of them and inflicting severe wounds upon some, who had to be carried to their homes. The passions of the people were now thoroughly roused, and the excitement had spread over the whole district. A crisis was approaching, which might have been averted by the display of firmness and energy on the part of the magistrate in the discharge of his duty. But his conduct was precisely similar to that of the officials during the corresponding stage of the Yang-chow affair in 1868, and of the Tien-tsin massacre in 1870; he was actuated by no motive to sustain treaty rights, nor even, as it appeared, by the common humanity of eoming promptly forward with such protection as he could give to life and property imperiled by mob violence.

When Mr. Corbett the same day reached his home at Ko-fau he at once reported this fresh disturbance to the district magistrate, naming some of the ringleaders of the mob, and urging that immediate action be taken to arrest the guilty and restore order. Meanwhile it became plainly apparent to Mr. Corbett and his native friends that more mischief was brewing, the excitement and commotion in the neighborhood finally reaching such a degree as to lead the native Christians to urge Mr. Corbett to fly from the place. On the night of December 19, fully convinced of the danger of remaining where he was, Mr. Corbett, with his three children, fled to the district city of Chi-mi, distant twenty-five li, escorted by a small band of undaunted native Christians. On the 21st of December Mr. Corbett obtained an interview with the magistrate, who gravely said that the disturbance had now become too serious for him to manage, and he could not answer for his own safety, let alone the safety of foreigners. The magistrate repeatedly pressed Mr. Corbett to fly to Chefoo, and promised to restore order after his departure. Mr. Corbett wisely determined to continue his flight, and, accordingly, late in the night of the 21st December, he left with his children for Chefoo, and, traveling by a circuitous route, reached there in safety.

The news of Mr. Corbett’s escape, when it became known the next morning, was the signal for a general uprising. Armed mobs assembled with impunity and in great numbers. They were exultant in having succeeded in disposing of the foreigner, with the apparent approval of the magistrate, and they proceeded first to wreak their vengeance on all that Mr. Corbett had left behind. They broke into and demolished the interior of his house, destroyed or carried off his furniture and personal effects, and took away his mule and cow. A pack-mule, loaded with some of Mr. Corbett’s effects, was stopped on the road by a mob and forcibly taken away from the man in charge.

Then commenced a relentless persecution of the native Christians, and every day witnessed scenes of violence, pillage, and ruthless destruction of property. Fruit-trees were destroyed, farming implements and stock carried away, and houses stripped of their furniture. Two Christians were bound and carried off; another Christian was severely wounded by a weapon in the hands of a local constable, who was leading a mob into his house; and many Christians fled from their homes to places of concealment. The village of Tung-chia-au-tsz was wholly abandoned by its inhabitants, who, being all Christians, fled from the attack of a mob. Fortunately no lives were lost, for, after Mr. Corbett’s escape, the rioters seemed to be more intent upon persecution and pillage than the shedding of blood. A mob of about 3,000 men assembled in the suburbs of the city and were becoming turbulent, when the magistrate hurried to the spot, and upon his hearing and promising to consider their charges against the “foreign devil,” the mob gradually dispersed. A mob also collected in front of the inn where Mr. Corbett stopped while in the city of Chi-mi. Threats and imprecations against foreigners, native converts, and the Christian religion were heard on every side, indicating a popular feeling of hostility.

Such was the course of events in the district of Chi-mi during the month of December. Subsequent investigations proved that the hostility of the people was aroused and their passions inflamed by the accusations so long and so falsely made against foreign missionaries in China. Any falsehood that can be invented to defame the foreigner and render him hateful finds ready believers among the ignorant mass of Chinese; and there were not wanting in Chi-mi designing persons to thus fan the flame of excitement, when once it was aroused. The old story of kidnapping children for mutilation was revived; but undoubtedly the hatred displayed against Christian preachers and converts was mainly due to the general belief in the truth of such vile and abominable charges as are made against the Christian religion in the native pamphlet known as the “Death-blow to corrupt doctrines.” This pamphlet, it appears, was widely circulated throughout the district of Chi-mi some time ago by influential men among the literati, and many assert that its distribution was encouraged by the local officials themselves; it is certain at least that they did not attempt to check it.

In this affair the culpability of the district magistrate seemed unquestionable. From the 30th November, when the first disturbance occurred, he never attempted to make a single arrest, or administer the slightest punishment. This indifference was readily enough construed into sympathy with the rioters, and hence the latter were emboldened to continue their lawlessness. In the mean time Mr. Corbett had not neglected to report the disturbance to the consular authority at Chefoo. Mr. Cornabé, the United States consular agent, first wrote to the customs Taotai, at Chefoo, on the 22d of December, giving an account of the attack made upon Mr. Corbett at the Yuh-hwang temple on the 17th of December, and the disorder it had occasioned in the district, and earnestly requesting the taotai to urge the magistrate of Chi-mi to apprehend and punish the guilty. The Taotai replied briefly, expressing his disbelief in Mr. Corbett’s account, and stating that he would have the Chi-mi magistrate investigate the matter and report. A few days later Mr. Corbett arrived in Chefoo, and Mr. Cornabé was then enabled to furnish the taotai with fuller particulars, and with the names of some of the principal rioters.

About this time the Taotai left Chefoo on a short visit to the provincial capital, and before leaving he sent a deputy official to Chi-mi to assist the magistrate in his investigation. During the taotai’s absence Mr. Cornabé repeatedly wrote to him, giving further details of the disturbance, as they came to hand, and earnestly desiring him to send such instructions as would call forth honest exertions on the part of the magistrate.

At length, on the 7th of February, the taotai replied in a long dispatch. He had received the reports of the deputy and the magistrate, and they agreed in representing that no such disturbance as Mr. Corbett complained of had occurred at Chi-mi. The taotai, following the reports of his subordinates, positively denied that Mr. Corbett had been attacked, and made a rambling statement, accusing a native Christian of attempting to kidnap a child, thus causing a disturbance at the Yuh-hwang temple; and taking all this for granted, he considered that any disorder which might have existed was brought about by the indiscretion of Mr. Corbett and the native converts, hence he desired that Mr. Corbett should be admonished to avoid giving offense in future. But the taotai betrayed his real feelings by urging that judicial proceedings should be stayed, as the people of Chi-mi were now anxious to settle their differences and live in peace with Mr. Corbett. Mr. Cornabé replied to this dispatch, refuting its misrepresentations, and asking, once for all, that an impartial investigation should be made, and that the principal rioters, whose names he had given, should be arrested and punished. The taotai answered by simply saying that he would again send a deputy to Chi-mi.

It was evident that the taotai was bent upon shielding the fault of the magistrate, and avoiding his unpleasant duty of redressing the wrongs of a foreigner, as required by treaty.

On the 7th of March, when navigation re-opened at this port, I received from Mr. Cornabé a dispatch setting forth the occurrences related above, and informing me that notwithstanding his repeated efforts he had been unable to obtain the least satisfaction from the Taotai, or even the admission of any wrong in this matter, and he therefore requested instructions for his guidance. Impressed by the serious aspect this case had now assumed, involving, as it did, the integrity of important treaty stipulations, and fully believing that the future security of foreigners and native Christians in the interior of Shantung was now at stake, and would be seriously affected for better or worse by the manner of adjusting this difficulty, I determined to go myself to Chefoo, and endeavor to bring about a settlement with the Taotai. With your approval I therefore proceeded to Chefoo without delay, where I employed myself for a few days after my arrival in collecting testimony from native Christians and others who had come from Chi-mi; and this business having been completed, with the result of fully substantiating Mr. Corbett’s statements, I called upon the Taotai on the 24th of March. From the inclosed memorandum of our interview it will he seen that the Taotai was in no humor to discuss the business fairly. He first threw the blame entirely upon the native Christians, then upon Mr. Corbett, and finally insisted that proceedings should be stopped, as the people of Chi-mi were now anxious to be at peace with Mr. Corbett. He attributed the disturbance to an attempt made by a native Christian to kidnap a child. When I came to demand the arrest and trial of forty-two principal rioters, whose names had been given, the taotai emphatically refused to comply, and it was only after I had as firmly insisted upon his doing so, in observance of article 11 of our treaty, that he at length yielded his reluctant consent, but not, however, until I had been obliged to say that, failing in his arresting these men, I would consider the question of arresting them myself by virtue Of the power given to United States authorities in the last clause of article 11 of the United States treaty. This was the first important step toward a satisfactory adjustment, and it was taken by the Taotai only after he had been obliged to abandon every one of the numerous false positions he had assumed in argument. After I had corrected his frequent misstatements as to occurrences at Chi-mi, I had still to convince him that it was his duty to afford redress under the treaty, and he would not be convinced of this until he had found and read for himself the various clauses I had referred to. Our discussion maybe characterized as a stubborn attempt on the part of the taotai to make light of a serious matter and ignore his lawful responsibility, and an equally stubborn adherence on my part to rights which have been long established by treaty.

A month passed before I was informed by the taotai, through Mr. Cornabé, that the accused had been brought to Chefoo. I at once went to Chefoo, and upon my arrival there, on May 1, I addressed the Taotai, asking for a list of the names of those brought for trial. On receiving the taotai’s reply I was surprised and disappointed to find that of the forty-two whose names I had handed to the taotai on the 24th of March, all of whom he had repeatedly promised to arrest, only ten had now been brought to Chefoo, besides four others who had not been accused.

This breach of good faith, after a month’s delay, was part of a temporizing policy to which I was determined not to submit. I could not consent to go to trial with but ten of the accused, without failing to obtain adequate and lasting redress for the outrage committed, and my desire was to impress the people of Chi-mi with the fact that such lawless proceedings as had occurred in their district would not be passed over lightly.

Accordingly, on May 4, I called upon the taotai, accompanied by Mr. Cornabé and Commander Bridgeman, of the United States gunboat Palos, which vessel had been sent to Chefoo from Shanghai by Mr. Seward, who considerately anticipated my need of such support as the mere presence of a gunboat could afford in the settlement of this question.

The taotai was attended by the magistrate of Chi-mi and the magistrate of Fuh-shan, the district in which Chefoo is situated. The appearance and conduct of the Chi-mi magistrate confirmed the opinion previously formed of his character. He was an elderly man, infirm and irresolute, and apparently without spirit or ability. The Fuh-shan magistrate seemed intelligent and energetic.

A memorandum of the interview is inclosed herewith. I first reproached the Taotai with some warmth for his bad faith, whereupon he made several lame attempts to excuse his delinquency, but only succeeded in exposing, in a still worse light, the utter inefficiency of the Chi-mi magistrate, who had, as the Taotai unintentionally proved, quite disregarded his instructions. The earnestness with which I urged my views seemed to convince the Taotai of the propriety of doing his duty and fulfilling his promises; and so, after some further quibbling, he declared himself willing to complete the arrests and bring all the accused to Che Foo for trial. He deputed the Fuh-shan magistrate to carry out this business, and agreed to my proposal that two weeks should be allowed to fulfill the promise. During the discussion Commander Bridgeman remarked to the Taotai that he had orders from the American admiral to remain at Chefoo until this affair was settled, and he hoped soon to be able to report its satisfactory adjustment. This remark seemed to have considerable weight with the Taotai, and it undoubtedly curtailed useless discussion.

It was reported by Chinese who came from Chi-mi, from time to time, that the people there were determined to oppose the arrest of the rioters who had been accused; and hence it appears that the magistrate was intimidated and did not uudertake to arrest them, but resorted to various pretexts to screen the guilty, a course fully in keeping with his behavior from the beginning of this difficulty.

Having obtained from the Taotai his promise in writing that twenty-one more of the rioters who had been accused should be arrested and brought to Chefoo for trial before the Taotai and myself, and a day having been agreed upon for the trial, I returned to Tien-tsin.

On the 20th of May, I once again proceeded to Chefoo. This, my third visit in connection with this ease, occurred nearly six months after the first outbreak in Chi-mi, and three months had elapsed since my first interview with the Taotai regarding it. The Fuh-shan magistrate had arrived from Chi-mi a few days previously, having in his custody most of the rioters he was sent to arrest. The whole number of rioters now under arrest in Chefoo amounting to twenty-eight, I decided to proceed with the trial. On May 22, I had an interview with the Taotai, when it was agreed that the trial should begin on the 25th and be held in the yamen, or court-house, near the customhouse in Chefoo, as the most commodious room available. Various preliminaries were discussed, and it was decided to put each of the accused on his trial separately.

The trial began on the 25th of May, and continued for six days, the court sitting from 2 o’clock to 6 p.m. daily. I inclose herewith a reliable report of the ferial, published in the North China Herald of June 13.

The first day was wholly occupied in hearing Mr. Corbett’s statement of his grievances, and when it was concluded, the Taotai expressed himself satisfied with the truth of what had been said. It only remained to identify the accused and establish their guilt, and the other five days of the trial were devoted to the examination of witnesses for that purpose. About fourteen witnesses, some of them Christians, were examined, and after the most rigid and searching cross-examination by the Taotai, who was especially severe when questioning the Christians, the accused were fully identified and proven guilty. On the third day of the trial (May 27) an unpleasant incident occurred. My official messenger and several witnesses for the prosecution had been insulted and struck by two soldiers of the Taotai’s guards, and Mr. Cornabés messenger had been refused admittance to the yamen. Upon taking my seat in court this day, I informed the Taotai of these indignities, and insisted upon the arrest and punishment of the offenders before proceeding further with the trial. The Taotai, after attempting to exculpate them, admitted the justice of my demand and sent for the two men, who were beaten in the presence of the court, whereupon the trial was resumed.

This behavior of the soldiers of the Taotai’s own guard and within the precincts of his yamun was a fair indication of public feeling among the natives of Chefoo. From the time the first party of rioters were brought under arrest to Chefoo public attention had been attracted to this case, and sympathy with the rioters was expressed in various ways. During the sitting of the court large crowds assembled in the vicinity of the place, waiting with eagerness to hear the developments of the trial. No disturbance was created, but there appeared to be a deep feeling of resentment at such hitherto unheard of proceedings to vindicate the law in behalf of foreigners. This feeling was soon expressed by means of placards, in which the Taotai was vilified for partiality or submission to foreigners, and one of these placards was daringly placed on the gate of the Taotai’s office. It was, perhaps, partly due to his apprehension of some anti-foreign demonstration by the people that the Taotai was attended during the trial by an armed guard of over 100 soldiers.

The trial closed on the 1st of June, and on June 3 the Taotai came to the consulate to arrange with me the terms of a final settlement. The United States gunboat Saco had arrived on the day previous, and her officers, in full uniform, were present at this interview. On being introduced to the Taotai, Commander McDougal remarked that “the American admiral had been much concerned on hearing of the difficulty in Chi-mi, and he was most desirous that it should be peaceably and satisfactorily adjusted.” The Taotai replied that “the admiral need give himself no unnecessary anxiety, as a satisfactory conclusion would now probably be reached, and that he saw no reason why it could not be fully and satisfactorily adjusted between himself and the consul.” For a full account of this interview, I beg to refer you to the inclosed memorandum.

After some discussion, the following terms of settlement were speedily decided upon, viz:

• Four men convicted of having been prominently engaged in the two cases of Stoning, to be beaten with the large bamboo; one of them eighty blows, two others sixty each, and one forty blows. The local constables (ti-pao) of Ko-fau and Hwa-yin to receive eighty blows each, and be dismissed from office.
• Mr. Corbett’s pecuniary losses, estimated at 380 taels, to be paid within fifteen days, by the persons who entered his house; they to be imprisoned in the mean time and the Taotai to guarantee payment.
• The remainder of the criminals to be pardoned at my special request.
• All of the prisoners to enter into a bond to keep the peace and guarantee Mr. Corbett’s personal safety while he remains in Chi-mi. All accusations or suits arising out of this case, or connected with it in any way, to be suppressed.
• The Taotai to issue a stringent proclamation, giving a full account of this case, and how it was settled, and threatening severe punishment upon any one who may dare to engage in similar outrages in the future.
• When Mr. Corbett returns to Chi-mi, the Taotai is to furnish him with a special passport, and also with a letter to the Chi-mi magistrate.

On the following day, June 4, I proceeded to the Taotai’s yamun, accompanied by Mr. Cornabé, Commander McDougal, and several other officers of the Saco. The Taotai was attended by the Fuh-shan magistrate.

The Taotai now submitted for my approval draughts of his proposed proclamation, and of the bonds to be signed by the prisoners. These proving to be quite satisfactory, the prisoners were then called into court, and the Taotai proceeded to pass sentence upon those condemned to punishment. He addressed them at some length, pointing out the gravity of their offense and the severity of the punishment as prescribed by law. He told them that I had requested, and the prosecutor also had desired, that they might be dealt with leniently, and for this they should be thankful. After warning them to live in peace with foreigners and native Christians when they returned to their homes, he ordered them away to receive their punishment.

Those who were to sign the bonds were then called up and seriously admonished; and, lastly, all of the prisoners, save those condemned to punishment, were brought into court, and the Taotai addressed them in words of persuasion, caution, and warning. His remarks were so appropriate and reasonable, and were delivered with such spirit and emphasis, and the duties and responsibilities of the prisoners were so clearly pointed out to them, that all who were present in court seemed to be impressed by the seriousness of the occasion. Upon the conclusion of these remarks, the bonds were signed and the court adjourned. The prisoners condemned to punishment were then conducted to a neighboring yamên, where they were beaten, as sentenced, in the presence of Mr. Cornabé the officers of the Saco, and the acting interpreter, Mr. Hart well. Inclosed I beg to hand you a copy of the proclamation, with a translation of the same; also copies, with translations, of the two bonds, and a memorandum of the proceedings of June 4.

Thus, after months of delay and long-protracted contention, this case was finally brought to a successful conclusion. Preventive measures promptly taken might have suppressed the disturbance in its incipient state; and an honest desire to deal fairly and show justice to foreigners, when once the violence had been perpetrated, would have attained immediately the end which has but now been reached, and spared weeks of needless discussion and inconvenience.

The progress of enlightenment and friendly feeling in this country does not appear encouraging when the obligations of a treaty made in 1858 are at this late day so little known or so wholly ignored in a coast province of China as to give rise to such disturbances among the people and such sturdy opposition on the part of the officials.

In attributing blame for such outrages, there is less excuse for the officials than for the people they govern; for although officials may be prejudiced against foreigners, they cannot be wholly ignorant of the solemn national engagements made to secure the welfare of foreigners in China. Still less can officials at the open ports be ignorant of the manner in which justice has been rendered and treaty-rights vindicated on occasions of popular outbreaks of similar nature during the past few years. If proof be still needed, the settlement of this case abundantly shows that it is the will rather than the power that is wanting in Chinese officials, to extend protection to foreigners and obtain for them redress when it is required. It is questionable whether the Taotai at Chefoo would have yielded as he did, had he not received instructions to adjust this matter from the governor of Shantung, who had heard from the tsung-li yamên; and this action of the yamên was the good result of your repeated representations to them of the importance of this case. The peculiar feature in the adjustment of this difficulty is the success of my efforts to have the offenders brought from the interior of the province, where the law and the treaty were set at defiance, to a treaty-port, where the trial could be conducted free from the intimidation of a mob, and where treaty-rights are better understood and enforced. The presence of gunboats at the open ports, and the interest taken by naval authorities in such questions as this, is a sure, and sometimes the only, guarantee of a speedy and equitable settlement. Such co-operation of the naval with the consular officers serves at once to convince the Chinese of the national character of the question under discussion, as considered in the light of a treaty obligation; the private wrong is thus exhibited more prominently to the Chinese in its nature as a public question concerning the integrity of treaties. It was to such moral support afforded by the presence in port of the United States gunboats Palo’s and Saco, and the personal co-operation of Commanders Bridgeman and McDougal, that the favorable settlement of this case was largely due; and therefore I would here express my thanks to the admiral of the Asiatic squadron for permitting the vessels to come to Che Foo, and also to Mr. Consul-General Seward, for having kindly represented to the admiral the desirability of sending them. It is gratifying to find that, notwithstanding the apparent hostility of the people to the Christian religion, this wrong, suffered by an American citizen who was laboring as a missionary in the interior of China, has met with adequate redress in strict conformity with treaty-rights. And although the punishment prescribed by Chinese law for the various offenses committed is much more severe than the punishment actually administered, yet the ends of justice have been sufficiently served, and the clemency shown to most of the prisoners after their conviction will doubtless produce a good effect upon themselves and others; and it is to be hoped that the proclamation which has been issued will more effectually accomplish the object for which it was intended, now that its warnings are strengthened by examples which have been made of the guilty.

The real character of this disturbance has been anti-foreign and anti-christian, and the settlement made has fully vindicated both objects of attack. Yet the Chinese are so credulous in all they hear of foreigners, and so much influenced by prejudice and superstition, that ill-feeling is soon roused to-produce mischief; and when such instances occur wherever a foreigner may be in the interior, and the local official shows an unwillingness to act promptly in suppressing threatened disorder, the safest course would be for the foreigner to withdraw at once from the disturbed district and await the action of his own authorities.

Since returning to Tien-tsin, I have received a letter from Mr. Corbett, who went back to Chi-mi. He reports that the people are very friendly, and that he has met with no difficulty. This intelligence encourages the hope that the adjustment of this case will have a permanent effect for good, not only in the district of Chi-mi, but throughout the province at large, and that missionaries will reap the benefit of the time, labor, and anxiety devoted to attain the results which have now been reached.

In conclusion, I have to express my thanks to Mr. W. A. Cornabé, in charge of the consulate at Chefoo, for the active and efficient aid he has rendered throughout the case, and for the zeal he has shown in behalf of the interests committed to his charge; to Mr. J. B. Hartwell, who acted as my interpreter during the several interviews and the trial, and to whom I am under great obligation for his constant attendance and unwearied exertions; and to the several gentlemen who voluntarily acted as secretaries and assistants, and who rendered valuable service as such.

I am likewise under special obligation to Consul-General Seward for the encouragement and support he has given me in this difficult case.

I trust that my course of action and its results, as herein set forth, will meet with your approval, as well as that of the Government.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,