To his Excellency Frederick F. Low to Hamilton Fish, September 17, 1870

Mr. Low to Mr. Fish.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that, in consequence of rumors of threatened violence by the Chinese, and a general belief that an organized attack would be made upon them on the 15th of the 8th moon, (September 10,) the missionaries residing at Tungchow, about forty miles from Chefoo, in the province of Shantung, determined to remove, with their families, to Chefoo for safety. The correspondence, copies of which I beg to inclose, will give you all the information that I possess.

The only direct, information is contained in the letter of the Rev. Mr. Capp; for the rest I am indebted to the courtesy of the British chargé d’affaires, who kindly allowed me to read and take copies of the report, with its inclosures, of the British acting consul at Chefoo. Up to the present moment I have heard nothing from the United States vice-consul.

I am quite free to admit that I was exceedingly vexed and mortified on learning that the services of British vessels had been sought to remove these people, when there was a United States gunboat at Tien-tsin that could have gone to their relief in three or four days; and also in being obliged to seek information as to what had been done through the British legation, when reports from the United States vice-consul should have been made to me without delay.

Were there an American resident at Chefoo who would accept the position, I should be strongly inclined to advise the summary removal of Mr. Holmes, and the appointment of a better man. Unfortunately there are no persons resident there fitted for the position who will accept it for the emoluments, and I suppose the reputation of the United States must continue to suffer from such representatives as the vice-consul at Chefoo.

Prior to the receipt of the news of their removal, the missionaries had made no complaint, nor had I heard from them or the vice-consul at Chefoo that any trouble was apprehended. From all that I am able to learn I cannot but think the missionaries were unduly alarmed and their action precipitate; at the same time the public mind is so much excited by rumors, the truth of which is so difficult to ascertain from the Chinese, that even the coolest and most courageous among the foreigners are liable to over-estimate the danger, and adopt measures for protection which they afterward ascertain were unnecessary.

In reply to Mr. Capp’s letter to me, I have advised them to return as soon as they can feel any safety in so doing; and, as it would have a good moral effect, I shall try to have them go back on one of our vessels of war. The Monocacy is expected at Chefoo shortly—as soon, probably, as they will be ready.

I have written a strong note to the prince, informing him of the unsettled state of affairs at Tungchow, and asking him to take measures for the protection of foreign residents; and have improved the occasion to review the Tien-tsin affair, charging the troubles elsewhere to the evil effects of the news of the riot. No answer has been received as yet. As soon as a reply comes I will send you a copy of my note and the prince’s response.

The proclamations of the local officials at Tungchow are timely, strongly put, and, I hope, will do good.

Acting Consul Mayers, in his report to the British chargé d’affaires, expresses my views so well concerning this whole affair that I quote from his report:

The resident missionaries are, it may be presumed, the best judges with regard to the steps it behooved them to take in view of their feeling of insecurity and the known faithlessness of Chinese officials, but I cannot repress a feeling of regret that so much encouragement has been given to the anti-foreign party as the 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 and exaggerated in distant parts of the country, may be expected to embolden the hostile spirit which appears to have grown up of late.

If the Chinese find that the missionaries can be induced to abandon their posts of duty by threats of violence, they will, very soon, constitute a repulsed army retreating in the face of the enemy.

[Inclosures.]

A.—Letter of E. P. Capp to Frederick F. Low.

B.—Letter of J. L. Nevins to S. A. Holmes, vice-consul.

C.—Report of British acting consul to charge.

D.—Vice-consul Holmes to Admiral Kellett.

E.—Admiral Kellett to Vice-consul Holmes.

F.—S. A. Holmes to Sir Henry Kellett.

G.—Admiral Kellett to S. A. Holmes.

H.—C. W. Matter to Mr. Holwill, Chefoo.

I.—Frederick F. Low to Edward P. Capp and others.

J.—Frederick F. Low to Thomas Francis Wade.

K.—Proclamation of prefect of Tungchow.

L.—Proclamation of chief military mandarin of Tungchow.

K.

Proclamation by the prefect of Tungchow, in Shan-tung, to which all are to give earnest heed. Issued September 2, 1870.

It appears that in consequence of the flagitious conduct of lawless men at Tien-tsin, bewitching and carrying off children, in which they implicated the Roman Catholics there, many people have suspected that a quarrel would grow out of it, and have fomented disturbance. In consequence, every kind of wild rumor has spread from thence through the land, which has incited reckless loafers to hatch trouble and fan suspicions, particularly saying that all foreigners are to be killed. These falsehoods have disturbed foreigners, [dwelling here,] and led them to suspend their work, and rapidly move away from the place to avoid danger, their converts also laboring under the same erroneous views. Such men, like unscrupulous rascals, cannot be suffered for a single day, and it is hard to imagine what object they can have in getting up these suspicions to breed trouble. I have sent policemen here and there to secretly ascertain who they are and seize them, and I also now issue this proclamation for general information, and call on all, soldiers and people, to fully observe its orders. Hereafter, let each of you carefully attend to his own business, and neither start nor give heed to idle canards, calculated to excite trouble and bring misfortune on yourselves, If any dare disobey this, they shall be summarily seized, and the lives of themselves and families immediately pay the penalty. They will then have no place for repentance.

L.

Proclamation by Fu, brevet colonel of the middle brigade at Tungchow, &c., strictly prohibiting the circulation of rumors. Issued September 2, 1870.

It is well known that English and American missionaries have lived in this city many years, engaged day and night in disseminating and explaining the holy religion of Jesus, and urging men to be good. Recently certain fellows among the soldiers and people have been talking wildly about the affair at Tien-tsin, blabbing this and that strange story, which is nothing less than to utter seditious rumors for the purpose of exciting suspicion and change. Such men, like reckless villains, are only on the lookout for a chance to take advantage of some trouble to rob and sack; they are all out of the pale of law, and excite everybody’s indignation.

I have secretly sent out men who are ordered to inquire for and seize any one found doing these things, and I further now issue this plain proclamation for the general information of all classes of people. Hereafter let every one contentedly attend to his own affairs, and give no heed to the wild talk about affairs between natives and foreigners. Whoever is found violating this command will be tried in this court, and I shall ask the higher officers to have him executed by martial law. No leniency will be shown, and let no one, therefore, say he has not been warned, but let every one give careful heed to this special proclamation.