Wells Williams to William H. Seward, May 23, 1874

Mr. Williams to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I beg you to accept my best thanks for your dispatch No. 362, of the 11th instant, giving an account of the riot in the French settlement on the 3d instant, and your proceedings in aiding to quell it, with sundry details of the course of events on that occasion. The fullness of the report seems to leave nothing to be desired to understand what was done; and I am sure that you deserve the hearty thanks of your countrymen, and of the community generally, for your promptness in ascertaining the existence and efficient aid in suppressing the violence of the mob. It is a matter for thankfulness that no more lives were lost or property burned.

I beg you to present my sincere thanks to the commanders of the United States steamers Ashuelot and Yantic, and through them to the officers and crews, for the willing aid rendered by landing detachments as soon as you requested it. The presence of this trained body of armed men had, I cannot doubt, a powerful effect in restraining the mob from attempting any further violence.

I cannot now answer fully your request for directions as to the course to be taken in regard to the losses incurred by our countrymen. The question of the responsibility for the riot is rather a complicated one, and its answer demands more knowledge on one or two points than I now possess. I think, however, that it is safe to say that if the whole foreign community at the port of Shanghai had been under one council, no trouble would have arisen in respect to the arrangement of this dispute about the graves. However that may be, I wish you would give me some particulars of the various claims for damages suffered by American citizens.

I am, sir, &c.,