Yixin to James Burrill Angell, July 22, 1881

Mr. Prince Kung to Mr. Angell.

Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication in reply:

I have had the honor to receive your excellency’s dispatch of July 14, reporting cases of robberies from American missionaries at Teng Chow fu in Shantung. You give an estimate of the value of the stolen goods, and inclose a copy of the missionaries’ petition to the prefect, and you request me to order the local authorities to take rigorous steps for the arrest of the thieves, and to guard more vigilantly against such depredations in the future.

This office has sent a copy of your communication to the governor of Shantung, requesting him to instruct the local officers to inquire carefully into these cases of robbery, to arrest the robbers, and recover the stolen property.

Pending the receipt of a reply to our communication, when we will again write you, we send this dispatch for your excellency’s information.

His excellency James B. Angell, &c., &c., &c.