affair, went to Sinshi, taking with them a copy of the foreign treaties to show to the submagistrate; but upon reaching his office were denied access to him by the underlings, and threatened if they did not go back to Hangchau, that they and all those professing Christianity should be arrested and punished. On a like occasion of abuse and ill treatment at Hangchau last year, representations were made by you and the British consul, in consequence of which the magistrates there arrested and punished the guilty parties, and issued a proclamation, dated November 19, 1865, forbidding a recurrence of the offence under penalty of punishment. Since then no disturbance has occurred there. I therefore earnestly request that you will speedily take such measures as may seem in your judgment most expedient, for the redress of the grievances complained of, and to prevent their recurrence. I am, sir, very respectfully, yours, E. C. LORD, Esq., United States Vice-Consul. D. B. MCCARTEE. On receiving the above petition, the consul complained to the high Chinese officials, which was responded to favorably. But although no further violence has been offered to the catechist at Sinshi, the effect of the former interference has not passed away; nor has the local officer done anything to remove the prejudice against us which his former conduct excited. The reply to our consul stated that the persons complained of were not guilty of the offences charged against them, yet there is good evidence that no proper investigation of the matter has ever been made by the local authorities, as neither the assistant nor any others, except perhaps those who committed the outrage, were ever called as witnesses. So palpable has been their neglect, that I am constrained to believe that the original offence was not only connived at, but was instigated by them. Within a month after its settlement, I sent an assistant to Shihmun, in the prefecture of Kiahing, distant from Sinshi about 10 English miles, for the purpose of renting a house while he lived there, and distribute books. The day after his arrival he succeeded in negotiating for and occupying a house; but that evening the constable of that part waited on him to inform him that the district magistrate wished to see him. The assistant said that he would be glad to accompany him (the constable) to the magistrate's office, but the man put him off for that evening, agreeing to go with him the next day, but the next morning he was not to be found. The underlings from the office were however trying to frighten the landlord. The assistant went with the constable in the afternoon to the magistrate's office, but on entering the outer court, he suddenly disappeared through a side door. After hesitating a moment the assistant went in and made himself known to the principal clerk, and stated that he had been sent for by the magistrate, and had come to inform him that his business in the city was distributing Christian books. On being asked why he dared to distribute such books, he replied that the religion of Jesus had been authorized by the Emperor, and produced a copy of the American treaty as proof. The clerk said that religion must not be taught in the city; they did not wish to see the treaty, and he must leave the city instantly, and showed him out of the office. He then went with a friend into a tea-shop to consult what was best to do. Presently the landlord came in great fiight, bringing the advance money paid for renting his house, and begged the assistant to leave it at once, for otherwise he would be ruined, as the police runners were disposed to come down on him for renting to one who distributed Christian books. He was consequently obliged to give up the house and quit the town. Sincerely desirous of propagating the gospel without appealing to consular protection, I had determined not to bring this matter up, but later outrages of a more serious nature have induced further representations to the American minister, and this statement is respectfully submitted for his information. D. D. GREEN. Translation of the edict issued by the high officers of Fuhkien and Chehkiang for circulation ̧ through those provinces, July, 1866. Tso, governor general, and a marquis by imperial patent, issues these general injunctions: To fast, no one can call an evil plan; And he who lauds Budh is not a bad man; But rascals who merely make a feint of fasting Only thereby to stir up simple fools to rising Do so to form a band, and gather round them troops, To violate the laws with high audacity, Forsake their kindred, and ruin all perversely. Vile doctrines now have flowed across the sea, Which drench and soak this province through and through. I plainly bid you all, both sires and squires, To warn your kindred and your neighbors curb, NOTE.-The original is written in lines of six characters each, in order to enable the people more easily to remember the substance of the edict. Printed copies were posted on the walls of Ningpo, Hangchau, and Kinhwa, in the province of Chehkiang, and probably also of other cities. The district magistrate, at the latter place, said it referred to Christianity, and based official action upon it in the case of Chang Lan-tien. Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Lord. LEGATION OF THE UNITEd States, SIR: I have received your despatch No. 18, of March 16, 1867, with its enclosures, relating to recent exhibitions of popular and official dislike to foreigners and their religion in the province of Chehkiang; and expressing your own belief that, as this anti-foreign spirit is increasing rather than diminishing, "unless it is held in check with a strong hand, it is likely to make a deal of trouble." The " 'missionary question," as it is compendiously termed, no doubt contains the germ of much trouble and revolution to this country, and its success will be complete when the entire fabric of Chinese society and government has been changed and reconstructed. I suppose, too, that none of the foreigners who are zealously engaged in advancing the work of evangelizing the Chinese, are aiming at anything short of this, whatever consequences may accompany the progress of the change. Nor do I wish to conceal this aim, for I believe that these changes will ultimately benefit the people of this land, and that they will themselves see, in their gradual development, that many blessings are springing up which more than compensate for whatever was good in the old order of things. It is an inestimable advantage, too, that this nation, while undergoing this renovation of its institutions by the introduction of pure morality and true science, has the example of western nations to follow or to shun, and need not go through their struggles in establishing free institutions, nor make their costly experiments when learning the best way. It can study the beneficial action of those institutions, and choose the most practical way of reaching it. While I shall gladly aid in this cause as I have opportunity, the particular point raised in your despatch is one that has already engaged my serious attention. You state that your purpose is not now to ask redress in the cases complained of, but to bring facts to my notice that may be of service by and by in dealing with similar ones. The question is, what kind of protection can American missionaries expect in their work in China? and this, in its political aspect, can at present only be settled by the stipulations respecting Christianity contained in the American and other treaties. These compacts are as precise on this subject as perhaps the nature of the case admits. A declaration in regard to the excellence of Christianity is taken as the premises, and then the article asserts "that persons teaching it or professing it shall alike be entitled to the protection of the Chinese authorities; nor shall any such, peaceably pursuing their calling, and not offending against the laws, be persecuted or interfered with." This provision of the British treaty is like those of the other treaties, and covers the whole ground of appeal to the Chinese government. I have furnished copies of the documents handed you by Mr. Knowlton to the foreign office, and stated, in my note accompanying them, that I had no jurisdiction in cases where natives were parties in lawsuits in Chinese courts, and have no desire to interfere in them; but I deemed it proper to inform the officers here that, in the present case of Chang Lan-tien, the authorities in Kinwha-fu had unnecessarily gone out of their way to defame and asperse the Christian religion, and apparently had decided the case against him on account of his having been a convert. I suggested that the edict of the governor-general was the stimulus to this course of conduct on the part of his subordinates, and alluded to the treaty stipulations. I have reason to believe that these provincial authorities will be admonished by their superiors, and a repetition of contumelious denunciation like the present be checked. I may mention, for your information, that there is said to be a discrepancy between the French and Chinese versions of the article quoted by Mr. Knowlton in his temperate and suitable reply to the magistrate at Kinwha; and that the French version, which, by the treaty, is made the authorized text, does not contain so much as the other; but I cannot specify the differences. In the progress of missionary labors, more and more opposition is likely to be exhibited on the part of the literati and officials; for they no doubt instinctively feel that the triumph of such doctrines as Christianity will materially weaken and imperil their standing and prescriptive influence. It is well that they cannot call in the aid of an organized body of priests to crush the growing cause; but the native converts will doubtless find that, whenever occasion prompts, both the gentry and rulers can find ways to harass and oppress them. Yet it is both undesirable and inexpedient that they should regard themselves as under a foreign protectorate; they would be aggrieved and disappointed to find, when they needed it, that it could not rescue them from their enemies. I do not know that such is the case among Protestant or American missions, to any extent, but the letter addressed to you by the missionaries at Ningpo seems to look to something of this kind; and it is not unlikely that some natives do join the Christian church merely to obtain the countenance of its teachers, and the powerful protection of foreigners. When a man earnestly believes the truth, it is to be hoped it will afford him consolation and reward adequate to his trials; but in his disputes with his own people he cannot look to the United States authorities for his remedy. Nor does it seem to me desirable for the missionaries to go to large outlays in the purchase or repair of buildings in the country; the cheapest buildings may prove sufficient for incipient labors until the people can begin to provide accommodations for themselves. I do not think that the supreme government of this country is particularly averse or suspicious of Protestant Christianity; but its present attitude may be owing rather to indifference than to approbation, and would change with a fuller understanding of the tenets of the Bible. The provincial authorities are much more under the influence of the local gentry, and to please them may think they can oppress native Christians with impunity. I do not, however, propose further to speculate on the future probabilities of this important cause, but rather to apprise you what are my views in relation to the protection of native converts, even when they suffer unjustly or for the truth's sake. My action must be confined to moral influence, and such requests for leniency and just treatment as circumstances may seem to require. While local oppression may render their condition very irksome for a time, I do not think there is any reason to apprehend the initiation of a settled purpose on the part of the imperial government to persecute them, such as took place in the reign of Tungching. I am, sir, your obedient servant, EDWARD C. LORD, Esq., United States Vice-Consul, Ningpo. ANSON BURLINGAME. Mr. Burlingame to the Members of the Foreign Office. To the Members of the Foreign Office: LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIRS: I have the honor to bring to your notice a despatch recently received from Mr. Lord, the United States vice-consul at Ningpo, in which he encloses several documents sent to him by the Rev. Mr. Knowlton, a missionary there. Among them is an edict issued as a circular order by the highest functionaries of Fuhkien and Chehkiang containing harsh and unjust aspersions against Christianity, which had been hung up in the streets. In consequence of this edict, one of his converts, named Chang Lan-tien, who had a lawsuit with a man named Kin Tien-yuen, had lost it, and the missionaries and converts had been unnecessarily involved in the affair. I have looked at these papers, and have only to observe that in the cases constantly coming before the courts in China, there will no doubt be many in which the professors of Christianity will be parties against their unbelieving countrymen; and I have no right to interfere in such cases in any way with the decision of his Majesty's authorities. However, when missionaries or their converts are interested in a case, for the rulers to go out of their way to publicly declare that Christianity is a base and barbarous religion, is entirely contrary to treaty stipulations and in the highest degree improper, and in the present instance, judging from the circumstances, was unjust. It is for these reasons that I have deemed it desirable to send copies of these documents for your information, and beg to avail myself of this opportunity to assure you of my high consideration. Your obedient servant, WANSIANG, PAUYUN, and others. ANSON BURLINGAME. Members of the Foreign Office to Mr. Burlingame. [Translation.] May 24, 1867, (Tungchi, 6th year, 4th moon, 21st day.) SIR: We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 16th instant, in which you refer to a circular or general edict, issued by the high functionaries of Fuhkien and Chehkiang, and send us copies of the papers relating to the lawsuit of Chang Lan-tien and Kin Tien-yuen. We have carefully read the documents, and in reply beg to observe, that as many evil-disposed people in those two provinces, and also in Sheusi and Kausuh, have lately been in the habit of collecting in large numbers under the pretence of worshipping, the local authorities have been obliged to exercise the greatest vigilance in searching them out and punishing the guilty. It is very probable, therefore, that this edict was posted up in order to warn ignorant and simple people against being led astray by such people; and as it does not mention American missionaries by name, it is more than likely that Mr. Knowlton quite misapprehended its object, and suspected where there was no ground. The lawsuit between Chang Lan-tien and Kin Tien-yuen has been settled by the authorities in Kiuhwa in a manner that appears to us just and legal; and the first order in court given by the prefect and district magistrate has nothing exceptionable in it, but the final judgment contains expressions that should not have been used, and which they employed without dué reflection.. We have already transmitted orders to the governor general of the provinces and to the governor of Chehkiang, to enjoin upon their subordinates of every grade to take the utmost heed not to use such expressions again in any of their official proceedings, lest the amity and good feeling (which should be maintained between natives and foreigners) be put in jeopardy. We have the honor, in sending this reply, to wish your excellency the enjoyment of increasing happiness. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 9th of February, No. 129, enclosing a copy of a note addressed to you by Sir Rutherford Alcock, upon the subject of the relative rank of United States naval commanders and the consular officers of foreign countries, and to state, in reply, that the matter has been referred to the Secretary of the Navy, with a request that he would take into consideration the expediency of adopting proper measures for the establishment of reciprocal courtesies between the respective grades of the two countries. I am, sir, your obedient servant, F. W. SEWARD, Acting Secretary. ANSON BURLINGAME, Esq., &c., &c., &c. No. 142 bis.] Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward. UNITED STATES LEGATION, Peking, June 19, 1867. SIR: I have the honor to forward herewith despatches Nos. 19, 20, 21, of Charles W. LeGendre, esq., our consul at Amoy, in relation to the American bark Rover, together with a letter of thanks from myself, in the name of my government, (A.) to Charles Carrol, esq., her Majesty's consul at Taiwan, Commander G. D. Broad, of her Majesty's ship Cormorant, with the officers and crew under him, for their prompt and courageous efforts to rescue and avenge the captain and crew of the American bark Rover. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. ANSON BURLINGAME. No. 19.] Mr. LeGendre to Mr. Seward. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SIR Referring to my despatch No. 17, I beg to state that I arrived at Foo-Chow-Foo on the 2d of April last. I immediately secured an interview with his excellency the viceroy of the Tohkien province, to whom I read the communication of Mr. McPhail, of Formosa, (enclosure No. 1 in my despatch to your honor No. 17,) at the same time respectfully calling his attention to articles XI and XIII of the treaty of Tientsin, (18th June, 1858,) and finally requesting him to order the civil and military authorities of Formosa to immediately rescue, if possible, such of the survivors of the Rover's crew that might yet remain in the hands of the aborigines, and to inflict just punishment, with the utmost rigor, on the perpetrators of the murder of our citizens. His excellency complied at once with my request. (Enclosure No. 1.) Having been detained in Taensai, I reached Taiwanfoo, with the United States steamer Ashuelot, Commander Febriger, on the 18th of April, when I wrote to the authorities of the island. (Enclosure No. 2.) In answer to my despatch, the following day I received joint communications from the Taotai, general, and prefect, the highest official of the island. (Enclosure No. 3.) I secured an interview with those officers, whom I visited jointly with Commander Febriger, on the 19th. We were received with the utmost cordiality and the greatest distinction; but the general, although promising to send a force to the seat of tragedy, declined to avail himself of the presence of our forces to effect a landing of his troops. He remarked with reason that, having the responsibility of the operation, he should conduct it with perfect independence of action. I observed that some of the unfortunate might then be yet in the hands of the aborigines, and that no time should be lost in rescuing them. To which the Taotai answered that he knew from certain and official source that all of the wrecked crew of the Rover had been murdered. I remarked to the Taotai and the general that, from my own experience of war operations, I would judge the landing of a force under cover of the Ashuelot's guns so safe that I would not hesitate one instant to land with the Chinese troops if they were only ordered to proceed at once to the seat of the tragedy. Captain Febriger offered them to tow the junks carrying the troops. To which the general said that his troops were not ready. I asked him when they would be ready, that Captain Febriger and myself might wait a few days. The general then very politely remarked that he would be happy to have. our company at any time, but that he desired to do whatever would have to be done in this case alone; that the Chinese forces were adequate to the task before them, and that, although much obliged to Captain Febriger and myself for our offers, he would respectfully decline accepting them. We then left, thanking those officers for their reception, but emphatically stating that the United States would insist upon the strict observance of the treaty. Just before we left the prefect wrote us that he had again called the attention of the Taotai and of the general upon the importance of immediately sending troops against the aborigines. In Takao I visited her Britannic Majesty's vice-consul, to whom showed a copy of his despatch (this copy left at Takao) to the Taotai of Formosa, in which he claims the Rover as an English vessel. He promised to rectify this error (of linguist) at an early date by writing to the Taotai a letter that would explain how it happened. The vice-consul kindly furnished me with a sketch of the bay where the Rover's crew were murdered, and which I immediately handed over to Captain Febriger. The vice-consul also told me that the Chinese authorities of Formosa had so far failed to take any steps towards rescuing the wrecked crew of the Rover and punishing the murderers of such as were reported to have lost their lives by the hands of the aborigines, (22d of April.) At Tang-Kaiow bay, the last Chinese village (24th) south of Takao, Captain Febriger and myself examined the chief of the settlement in his own house. The chief said that he had furnished Captain Broad, of her Britannic Majesty's sloop Cormorant, with pilots and interpreters when he went on the 26th of March to the seat of the occurrence; that we could have the same pilots, but not the interpreters; this interpreter had returned some time since, confirming the murder of all and every one of the crew of the bark Rover by the aborigines. He (the chief) said, also, that so far the Chinese authorities had not sent forward any force against the aborigines, or any one to inquire about the circumstances of the murder, (24th April.) Captain Febriger concluded to have the pilots offered to him, and we proceeded south; we came to an anchor opposite the scene of the murder without the least difficulty. A small junk that was at anchor was hauled in, and four of her crew were examined by Captain Febriger and myself. (Enclosure No. 4.) Evidently those men were not sincere, and belong to a class of Chinese living on the coast in various Chinese villages, from Takao to the extreme south of the island, and who furnish shot, powder, and guns to the aborigines, who pay them back in wood. Yet, as the Chinese government might have afterwards claimed them to be their spies, sent there in view of future military operations connected with the wreck of the Rover, I did not judge it advisable to arrest, but, in conjunction with Captain Febriger, I requested them to communicate with |