To facilitate the object, I herewith send the "Coromandel," and request you will send her back when no longer required.

You will report your proceedings by every opportunity.

P.S.-Since writing the foregoing, I have received the accompanying copy of the despatch to Mr. Parkes, which you can return at your convenience.*

Sir,

Inclosure 11 in No. 1.

Consul Parkes to Sir J. Bowring.

Canton, October 11, 1856.

I HAVE just had the honour to receive your Excellency's despatch of yesterday, giving me instructions in the matter of the "Arrow" outrage.

I am glad to inform your Excellency that I have already had an opportunity of discussing the whole subject with Commodore Elliot, that officer having very considerately come up to Canton last evening in one of the steam passageboats, on finding that the depth of water in the river did not permit of the "Sybille "crossing the second bar.

Commodore Elliot fully concurs, I believe, in the view I take of the case as it now stands, namely, that if any reparation be due for so gross an insult, it is only by active measures on our own part that such reparation can be obtained. To this simple position does the letter of the Imperial Commissioner which I yesterday forwarded to your Excellency, reduce the question. It conveys, as your Excellency will doubtless observe, not only a distinct denial of redress, but also an equally clear refusal to enter into any further consideration of the matter through the usual process of negotiation. It is not only a denial of justice in this particular case, but it constitutes a rule which, unless the Imperial Commissioner finds it inconvenient to persist in it, he will follow on any similar occasion in future. It is, in effect, a declaration on his part that he will respect neither British flag nor British register, whenever any Chinese states to him that a vessel so provided is not British-owned. Your Excellency will doubtless note upon whose information he declares the lorcha to be owned by a wholly different party to the person named in the register, viz., one of the crew, who may possibly not be correctly informed on the point of the real ownership, and who was lying bound with thongs before his interested inquisitors at the time he made his statement.

With the allegations brought against Le-ming-tae, alias Leang-ming-tae, it appears to me we have little to do. He may have committed the crimes imputed to him, and Hwang-leen-kae may have been as quick as he states himself to have been in discerning him on board the "Arrow." That he should have avowed his crime, and told (as stated by the Imperial Commissioner) the story to Woo-a-jen, a stranger to him, it would seem, only two days after he shipped on board the lorcha, scems improbable; but that also is beside the main question, which is, are British ships to be subject, whenever information happens to be laid against any of the men on board, to be boarded by the Chinese military without any communication being made to the Consul, to have their national flag hauled down, and their crews carried away as prisoners? And is the Imperial Commissioner to be at liberty to declare a vessel to be Chineseowned, in the face of an assurance given by the British Consul of her British nationality, and of his own admission of her being in possession of foreign papers? In this case he evidently considers that this presumption excuses him from affording any further explanation, not to say apology, in respect to the insult and outrage that might otherwise have been considered as inadvertently committed.

The Imperial Commissioner does not impeach the character or occupation of the "Arrow," and not only has no charge to bring against the vessel he has

* Inclosure 3 in No. 1.

thus subjected to violence, but himself bears testimony (through the mouth of his witness Woo-a-jin), to the regularity of the trade in which she is engaged. I should here mention that the "Arrow" is well known as a trader to the legal ports. She entered from Macao with rice on the 3rd instant, reported her arrival at the Consulate, and deposited her papers, which have remained to this time in my possession. She was to have left for Hong-kong on the 8th instant, the day on which her crew were seized.

I have only to add, with all due submission, the opinion I entertain that the inviolability of the British flag may in this case be satisfactorily and easily vindicated by reprisals on one or more of the war-boats of the Chinese force by which the violence was committed, and which are still at anchor in the river, without danger or prejudice, I would rather say with benefit, to our general interests.

I beg to inclose copies of the depositions of Thomas Kennedy and John Leach, and of the statement of Chin-a-shing, as confirmed by Leang-a-yung, giving full particulars of the manner in which the lorcha was boarded by the Mandarins.

THOMAS KENNEDY, aged 21years, a native of Belfast, duly sworn.

states:

Between 8 A.M. and 8 A.M. yesterday morning, 8th October, I was on board the lorcha "Dart," which was at anchor about 150 yards below the Dutch Folly, my own vessel the "Arrow," was lying about 50 yards a-head of the "Dart" nearer the Dutch Folly within easy hailing distance, also at anchor. I was sitting on the deck of the "Dart," when I saw two Chinese boats, each having Mandarins on board in uniform, and about twenty seamen besides the officers; in all, there might be about sixty men. Some of the officers had official caps, with feather tails to their caps; I did not take any notice at the moment whether they were armed. A little after I saw the boats pass, the Captain of the "Chusan" lorcha, who was also on board the " Dart," remarked to me that these Mandarin boats were lying alongside my lorcha, I answered they are probably sending some passengers to Hong Kong. As we were looking on, I saw one of the Mandarin seamen, who had a badge on his breast and another on his back, and a uniform cap on his head, haul down the English ensign from the mizen gaff. I immediately afterwards saw the Blue Peter, which was flying at the foremast head, hauled down, but could not see the man that did so, because the view was interrupted at the moment. I then got on board a sampan with the Captains of the "Dart" and "Chusan," and pulled alongside the "Arrow;" it was about slack water. By the time I reached the " Arrow," I found that all my crew had been taken out, and were in the Mandarin boats alongside, bound by their elbows being tied behind their backs. I noticed that the old man who acted as a sort of priest on board was bound with a thicker rope and more completely secured; he was also separated entirely from the others. I asked my boy when I went on board, who hauled the ensign down; he said it was one of the Mandarin Chinamen. I asked particularly if it was one of my men, and he said again it was the Mandarin's people. Immediately after I came on board they shoved off. I tried to ask what was the occasion of this conduct, but was unable to understand the reply; I asked why the flag was hauled down, and could get no satisfactory answer. I hoisted the flag again. Nothing was taken from the ship; but as I passed aft to hoist the flag, they called out to me "yu na ma" and "vrae tae." I turned round and asked why they made use of such language, and the officers shook their hands at the seamen and made them keep quiet. They wished to take all the men away, but I asked them to leave two men to take charge of the

vessel, and they did so. I understand a little Chinese, and asked them myself to leave two men; they then went away.

(Signed)

THOMAS KENNEDY.

Sworn before me, at the British Consulate, Canton, this 9th day of October, 1856.

(Signed)

CHARLES A. WINCHESTER,

Vice-Consul.

JOHN LEACH, aged 21, native of London, duly sworn, states-

I was on board my own vessel the "Dart," lying about 150 yards below the Dutch Folly, and about 50 yards below the "Arrow." Between 8 and 9 yesterday morning the masters of the "Chusan" and "Arrow" lorchas were on board breakfasting with me. We three were sitting aft together, when I saw two Mandarin boats pass up the river, each having some thirty men on board, seamen and Mandarins. The seamen had on badges in front and behind, and the officers had long gowns and caps. Two of the Mandarin officers had knives by their sides. I saw the two boats go alongside the "Arrow;" afterwards I saw the English ensign hauled down by one of the Mandarin soldiers, with a badge in front and another behind. I saw the Blue Peter hauled down, but could not discern who hauled it down. I went on board the "Arrow" with my two friends, and when we got alongside, I found the crew of the "Arrow" in the Mandarin boats alongside, bound; one, in particular, more securely bound than the others. This man was in a place by himself.

When we went on board, I heard the captain ask his boy in Chinese, who hauled the flag down. I understand enough Chinese to know that the answer was, the Mandarin's people. Afterwards, I saw that they left two men of the crew, who were going over the ship's side into the boats. This was at the captain's request.

I have heard the deposition of Thomas Kennedy read over to me, and fully confirm the statements contained in it.

(Signed) JOHN LEACH. Sworn before me, at the British Consulate, Canton, this 9th day of October, 1856.

(Signed)

CHARLES A. WINCHESTER,

Vice-Consul.

The examination of CHIN-A-SING, one of the crew of the lorcha "Arrow," before Mr. Consul Parkes at Canton, October 9, 1856.

Early on the morning of the 8th October three or four Chinese warboats called "towmangs" left their anchorage at the Dutch Folly, and dropped down the river, passing close to our lorcha the "Arrow." One of them I saw come to an anchor not far below us, and she immediately sent away two pulling boats which pulled up to the lorcha and boarded us. There might have been eighteen or twenty men in each boat; they were all dressed in uniform-a few only were armed; two of them, I noticed, had swords. There was one Mandarin in one boat and three Mandarins in the other. The first-named Mandarin wore a crystal button and a feather on his cap, the others opaque white buttons; at least I can speak with certainty to two of them being thus decorated; and one of the latter also wore a feather.

They all had personal attendants with them, who held cotton umbrellas over them to screen them from the sun. All four Mandarins boarded the lorcha, and were followed by their men, and another person who pointed out to the Mandarins an old man, one of our crew who was known among us both by the surname Le and the surname Leang. The Mandarins ordered their men to seize and bind this old man, and then addressing themselves to the crew, told us to be quiet as they did not wish to hurt us. Immediately afterwards, however, they said they should require us to go with them, and we were ordered into the boats. At the same time that this order was given, I heard the Mandarin, who wore the crystal button, cry out, "This is not a foreign

C

lorcha, for there is no foreigner in command; haul down her ensign." Several of us assured the Mandarin that we had an European captain. I saw one of the soldiers, in obedience to the command of the Mandarin, haul down the ensign, which was flying at the time on the mizen-mast, and which he flung on the deck without unreefing it from the halyards. As the crew were being passed into the boat, our captain came on board; I heard him demand of the officers what they were doing to his vessel, and I heard him cry out, "Who hauled down the flag?" Some of us replied, "The Mandarins;" on which he ran aft and hoisted it again. The Mandarins said they did not believe he was the captain, and immediately went into their boats and pushed off, taking with them eleven of our crew, besides the old man Le, and leaving only myself and Leang-a-yung on board. Old Le looked much alarmed. We heard it then stated for the first time that he was the father of Le-a-kuer a pirate.

Before me,

LEANG-A-YUNG, on being examined by the Consul, deposed to the same facts as Chin-a-shing. He distinctly saw the flag hauled down by one of the soldiers. He and another man were busily engaged in a sampan unmooring the lorcha at the moment when the Mandarins boarded.

Sir,

Inclosure 13 in No. 1.

Sir J. Bowring to Consul Parkes.

Hong Kong, October 13, 1856. I HAVE your despatch dated 11th instant. Your views have been anticipated by his Excellency the naval Commander-in-chief and myself, as you will have seen by my communication of the same date.

I wait with some anxiety to hear the result of the "Coromandel's" visit. I find, on inquiry at the Harbour-master's, that the register of the "Arrow" has not been regularly presented at his office according to the regulations.

I have, &c.

I HAVE your despatches dated 9th and 10th, with their inclosures, on the subject of the arrest of sundry Chinamen on board a vessel called the "Arrow," bearing the British flag, and commanded by a subject of Her Majesty.

The question presents two important inquiries; 1st, the rights of the vessel in question, and 2nd, the conduct of the Chinese authorities.

It appears, on examination, that the "Arrow" had no right to hoist the British flag; the licence to do so expired on the 27th of September, from which period she has not been entitled to protection. You will send back the register to be delivered to the Colonial Office.

But the Chinese had no knowledge of the expiry of the licence, nor do they profess that they had any other ground for interference than the supposition

that the owner is not a British subject; that, however, is a question for this Government, who granted the register, and it is clear that the Chinese authorities have violated the 9th Article of the Supplementary Treaty, which requires that all Chinese malfaisants in British ships shall be claimed through the British authorities.

You will inform the Imperial Commissioner that I require an apology for what has taken place, and an assurance that the British flag shall, in future, be respected; that forty-eight hours are allowed for this communication, which being passed, you are instructed to call on the naval authorities to assist you in enforcing redress.

You will add, that on any sufficient evidence being given that British ships or British subjects have been engaged in piratical practices, they will be proceeded against without hesitation; and that, on application to the proper authority, Chinese offenders will not be harboured on board British vessels; but that all proceedings must take place according to the conditions of the Treaty.

If these representations fail, the senior naval officer will be authorized to seize and keep in his possession one of the Imperial junks, which he will hold until redress be obtained, or further instructions be received from his Excellency the Naval Commander-in-chief.

This letter has been communicated to his Excellency Sir Michael Seymour, who will give the needful instructions to the Senior Naval Officer.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

JOHN BOWRING.

Inclosure 15 in No. 1.

Consul Parkes to Sir J. Bowring.

Canton, October 12, 1856.

I HAVE the honour to inclose translation of the representation I addressed the Imperial Commissioner this morning, in conformity with the instructions contained in your Excellency's despatch of yesterday.

I trust that I read these instructions aright in believing them to mean that I am to require, in writing, from the Imperial Commissioner an apology for what has occurred, and an assurance of respect for the British flag in future, in addition to the demand made in my letter to the Imperial Commissioner of the Sth instant (forming inclosure in my despatch of that date) for the restoration of matters to their original position, in the same public manner in which they had been disturbed, and for the due observance of the Treaty in respect to the mode in which any of the "Arrow's" crew, charged with offences against the laws, are to be surrendered to the Chinese Government. Being instructed by your Excellency to inform the Imperial Commissioner that all proceedings of this nature "must take place according to the conditions of the Treaty," I conclude that it is your Excellency's intention to have these conditions strictly complied with in the present case; and this, I respectfully submit, can only be done by all the men who were carried away from the lorcha on the 8th instant being again returned by the anthorities to their vessel, and by the formal delivery, through the British Consul, of those of their number who are claimed by the Chinese authorities. It was because my demand in reference to these two points had not been complied with, that I refused to receive a part only of the crew when sent to me on the 10th instant by the Imperial Commissioner, twelve men having been carried off, and only nine returned, and publicity being, in the latter case, as much avoided as it was courted on the occasion of their capture. None of the men have yet been sent on board the lorcha, and I therefore presume that they still remain in the charge of the authorities.

I also forward, as directed by your Excellency, the register of the "Arrow." When this document was deposited with me on the 3rd instant, the year for which it was granted had expired five days previously; but if the statement of the master is to be believed, it was because the lorcha was then at sea, and has