the greatest barbarity. Not a blow was struck by the British; and in return for all the ill-treatment they received, believing their lives would be taken with the same atrocity as had been displayed at Canton so recently, they merely endeavoured, by entreaty and remonstrance, to soften the hearts of their assailants. One man several times, armed with a sword, attempted to drag Mr. Lockhart down, threatening to cut off his head; but, fortunately, Mr. Lockhart struggled, and kept his feet.

When they had been completely crippled, and disabled from offering, if they had desired, the slightest resistance, they were plundered of watches, spectacles, and whatever they had about them, including part of their clothes; and when nothing more was to be obtained, the junk men consulted whether they should kill them on the spot, or take them to the grain junks on the other side of the city, and there hold them prisoners for a large ransom.

As Mr. Medhurst and Mr. Lockhart understood their language, all this was clearly heard.

The majority appeared to decide on taking them to the grain junks, and when on their way, and near to the city, some of the Che-heen's men mingled with them; and when the party arrived at a bridge leading to the city gate, a difference of opinion existing among the grain junk men whether their prisoners should be taken through the city, or round on the outside, the latter, aided by the police runners, and surrounded by a number of peaceable citizens, managed to escape to the other side, and so entered the city. They were taken through the streets, covered with blood, their clothes rent, and their bodies covered with contusions. They were seen in this pitiable state by thousands of the welldisposed inhabitants, who could not help expressing sympathy and sorrow for those who had suffered such unprovoked violence.

On arriving at the Che-heen's, that officer received them with civility, promised immediately to have the guilty parties apprehended, and the stolen property restored; and after they had somewhat recovered, he sent them to their boat, and on to Shanghae, with an escort, where they arrived, and laid their complaint before me, with all the evidence of the murderous nature of the attack.

After careful examination, it is quite certain that the only shadow of provocation for any angry feeling was a slight scratch on the face, received from the end of Mr. Lockhart's stick, who with his back to the crowd, in stretching out his arms trying thus peaceably to prevent the crowd of junk men, who were pressing forward and hustling him, from injuring his more aged companion in front, inadvertently grazed the cheek of a sailor.

But the party who attacked were not even the same men, and nothing can be more certain than the fact that these ruffians, without any plea or pretext whatever, determined to fall upon the defenceless foreigners for the purpose of either plundering or murdering them, or both.

Before the officers returned to Tsing-poo on the 9th instant, I saw his Excellency the Taoutae, and bringing before him the enormity of the crime committed, and the certain insecurity to British life that must result, if so grievous an outrage, seen by thousands, were allowed to pass without full and immediate redress, I urged the necessity of the most prompt and vigorous measures being taken to seize a few of the principal offenders without delay, that they might be brought here to be identified, and afterwards punished according to law.

It is now twelve days since the outrage was committed, and not one of these criminals have been seized.

Perceiving that redress was not afforded, that all my remonstrances failed in procuring the seizure of the offenders, I called upon his Excellency the Taoutae on the 13th instant (the 5th day after the occurrence), pointed out to him that delay, under such circumstances, could only be looked upon as a denial of justice, and was not only calculated to exercise the most disastrous influence upon our relations at this port, but directly to compromise both life and property. Finding that really nothing had, up to that time, been effected, I reluctantly notified the necessity I was under of stopping the payment of all duties on British ships, and the sailing of the grain junks, until ten of the chief offenders had been seized and brought down to Shanghae.

His Excellency the Taoutae has pleaded his inability to comply with my requests within any definite or reasonable period. But this ple of inability,

becomes, in fact, a plea of irresponsibility for any injury or outrage that may be offered a British subject, and were it once allowed, would invalidate the Treaty. I, therefore, in accordance with the 4th Clause of the American Treaty, to the privileges of which we are entitled, address myself direct to your Excellency and claim that redress at your hands, which cannot be obtained from the local authorities.

It will be very evident to your Excellency, that without the efficient protection of the Chinese authorities, no foreigners can enjoy that security for life and property, and freedom from molestation, solemnly guaranteed by the Emperor of China to all British subjects within his dominions, by the Treaty of Nanking, not less clear is it that when criminals who put life and property in peril by brutal outrage, as in this instance, in open day and the vicinity of a populous city, are not promptly seized and punished, there is in fact no protection, and the most important provisions of the Treaty are violated.

It is impossible that Her Britannic Majesty should permit the lives of her subjects, wherever they are permitted by Treaty to reside, to be thus perilled, without protection or redress being offered by the Chinese authorities, and to avert the consequences of a continued denial of justice at this port, I have to request that your Excellency will be pleased, without delay, to appoint and dispatch a delegate of rank, authorized to institute the necessary inquiries on the spot, and to take the most rigorous and effective measures at once to seize the ringleaders in this murderous outrage.

It is of course my duty to report the whole of the circumstances to Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, and request his Excellency's instructions, but as considerable time must elapse before these can be received, or any steps can be taken here, in consequence of communication with the Imperial Commissioner at Canton, I have deemed it imperative to prevent, if possible, the bad effects of any further delay, by sending this statement to the chief authority of the Province.

Her Majesty's Vice-Consul Robertson, second officer at this port, is the bearer of this statement to your Excellency, to whom he is directed to deliver it in person, and he is accompanied by the interpreter Parkes, that he may afford any further information your Excellency may desire. He is fully cognizant of all the circumstances. For the better attainment of this object, I also send the whole of the correspondence between his Excellency the Taoutae and myself, and I trust that your Excellency will see the absolute necessity for quickly complying with my request, that a great wrong in the violation of our Treaty Rights may be redressed, and the great scheme of commercial intercourse, and the maintenance of friendly relations, between the two countries ensured.

Her Majesty's Vice-Consul will wait with the ship of war, that he may bring me back information of the departure of the officer I have requested might be sent, and your Excellency's answer to this important statement.

Sir,

Inclosure 4 in No. 54.

Consul Alcock to Commander Pitman.

Shanghae, March 19, 1848.

SIX days have now elapsed since I notified to his Excellency the Taoutae my determination to stop the payment of duties on British ships, and the sailing of the fleet of Government grain junks now in the river (amounting to more than a thousand in number), and further to adopt whatever means might be in my power to compel prompt redress for the grievous outrage offered to British subjects six days previous to such notification. Nevertheless the chief offenders, demanded on the 9th instant, the day after the attack took place, have not yet been seized.

The Taoutae, who has been with me this morning, with a view to induce me to take off the embargo on the grain junks, gives me no reasonable ground to hope that the criminals will shortly or certainly be seized. On the contrary, if any credence is to be attached to the statements of the local authorities, they have been allowed to escape from Tsing-poo, necessitating, I fear, both a

long and doubtful pursuit; whether effective measures have even now been taken to insure their ultimate apprehension is at the best uncertain, and yet I have abundant evidence that the obstructive measures adopted, have greatly alarmed the Taoutae, and that he at last sees and feels Her Majesty's Consul has, at this moment, both the power and the will to involve him in the most. serious difficulties.

There is a very general impression among the Chinese, that in the first instance the chief parties implicated, or a few of them might have been seizedwhatever difficulty may now be experienced is to be attributed to the dilatory proceedings of all the local authorities, immediately after the occurrence of the outrage. Having maturely weighed all the circumstances, and the unsatisfactory aspect of the negotiations, I am satisfied the time has now come to advance a step further, and carry the claim for redress to Nanking, where the GovernorGeneral of this Province resides. It has been found impossible by any coercive but pacific measures, to obtain justice here, and in such cases it has been provided by the 4th clause of the French and American Treaties, that the Consul, shall, if he see fit, communicate with the superior authority of the Province.

Such a step, therefore, is sanctioned by Treaty, and it is further calculated, I conceive, to afford a lesson of salutary influence hereafter to the local authorities of this port, by showing them that unredressed injury to British subjects residing within their jurisdiction, may at any time be carried before the superior authority of the Province, in a manner so unacceptable by the presence of a ship of war, as seriously to compromise their position with their own Government.

There cannot be the slightest doubt that, but for the fortuitous circumstance that a large fleet of grain junks laden for Pekin, and ready to be dispatched by sea, was in the river-an event that has never happened before, and the chance which brought on the instant, as it were, two of Her Majesty's ships into the port, to support the demands of the Consul, these, however pressing, would up to the present moment have received little attention. When it is further considered, that with these unusual advantages, it has been found impossible either to obtain redress, or any satisfactory guarantee that it will be afforded even after longer delay, it must be evident that a stronger measure still is required to attain that end, and one I repeat that will if possible leave behind it a strong and permanent impression of the immediate danger to the local authorities of any conduct calculated so seriously to compromise our best interests, and our security at Shanghae.

It only remains for me, therefore, to beg that you will be pleased to afford passages in one of Her Majesty's ships to Nanking, to Brooke Robertson, Esq., Her Majesty's Vice-Consul, and H. Parkes, Esq., the officiating Interpreter, together with a Chinese Clerk and two official messengers.

The Vice-Consul will be the bearer of an official communication to the Governor-General, detailing all the facts, and demanding redress. As the Taoutae has, I conceive, wholly failed in the discharge of this part of his duty, I shall request that an officer of rank be sent down to take more effective measures, and it appears to me desirable that a discretionary power should be left with the commanding officer of Her Majesty's ship in communication with the Vice-Consul, to defer his return for a period not exceeding six days, in in order that Mr. Robertson may have the opportunity of thus enforcing my request, that an officer of rank shall be dispatched befor the ship leaves.

The Vice-Consul's instructions are to deliver the official communication of which he is the bearer, to the Governor-General in person, and to him alone. If the Governor-General refuse to afford the opportunity of doing so, the Vice-Consul will report the same to the commanding officer, and the ship should, in that case, return without delay. I have, &c.

(Signed)

RUTHERFORD ALCOCK.

T

Inclosure 5 in No. 54.

Commander Pitman to Consul Alcock.

Shanghae, March 19, 1848.

Sir, IN reply to your letter of this day's date, I beg leave to acquaint you that I have placed Her Majesty's sloop "Espiègle" at your disposal, and that she will be ready to sail at daylight to-morrow morning. I have ordered a passage for B. Robertson, Esq., Her Majesty's Vice-Consul, and others, who are the bearers of your official despatch to the Governor-General of this Province at Nanking, and I have directed Commander Campbell to carry out your wishes.

As a period of eleven days has elapsed since the violent outrage was committed on the English Missionaries, and his Excellency the Taoutae not having afforded that redress, which it appears he had quite in his power at first, but now may have some difficulty in doing, I consider under these circumstances you have adopted the only measures to obtain redress and a satisfactory answer; had such not been done I am fully persuaded that our best interests would have been compromised at this port.

Being quite aware of the great responsibility you have taken upon yourself, of which I bear a share, but in my own opinion the time has arrived to show the Chinese Government that English subjects cannot be so shamefully treated under the immediate eyes of their own officers, without bringing punishment upon the offenders; and I do hope that Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Government will see the necessity of the steps that have been adopted by you, in which I most cordially agree, and have tendered my best support.

It is calculated, I conceive, to teach the authorities here that such atrocious acts cannot go unpunished, and it will further tend, I trust, for the better protection of Her Majesty's subjects, and of the English flag from insult.

I have, &c.

Sir,

Inclosure 6 in No. 54.

Consul Alcock to Vice-Consul Robertson.

Shanghae, March 19, 1848. HER Majesty's ship "Espiègle" will leave the anchorage at daybreak to-morrow for Nanking, and I have to request that you will proceed with her to that city and be the bearer of the inclosed communication to the GovernorGeneral of the province.

On your arrival you will take the necessary steps to make known to his Excellency that you are instructed to deliver to him in person, a statement from Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at this port, and you will use your best endeavours, taking care to avoid anything that may compromise your own position or that of the Consul, to effect this the principal object of your mission.

You will see by the inclosed letter to the Senior Naval Officer, Captain Pitman, the instructions I have requested might be given to the Commander of Her Majesty's ship "Espiègle."

He will, no doubt, be authorized, in communication with you, to exercise a discretionary power to delay his return for a period of six days, should you conceive the presence of the "Espiègle" may expedite the departure of a delegate from the Governor-General, which I consider an object of great importance.

Whenever this be announced within the above period, you will, of course, signify to Captain Campbell that the return of his ship need not be further delayed. And should you see occasion to do so, in any interview with the Governor-General, you are authorized to intimate that the period of departure must, in some degree, be contingent upon that of a delegate for Shanghae. In my official letter to his Excellency, I have referred him to you should he desire

any further particulars respecting the recent outrage at Tsing-poo, and my communications with the Taoutae. The whole of the correspondence has been inclosed.

Mr. Parkes, a writer, and two official messengers, will be under your orders and accompany you, and should any unforeseen contingencies render communication with me desirable before your return, the messenger can be dispatched inland, I presume with safety, and should it appear necessary, means will be found of sending you an answer by the same short route.

HEEN, by Imperial Appointment, Military Intendant of Circuit of Soo-chow-foo, Sung-Keang-foo and Taetsang-chow, makes this communication. This morning, at about 8 o'clock, the Sub-prefect Chin, returned from Tsing-poo, having seized two grain junk sailors, ringleaders in the late affray, named Lew Juhfa, and Wang Juhshan, together with an iron spade and a rattan stick; accordingly on their arrival, I, the Taoutae, together with the Sub-prefect and Magistrate, summoned the vagabonds before us for interrogation. They confessed in their evidence, having struck and wounded the British subjects, and it is most evident and clear that they are the ringleaders, without a doubt. I, therefore, make this communication to you, the Honourable Consul, and beg that you will depute people to my office, in order that they may be clearly and truly identified and punished as the law directs. It will be fortunate if there is not the slightest delay.

A necessary communication.

Taoukwang, 28th year, 2nd month, 17th day. (21st March, 1848.)

Inclosure S in No. 54.

Consul Alcock to the Taoutae.

March 21, 1848.

I HAVE just received your communication which I have thoroughly understood, to the effect that two of the ringleaders of the grain junk sailors engaged in the late affray had been seized, and requesting me to depute people to your office in order that they might be truly identified, &c.

I, the Consul, will in person, accompanied by the three British subjects, proceed to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock to your honourable office, in order that they may be clearly identified.

I send this reply, wishing you joyful days.

21st March, 1848.

Inclosure 9 in No. 54,
Minute.

Minute of conference with his Excellency the Taoutae, held at the Taoutae's residence on the 22nd instant; present the Hae-fang and Che-heen; and accompanying Her Majesty's Consul, Captain Pitman, RN., F. Harvey, Esq., and Messrs. the Rev. W. H. Medhurst, Muirhead, and W. Lockhart.

THE Taoutae having in his note of the previous day acquainted the Consul that the Hae-fang had returned from Tsing-poo, bringing with him two of the ringleaders in the late outrage, who confessed to have been actively.