Viscount Palmerston directs me to state to you, in reply, that he deeply laments the melancholy event to which you call his attention, but that he does not see how that event could have been prevented by the presence of a steam vessel off the factories at Canton.

As the communications between Sir John Davis and the Chinese Government on this matter were still going on at the date of the last advices received from China, Viscount Palmerston can say nothing to you as to the course which Her Majesty's Government may deem it advisable to adopt to prevent the recurrence of the like disaster; but his Lordship cannot refrain from expressing to you his regret that when the British residents at Canton were, as appears by a communication addressed to him by them, fully aware that considerable danger of insult and attack would be incurred by any British subjects who might enter Chinese villages, the leading members of the mercantile body did not use their natural influence with the young men attached to their establishments to induce them to desist at least, for a time-from excursions which were known to be attended with so much personal risk.

CORRESPONDENCE

RESPECTING

INSULTS IN CHINA.

Presented to the House of Commons by Command of Her Majesty, 1857.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY HARRISON AND SONS.

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51

June
June

17,

51

22,

52

19. Sir J. Davis to the Earl of Aberdeen Two Inclosures.

20. Viscount Palmerston to Sir J. Davis .. 21. Sir J. Davis to the Earl of Aberdeen 22. Sir J. Davis to the Earl of Aberdeen Six Inclosures.

23. Viscount Palmerston to Sir J. Davis 24. Sir J. Davis to the Earl of Aberdeen Two Inclosures.

25. Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston One Inclosure.

26. Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston Three Inclosures.

27. Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston
One Inclosure.

28. Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston
Four Inclosures.
29. Viscount Palmerston to Sir J. Davis
30. Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston
Four Inclosures.

31. Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston
Two Inclosures.

32. Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston Two Inclosures.

33. Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston . One Inclosure.

34. Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston Three Inclosures.

35. Viscount Palmerston to Sir J. Davis 36. Viscount Palmerston to Sir J. Davis 37. Viscount Palmerston to Sir J. Davis 38. Viscount Palmerston to Sir J. Davis 39. Sir J. Davis to Viscount Palmerston

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