To the Eiditor of the Dear Sin,—Iam glad to learn, that the Taotai of Hankow has expressed his regret for the assault upon Mr. Seward and his party whilst visiting Woochang, and has given orders for the issue of proclamations prohibiting a recurrence of such insults to foreigners.
This is all very well as far_as it goes but I would not have either Mr. Seward or the public believe that this-reparation has been elicited by the: nationality, standing, or worth, of the gentleman concerned. The letter is as a hollow forimality, as are all such official utterances. A similar form was gone through once when I had the pleasure of being pelted and I fancy the archives of every Consu-Into in every port will be found full of such empty expressions of regret and ses of atonement. Nay, I would venture to bet that the proclamations, if ever issued at all, were but sparsely exposed, and as quickly removed, and that were' the same party to visit Woochang again without previous warning, they would be similarly treated.
Iam, dear Sir, Yours faithfully, Shanghai, 19th Dec., 1870.
£aw Reports,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.