Dear Sm,—I am requested, by an unanimous vote of the American residents here, to write to you on their behalf, to Tequest you to obtain a steamer, a gunboat if "possible, to come to Tungchow Thursday morning of this week, to remove us from this place. Our reasons for this -action I will give below.
We have credible grounds for believing that official communications were received here, some time since, from Tseng-kwo-fan, and from the governor of this province, calling upon the authorities and the people to make arrangements for massacring foreigners generally, some time this antirun, It is believed, here, that the Chi-hsien and the principal military officer, who were summoned to the provincial capital some weeks ago, went for the express purpose of being instructed as to what they should do with us, and as to the preparations they should make for defending this city in ease of war. The Chi-hsien came back Chi-nan-foo last week, went on to Chefoo immediately to communicate with the Tao-tai, and has returned to Tungchow. The chief nalitary mandarin of this and it is said that he is bringing two sity is expected here throe days, hence, thousand soldiers with him. Some reports State that, in the event of a defeat of the Chinese in Tientsin, they will take their Fevenye on us here; others that they will hold us as hostages, We hear that a very large military force is being collected in Chi-nan-foo. There is a great deal of excitement here again; and, since the return of the Chi-hsien, the prin= cipal men of the city are having frequent secret conferences with the officers. We have learned, from independent sources, that the people are divided, some of them opposing any movement against us and some of them favouring it. The people generally expect that an attack will be made upon us on the fifteenth of this present Chinese month; and we have received intelligence through our native Christians at Dai-yang and Ping-tu, confirming these reports. The Chinese connected with us are urged, by their friends, to get away from us by all means before the fifteenth; and there is reason to anticipate that they may be obliged to do so, in order to save their lives, if we remain here longer.
Itis very probable that it will be impossible for us to leave Tungchow if we delay long. We think that, even now, we would find difficulty in getting away by the ordinary means of travel. inflicted on the Chifu, the Chihsien and on General Chen-kwo-jul.
But before entering further into the details of the charges which weigh on each of these persons, and in order to set clean forth the odium and the perfidy of their conduct, it is necessary to point out, at the outset, that the enquiry made by the Viceroy Tseng-kwo-fan, clearly establishes First, the falsity of the acts of which the people accused foreigners in general, and the Catholics in particular.
Second, that the mandarins and the literati committed the wrong of spreading these calumnies, instead of opposing to them, from the first, a formal deni Third, that there did not exist at, Tientsin, in any one of the archives of the Tri burials, a single formal plaint against sorcerers or kidnappers.
It is useless to retrace the terrible scenes which took place at Tientsin on the lst June—scenes in which the Consul of France, his Chanedlor, his guests, the Mi sionaries and the Sisters of Charity, as well as unfortunate merchants, both French and T might refer to other rumours if I had Ri time and it were necessary.
Russian, int a cruel and barbarous death, part played by each of the three accused, tis necessary only to set forth, clearly, the It is with great reluctance that we have determined to send you this communica-'The Chift, named Chen-kwang-tsao tion, but under the circumstances we think strong in the protection which he enjoyed the risk too great to remain longer. from Tseng-kwo-fan, did not try, from the Our plan is to leave our houses in the care moment of his entry'on office, three months of the officers. We would be glad to have ago, to hide the surprise which he felt you come to act as our official ropresenta~ at the scrupulous manner in which the tive, in communicating with them. We will Treaties had been respected at Tientsin, be ready to leave early on Thursday. If This respect for the Treaties, was, accord-no gunboat or steamer can be obtained, we ing to him, a cowardice, and was sustained Fould be greatly obliged if Mr. Myers will cessors. torical.) Soon only through the pusillanimity of his predefulfil the promise he has already so kindly made, to come for us in his boat. Perhaps these agavessive speeches did not suit ice for two boats would be required. 'There are his hostility, and from words he passed to here five gentlemen, five ladies, and eight children, and we would like to' take with acts, getting up a diabolical conspiracy. By the help of a tyrannical pressure exercise us a few Chinese. Ifa steamer cannot on weak and superstitious, minds, he sue-come for upon Thursday, please communiceeded in creating an excitement among cate with us at the earliest moment, by the people. His object was to get up an special post. accusation of sorcery, which, skilfully I am, Sir, on behalf of the American managed, would excite' the people—eredulresidents at Tungchow, Yours very truly, Jouy L. Nevies,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.