Foreig u Office, Jan. 13, 1869.
Sir,—With reference to my despatch of 30th'Decem Ler Inst, inclosing a copy of a letter which I had addressed to Mr. Burlingame on the 28th December, L now inclose for your information a copy of his reply, dated the Ist of this month, after he had taken leave of me on that day on proceeding to Pari In the conversation which had with -him on that occasion, he said that he bad called in order personally to express his satisfaction with my letter of 25th December, which, he was convinced, would have the happiest results. jo Chi requested Mr. Burlingame to bear in mind and to make known tothe Chinese Government that we should henceforward have a right to expect on its part the faithful fulfilment of treaty engagement, the prompt redress of grievances referred to the central Government, and friendly treatment of British subjects by the Chinese authorities. This, I said, was not only just and reasonable in itself, but aleo necessary, in or-Wer to enable hor Majesty's Goverament to give full effect to the policy which they desired to observe to wards China, particularly with reference to not having recourse to measures of force unless for the immediate protection of life and property.
Mr. Barlingaase agreed and promised to make a report of my observation to Peking.
You will observe in Mr. Burlingame's letter that he clearly understands that force may be at once employed to protect life and property immediately exposed.'
When, these being secured, the question at issue 4 has been referred to Pekin to.be diplomatically. dis cussed between her Majesty's representative and the Central Government, the manner in_ which the matter, should be thereafter' dealt with, if it could not he amicably acttled on the spot, would necessarily Lo left, to the decision of her Majesty's Governnient after hearing the report of her Majesty's Minister and full con, sideration of all the circumstances of the case.—I am,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.