To the Editor of the Smm,—I send you the following extract from a Chinese letter respecting the Tientsin tragedy; as, although it does not throw much additional light on the subject, it may prove interesting to your readers, as. being written by a Tientsin man for the information of a native friend.
"On the 2ist of June, Tientsin was thrown into excitement by 'a popular outbreak, which was brought about by the following circumstances. Not quite a month ago one or two graves, which were of very slight depth, were attacked by wolves and dogs, and their contents dragged out to the light of day. Several well disposed persons, who wished to prevent such desecration, were horrified to find that the bodies had all been deprived of their eyes and hearts. This led to further investigation, and upwards of one hundred new graves were found to be similarly mangled. On the Ist inst. two kidnappers were captured, and theyimmediately suffered the extreme penalty: of the law. Several more were subsequently arrested, who gave varied accounts; but. the truth was finally elicited. It appeared that there was a native—Hwang-son—in the employ of the Catholics, who was in the habit of making medicine from human eyes and hearts; and further that there were still over two hundred children in their possession who had not yet been injured. On hearing this the Fou-shien proceeded to the Roman Catholic quarters, to demand the release of the children; when both sides of the river were lined by a vast concourse of excited spectators. The native servants of the Priests at length draged one or two of the crowd into heir quarters, and the latter becoming enraged beat them unmercifully. 'The foreigners then issued forth with sharp swords, and proceeded to the Yamen to settle matters. Then Chung-how, seeing that their intentions were not pacific, immediate-Ly sent. for the Fire Brigade' Band, that they might be overawed by their presence. To the astonishment of all, these Inter would not await orders; but at once re-Paired to all the Roman Catholic buildings, murut them down, and murdered 20 or 30 foreigners and their servants. They also released one hundred and eighty seven children, who are now in the Cheefoo's Yamen, awaiting the investigation of their case.
The Fu-li-chang foreign hong has been entirely burnt down—the inmates murdered; and three Russian officials while proceeding to the scene of the outbreak were also killed. Great confusion still exists in the city, and most of the native merchants, despatched them fo the interior." fearing to ket in the place, have Yours faithfully, Shanghai, 4th July, 1870,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.