(Tarwax.)
Taiwan, 25th May, 1885, Gzxruemex,—I have the honour to ac-Knowledge receipt of your letter dated 30th April, requesting me to convey to the Tao-t'ai your thanks for the steps taken cly him to secure the protection of neutrals during the blockade, and your congratula-tious on the prospects of speedy peace.
Cordially agreeing as I did with the senti ments expressed in your letter, I took every care that they were-laid before the Tao-t'ai in a manner befitting th ication. In ad of it, and I am preparing a more ornate copy of the letter, engrossed on silk, for subsequent formal presentation.
I have now received a despatch in reply from the Tao-t'ai, of which I Lave great jure in sending you a copy. The Taotai is heartily glad that his efforte to protect neutrals have been appreciated by those for whose benefit they were made, and begs me tu convey to you his warnest (hanks for the praise and congratulations too freely gi the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your Obedient Servant, Messrs. H. F. Mennuu and others.
Lro Tao-t'ar to Mr. Acting Consul Stzxcz, Dated 2ist May, 1885.
The ai of Formosa makes a communication in reply to Mr. Consul Spence.
The Tao-t'ai is in receipt of a despatch from the Consul to the effect that it 6 sequence of the steps taken by the for the protection of neutrals during the time of active hostilities with the French, he had received a Jotter written by the whole community expressive of their admiration and thanks, and begged to forward it with a Chinese translation letter the Tao-tai ws 6 of his own inoomto state that' in carrying out the commands of His Majesty the Emperor to make strenuous efforts tu protect the merchants who are subjects of friendly Powers, be was simply doing his duty." That was why he issued proolamations to the people, and instructions to the Oftioials throughout his jurisdiction to take morsures for protection.
Unfortunately, by the French blockade of the ports commerce was greatly injured, and the consequence was that in this inj the merchants of friendly Powers cived. trade went atopped altoge! wore locked up worthless. The Tao-t'ai, feeling the sorrow for there position, gare his taos), suxious thoughts to every means whereby he might show them every possible consideration, but he had not the power to carry his The yracofully expressed letter of praise which ho has uow had the honour to receive im to blush with sham th moand France is now definitely arranged. The Tao-t'ai can only trust that the words in which these gentlemen have conveyed their congratulations may prove true, In that case the Tao-t'ai will not be the only man who will be overjoyed and delighted.
The letter of the community, with its Chinese version, the Tao-t'ai has received with honour and respect,"and hopes that the Consul will convey to the community his sincere though i thanks for it. By doing thie Ly oblige the Tao-t'ai, Translated by W. Dowary Sesxce, Bag. Hi. B. M. Consul,—Amoy Gazette, BYBNTS IN NORTH FORMOSA, Twaiutin, 1st July, Such strange stories arrived from Kelung soon after the date of the evacuation of that place by the French that we were not at first prepared to believe them, without making the due allowance ous: tomary in the Haat, especially when the information was from CI tees Europeans, however, who were presen just previous to the evacuation, and others who arrived afterwards, all coufiem the report that the Chinese soldiery, on arri ing at the foreign quarters of the bay, el tered the foreign built houses and for a time a lot of smashing and looting took place. The Customs offices and dwellings mere spared, owing perhaps to the presence at the time of two officers, but the other houses suffered from the acts of soldiers belonging to various regiments. The officers, we are told, had for the time being no control whatever over their troops, and when one of them was appealed to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.