On Friday last, the 12th inst., a scene of unusual hostility on the part of the Chinese at Foochow towards the foreign community was manifested by the assault of two foreigners and a destruction of the Recreation Ground, As far as we (Herald) can glean, the cause of the disturbance is as follows It appears that the natives living here in the settlement were informed (?), or rather a rumour was circulated, that His Excellency the new Governor, Chin Ya-ying, was going with his Excellency the Viceroy to pay an official visit to the Arsenal at Pagoda Anchorage, and that, return, the former official the new Recreation Ground and Race Course. The idea that so exalted th personage as the Governor was to visit the Recreation Ground was sufficient of itself to cause a large crowd of people to congregate at the place. Before going further, it will be well to mention here that the Chinese villagers in the neighbourhood of the Teng Hillock, having some time ago received orders to refund to the Rev. Mr. Stewart the sum paid by that gentleman for purchase of the land known ug-to, the literati went among the villagers to collect th amount, but as several of the people living in the neighbourhood receded from their promises, the amount collected was not sufficient to refund the price originally paid by Mr. Stewart, The Chinese, having these facts before them, agreed to exchange some other pieces of land, lying in close proximity to the Race Course, for the piece formerly purchased by the reverend gentleman. Of this they informed the so-called Board of Foreign Intercourse, which body deputined two of (rich and Chang Hong-shu to Weiyiians), named respectively Cheng inspect the land. These two officials wore en route for the Recreation Ground, and when the native populace saw them coming towards them, thought they were the "advance guard" of His Excol-Joney the Governor, and, aesing two of the foreign residents upon the ground, they Dogan to pelt them with mud and dirt and th hoot at them, these two gentlemen having to make their iway off the ground the best away they could. This ocourred at about five O'clock in the afternoon. Not satisfied with driving the foreigners off the ground, the mob proceeded to tear up the rails surrounding the Race Course, and use them in destroying the newly made turf, At this moment the firing of guns, denoting the return of the Viceroy from Pagoda (the Governor did not go down to the Arsenal), tended greatly to increase the excitement, and coupled with the information (?) furnished by two of the yamen ranners of the Min Magistrate, who were at the temple close to Mr. Fry'
that the Futai was really coming, the fury of the mob knew no bounds. The crowd did not disperse until dark, and not until the; of the outrage to the foreign Consula the following morning, and the mai represented to the high authorities. The Consular jady took immediate steps to have the matter adjusted in a manner satisfactory to the European residents of the place. "he British and French Consuls wrote in authorities on the following day, and_Mr. Wingate both in his capacity B.S as United States Consul and as Acting German Consul wrote on the Monday following. That " good result has arisen: from such joint Consular representation will be seen by the following proclamation which has been issued by the authorities, although the report was circulated that the new Governor approved of the action of mob.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.