Shanghai, 18th September 1891.
Sm,—I have the honour to inform you that Petition has been lodged in my office by Wang Té-t'ai and others stating 1 imi. portant waterway in the second di the 23rd ward of Hongkew, connected
is being filled up and converted into a road. the general system of Water' communications, The Petitioners therefore beg that the American and British Consuls may be requested to ive instructions for the work to cease. On the 12th instant, eccompeniod by the Mixed Court Magistrate Tsai, I visited the spot and inspected it. It then appeared that owing to the drying up and filthy condition of this channel, and to the offensive stench which arose from it ousequence, the resi ents in the vicinity are liable to sickness, and for that reason the task of filling up the creek was taken in haud, But there exists at this spot an old ancestral grave of the Wang family, dating back as ing Dynasty, and the r Id be most objectionable should the filling in take place, besides the fact that the channel affects the feud-shui. Moreover, being necessary for the daily needs of the resident of be summarily closed, unreasonable delay and would not prove though Wang and the others, who are comforting to the missionaries.
The law-abiding Taotai at Chinkiang, Huang Tsu-lo, was Desiring 20 m ain friendly re accordingly directed to call upon the Settlements adjoining I have now given orders authorities concerned to provide the re-for the clearing out and deepening of the quisite funds and to arrive ata settlement of channel, and likewise for the removal of the garbage, and fully intend to effect the cleans-their respective claims with the Missionaries. ing of the place and the restoration of a navi-'The Tactaisand Protects responsible in the gable passage. matter again received stringent instructions Thave ther fore the honour to inform you Airecting them to enjoin upon all their of the above and to beg you to inform the Municipal Council in onder that they may subordinates the necessity of securing with-give orders for the immediate stoppage of thie out fail the apprehension and punishment work ax a measure agreeable to popular feel-of the principal offenders so that the earnest ing. The matter is one of great importance, (Seal of District Magistrate desire ut the Imperial Court to cultivate Translated by friendly relations with other Powers and "po Hurkiss. to maintain peace and good order within its own territory may be duly fulfilled.
Council Room, The memorialists have kept the sungli Shanghai, 24th September, 1891. Yamen informed of the steps they St%)—Lhave the honor to acknowledge the have taken in the matter, and they now of the translation of aletter addressed he District Magistrate on the 18th beg to submit to the sacred glance this|j intimating that he had received a account of the settlement of the missionary questions in Kiangsu and to sol His Majesty's commands on the subje Rescript: Let active measures be taken for arresting the criminals toho made their escape. They must positively be apprehended and pro nished. The Yumén concerned is to take note,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.