The above is a very interesting document. All that H. E., the Viceroy required was that the charges of improper conduct against the missionaries should be withdrawn, and this they very cleverly contrive to do by a play on the two words $% and J, yang. Tt was the assistant who they now say had the bad reputation, but the stupid people hearing of it supposed it was YEFEZE, the foreigners, that were meant, both being alike pronounced Yang sion shang. This snow the third reason they have discovered for the massacre. The first was the bad reputation of the missionaries for taking out eyes and hearts. As that had its diftculties they turned it on to their bad reputation for immorality. Now the Viceroy finds that this will not answer either, so the whole is put to the account of the bad reputation of Yang the assistant, It is also interesting to note how our Huangchow friends were not above taking a hint. We had pointed out to them the absurdity of condemning criminals whom no one had accused, so they make these two men witness against all three, and also to another party name unknown. Next time they will be able to give the names of accusers and! witnesses.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.