Not content with: what had already taken
gentry. of Kienning and the neighbour plac. proclamation vas de sued bythe hiood: ealling onthe people to rise and Killevery foreigner they-could get hold of," and.that. should. the, Chinese authoriies interfere they would be cast outside the "city. walls..and not be. allowed to return!" further, " that native Christians were to be chunted: down like wild beasts,.or "highcavay, robbers:, and.. rooted -, out.;. until... not one remained." This proclamation which Our Into popular Consul Mr. E. Hi Fraser and Mrs, Fraser left per Haitan for Swatow on Monday last. There was quite a largo gathering of friends at the jetty to see them off and wish them bon Since the feeling of tension occasioned by the late state of affairs at Kienning and Kionyang was relieved by the fortunate escape of the missionaries from tinssacrie at those places, talk lias turned on the thréatening of troubles which caused us some anxiety outlier, Thoro was first of all, early in May, the posting of placards about the city and suburbs of Foochow, taxing foreigners with having poisoned the salt aiid flour. sold in the market. This was followed by disturbances at Funing whicl led to H. BIN. S. Rutiler being ordered up and then there was the attempt "f creating trouble at Kienuing, late in May, through placards being posted about, charging foreigners with the murder of a man who had been found dead. Any one of these threatenings might "have ripened into troubles of a serious natare. Fortunately they did' not, but each of them goes to prove the anti-foreign feeling that exists. Anything snd everything that goes wrong, lat once laid. at the door of foreigners. This was all talked over last Saturday night in connection with the outrages which had been committed.at Kienning, and speculations were ventilated as to what action the British Governuient would take. I€ the consensus of opinion. could be acted on it would. go hard with Kienningfu. On the following day, Sunday the 25th ult., news reached us of a proclamation having been issued by the-gentry of Kienningfa and the nicighbourhovd calling on the people to rise and. kill every foreigner they could fay hold of," and stating that "should the Chinese authorities interfere they would be cast outside the city walls and not be allowed to return," further that "native Christians were to be hunted down like wild "beasts or highway robbers and rooted out until not one of them remained." 'This proclamation, which had been posted in the city and. surrounding country, added that "the' gentry responsible for it had bound themselves to carry out its terms and that no authority should dare prevent them!" More important. than this, since there are no foreigners in the Kienning district to Kill at the present moment, is the news that reached us yesterday, namely, thit_an influential Kienning mou bad ar: rived in Foochow city and was declaiming may happen, but at any rate this man's fabrications are the talk at all the tea houses in the city, and this fuct has created a certain feeling' of uneasiness in many quarters.. It is satisfactory to know, however, that our Consuls ure fully alive to the situation, and as no steps that we know of are being taken for our protection in case of trouble it may be assumed that they do not view it as serious.
The lowe-taking of the Rev. Geo. B. Smyth and family on Monday was a very imposing function, Besides members of the American Mission, the C. M.S. and the mercantile community, nearly three hundred students of the 'Anglo-Chinese College' were present on the jetty, these students, all well dressed, marched down in procession preceded by the uugiificent umbrella Tately presented by them to the departing president of the College. From the time of the family leaving' their residence on the hill to their reaching the jetty, the whole road resounded with crackers, and on thole embarking the noise was deafening, IE evidence were wanting of the esteem in which Mr, and Mrs. Smyth were held, such a send-off would certainly have supplied it. Mr. Smyth's diligent work for good had long been appreciated by his foreign neighbours as well as by the Chinese, and his name as one of the successful presidents of Anglo-Chinese Colleges in China is. firmly established. The demonstration on Monday was a crowning mark of the regard felt for him and M Smyth here. It is hoped that the twelve months' furlough will have the effect of re-establishing Mr. Smyth's health and allow. of his returning. to resume the pre-of the College for another term
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.