My brother and I returned yesterday at noon, having had no trouble along the road from Kueitehfu here till we got within three li of our homes. The gates to the walled places were closely guarded and was only by some arguing with an ordinary sentry that we were Binaly allowed to see the Tuanchang and he sent one of hi foord with us to our house, where we found our wives and many of our church members quite safe, but of course very anxious. We had had no word of communication since we left five days before, since the telegraphic and postal services were all closed since the morning of the Sth instant.
This is by far-and away the worst trouble this great wealthy city has experienced since the Taiping Rebellion, that is, as far as we can learn the details and as our eyes have seen the signs of the three days of burning. The number of the bandits is variously given as from 1,000 to 10,000. The number must be rather large else they could not hold on so long and, so boldly.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.