Now, as your province is using! Chékiang's absorption of our forees as the reason for making war upon that province, and as you have enlisted the united help of Fukien, Anhui and Kiangsi to make a mili: tary demonstration to overawe us and believing that our temporary stay in Chekiang, which is a matter that concerns us and no one else, and that we cannot bear to see the: fathers and elders of Kiangsa and Chekiang suffer on our account, we, in view of the imminency of the war, are compelled to make an offer to you thus:—Should you think it regrettable that the three provinces, Pukien, Kiangsi and Chekiang, have not been able or willing to disband our troops, then, we, Tsang Chih-ping and Yang Hua-chao, are ready to leave Chekiang territory at once and come to your territory to wait for your pleasure; and you may assign us some vacant land in the Jeountry: side for the temporary ae. commodation of our forces. Afterwards, you may select the best of your own troops to accompany you to hold an inspection of our men n person, when we shall uneond tionally obey your decision either to disband us or accept our servic, Do not prosecute a tyrannical fon the merest protext, to the infinite suffering of our people, we beseech you.
"Awaiting your orders instantly, Signed: Tsan¢ Cun-ric, (Seal)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.