"In forwarding to your Excellency che attached detailed account. of What took place, I gladly recognize that General Wang Ling-chi, in the face of obstruction from other officials and the open defiance of the agitators, made praiseworthy efforts to avert the trouble, and that Captain Let, with the entirely inadequate force at his disposal, persevered. as ong ax possible in his endeavours to protect the British subjects. I Jam obliged however, to protest more strongly against the disgraceful con. duct of the Chungking authorities }83 & whole, who, with the exception lof the two officers named, were Jeuilty of wilful neglect of duty and more or Jess open encouragement of the rioters.
"It would seem that wt one tim the local authorities were so remiss in their duties that there was grave danger of " situation being created which might have compelled—the British naval forces to open. fire
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.