in this river passed the barrier in a powerful steamer, and anchoring her by the Leihtih Forts, came on to Canton in another steamer, and having selected one of the largest junks from the fleet of Chinese war-vessels at anchor below the Hacchao Fort (Dutch Folly), hauled her out from among them, and took possession of her. I have to inform your Excellency that a naval force is now before the forts at Whampoa, those of the Leihtih barrier, and also at this city, and to remind you that the matter which has compelled this menace remains still unsettled. Deeply it is regretted that it should have been occasioned by the disregard on your Excellency's part, of reason, justice, and the obligations of the Treaty. I have, &c., (Signed) H. S. PARKES, H. B. M's Consul. His Excellency Yeh, Imperial High No. 19. SIR, Sybille, at Whampoa, I have the honour to acquaint you, that yesterday after Mr. Parkes, Her Majesty's Consul, had received the letter from the Imperial Commissioner (an extract of which I have already forwarded to you), I returned to Whampoa, when I found the Barracouta had arrived the previous evening. The tide suiting, I desired Commander Fortescue to proceed immediately up Junk Passage as near Canton as he could go with safety to the steamer. He lost no time in doing so, and anchored towards evening some way above the barrier, at Whampoa; the Coromandel at the same time embarked the Sybille's marines, and took in tow her boats, and proceeded up the river to carry out the determination to seize one of the Government junks. The lorcha Arrow, when the outrage upon her was committed, was lying below the Dutch Folly (where she still remains) surrounded by Imperial junks, and as the act was done in a very public manner in that conspicuous position, it appeared to me best that a reprisal should be made in an equally public way by taking one of the mandarin junks lying at the same place. Those most conveniently situated had sailed during that and the previous day, and with the strong tide running, it was difficult to select a suitable vessel; after cutting one adrift from her moorings, the tide carried her into a position from which she could not have been extricated without much difficulty and loss of time, another one was therefore seized, and the Coromandel brought her down to Whampoa during the night, where she now lies under the guns of the Sybille. 2. This junk which, with others about her, as we passed in the morning, carried the Imperial flag, appears to be one of many vessels in the hire of Government lying at that anchorage, and used for war purposes or as transports, as occasion requires; and I am assured she is of the class, and very similar to the junk that boarded the Arrow. I understand she has on board a valuable cargo. 3. I am happy to say that this service has been performed without any casualty, though considerable disposition to resist was shown by the surrounding mandarin junks, the tampions being removed from many of their guns, and other preparations made. 4. The Coromandel returns to Canton this morning; I shall keep the Sybille's marines on board her, as a guard. (Signed) I have, &c. CHS. G. J. B. ELLIOT, His Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir Michael No. 39. YEH, Imperial High Commissioner, GovernorGeneral of the two Kwang Provinces, &c., &c., &c., addresses this Declaration to Mr. Parkes, the British Consul at Canton. On the 17th day of the 9th month (15th October), I received your statement representing that your demands had not been complied with. I, the Minister, have therefore considered the matter, and find that the party who was plundered by the pirates went and seized subjects of China on board a lorcha, built by a Chinese, in China. It is a matter, therefore, in which from the first, foreigners have no concern. The lorcha, too, had the flag of no foreigner hoisted at the time, nor was there any foreigner on board the lorcha, therefore, the men were apprehended and taken before the tribunals. Hereafter, if any lawless characters conceal themselves on board foreign lorchas, you, the said Consul, shall of course be informed of the same by declaration (from the Imperial Commissioner) in order that you may act in conjunction (with the Chinese authorities) in the management of such affairs. You further inform me, in the statement under acknowledgement, that a naval force has seized and retains possession of a large junk, forming one of the fleet of vessels at anchor, below the Hacchow Fort (Dutch Folly). I find that the junk in question is a trading junk and the property of Chinese merchants, who, although faultless, have thus been suddenly involved in trouble, by the act of the said Consul. Where, in the Treaty, will he find authority for such proceedings as these? I, the Minister, in any course of action, must not exceed the rules of strict propriety nor go beyond the bounds of the laws, in any punishment that I impose. Nine of the twelve men who were seized on the 10th day (8th October) were returned on the 12th day (10th October) to you the said Consul, but you refused to receive them. At the present moment the examinations of ten of these men have been taken and completed, and these men shall be immediately given over to you, the said Consul, if you are content to receive them. In the event, however, of your again declining to do so then I, the Minister, shall myself set them at liberty. This declaration is sent in reply to your state ment. Hien-fung, 6th year, 9th month, 23rd day (21st October, 1856). True translation, (Signed) No. 76. SIR, HARRY S. PARKES. British Consulate, Canton, On the morning of the 8th instant the British lorcha Arrow, when lying among the shipping anchored before this city, was boarded, without any previous reference being made to the British Consul, by a large force of Chinese officers and soldiers in uniform, who, in the face of the remonstrances of her master, an Englishman, seized and carried away twelve Chinese out of her crew of fourteen, and hauled down her colours. I reported all the particulars of this public insult to the British flag, and grave violation of the 9th Article of the Supplementary Treaty, to your Excellency the same day, and appealed to you to afford satisfaction for the insult, and cause the provisions of the Treaty to be, in this case, faithfully observed. But your Excellency, with a strange disregard both of justice and Treaty engagements, has offered no reparation or apology for the injury, and by retaining the men you have seized in your custody, signify your approval of this violation of the Treaty, and leave Her Majesty's Government without any assurance that similar aggressions shall not again occur. Your Excellency was warned by what took place on the evening of the 14th instant, of the dangerous consequences to which a refusal of justice might lead, but your Excellency treats with indifference that warning, and also the several protests made to you, not only by me, but by Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary. I am therefore instructed by Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary to inform your Excellency that twenty-four hours, to count from the delivery of this representation, are allowed your Excellency to accede to the demands made to you in my letters of the 8th and 12th instant, and in the event of those demands not being complied with within the time named, Her Majesty's naval officers will have recourse to force to compel complete satisfaction. I have, &c., (Signed) HARRY S. PARKES, His Excellency Yeh, Imperial High &c. |