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You have seen from my despatch, No. 122, what passions are aroused and to what their indulgence would lead. I am informed that the French government does not contemplate an expedition against Corea, but after the virtual repulse of Admiral Rose it will be impossible to avoid it.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

ANSON BURLINGAME.

[Enclosure A.]

Mr. Sandford to Mr. Burlingame.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,
Cheefoo, October 30, 1866.

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the French fleet returned from Corea, October 3, and on the 4th it was reported here that the American schooner General Sherman had been wrecked, and all on board murdered by the natives. I immediately wrote to the admiral, requesting him to furnish me with what information he could, to which he replied:

"In reply to the letter which you have done me the honor of writing, I can do no better than send you the exact copy of a note that was sent me by Rev. P. Ridel, apostolic missionary: On the 30th of September we were at anchor near Woody island, on the coast of Corea. During the night a Corean boat, with two natives on board, approached the Dérouléde. Having recognized in one of them one of the sailors who had accompanied me in the spring on the voyage from Corea to Cheefoo, I succeeded in inducing them to come on board. Among other information, they told me that about the middle of the 7th moon, (about the end of the month of August,) a small vessel from the country of the West had appeared on the coast of Corea, in the province of Phienganso, which is in the extreme northwest of the kingdom. She was endeavoring to ascend the river, and to reach the city of Phieng-iang, capital of this province, and had already arrived almost off this city, when she grounded on a sand-bank. The governor at once sent to the King's father for instructions, whether he should put to death those on board, or should burn them and the vessel together. The King's father replied, to burn the vessel and all on board. This barbarous order was executed.' Such, sir, is the only information bearing at all upon the matters to which you allude, that has reached me.

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The General Sherman left here on the 9th of August; she called for water; took Mr. George Hogarth (British subject) as supercargo, and Rev. Mr. Thomas (British) as interpreter. The owner, W. B. Preston, (American) also went with them. Page, captain,

Wil

son, chief mate, (both Americans.) The crew consisted of from 15 to 20, (Malays and Chinese.) Cargo, cotton goods, glass, tin plates, &c, &c. On October 7th, two Chinese junks arrived from Corea and made the following reports respecting the wreck and burning of a foreign schooner, viz: The captain of one of them was engaged by Mr. Thomas to pilot the schooner up the river Ping Yangso, as he was acquainted with him previously: he yielded, and took her up four tides. By this time the alarm had spread amongst the natives, they taking her for a pirate, and would not believe the pilot when he told them she was a peaceful trader. (The General Sherman was heavily armed.) All trade was stopped, and the natives began to collect in large numbers, when his friends on board the junk becoming alarmed, refused to allow him to go any further, saying that if he was killed, they would have no face to return to Yeutai. He, therefore, left them opposite to Little Ping Yangso, about halfway up the river. They were still determined to proceed; this was about the middle of the 8th moon. You will notice here a disagreement between the dates given by the French missionary and this man. However, the other junk, it seems, did not reach Corea. On its nearing the coast, a junk put off, and warned them not to go in, as a foreign vessel had been wrecked opposite Ping Yangso, and the vessel, with all hands, burnt, on which the junk returned to Yeutai.

On the night of the 27th instant, the two French missionaries, who had been concealed in the mountains in Corea, reached this place. They state that a foreign vessel was wrecked opposite Ping Yangso; after some fighting between the natives and those on board the schooner, the natives succeeded by strategy in drawing the men on shore, when they were surrounded, and their hands tied behind their backs. They were then made to kneel down on the shore, and were decapitated. The missionaries report there were 20 thus put to death. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. ANSON BURLINGAME,

Minister of the United States, Peking.

E. SANDFORD.
United States Consul.

[Enclosure B.]

Messrs. Meadows & Co. to Mr. Burlingame.

TIENTSIN, October 27, 1866. SIR: We, the undersigned British firm, beg leave to bring to your excellency's notice the following circumstances, in order to obtain your excellency's assistance in getting redress. During the latter half of July last the American schooner General Sherman arrived at this port, and was consigned to our care by Mr. Preston, the owner, who had come passenger on the vessel for the sake of his health. After we had taken delivery of the inward cargo, Mr. Preston and we came to an arrangement that we should load her with a cargo of foreign merchandise, and despatch her to Corea with a supercargo to sell the goods there. We accordingly loaded her with foreign merchandise, and on the 29th of July last she left Tientsin Mr. Hogarth, one of our clerks, who went as supercargo, left previously in the steamer Shaftesbury for Cheefoo, in order to have a pilot and shroff ready on the General Sherman arriving there, and thus save delay. On the schooner reaching Cheefoo, Mr. Hogarth, accompanied by a Chinese pilot and a Cantonese shroff belonging to our firm, went on board; also Mr. Thomas, who having expressed a wish to visit Corea again, in order to extend his knowledge of the Corean language, went as passenger. From the day the vessel left Cheefoo till now we have received no written advices from Mr. Hogarth or Mr. Preston, or, in fact, from any one on board when she left Cheefoo.

On the 8th of October current we received letters from the partners of our firm in Cheefoo acquainting us that the French admiral's vessel had come to Cheefoo, from Corea, with the news that the King of Corea had caused the General Sherman to be burnt with all on board, while proceeding up the Ping Yang river.

We immediately addressed Dr. Williams on the subject copy of our letter herewith enclosed. On the 20th of October current we received further advices from our partner in Chee foo, informing us that he had seen a junk captain who had piloted the schooner for four tides up the Ping Yang river, when he left her and returned to the mouth of the river to his junk, and finally to Cheefoo. This man stated that the Coreans had told him their king was opposed to foreign intercourse with his country. We imagine that this man, who understands something of the Corean language, knows something more about the vessel than he is inclined to divulge, fearing, Chinese-like, to mix himself up in the matter with the authorities to question him later on the points.

As the act of visiting Corea for the purposes of trade was not an act which could, in the eyes of civilized western nations, justify the Corean government in destroying those who committed it, we, the undersigned, have taken the liberty of addressing you for the purpose of bringing the above matters to your excellency's notice, with the request that you will be pleased to beg his excellency Admiral Bell to make inquiries regarding the destruction of the vessel and her people, and take steps to cause the Corean government to make redress as far as such in the nature of things is practicable.

We have the honor to be, sir, your excellency's most obedient servants,

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MEADOWS & CO.

P. S.-We beg to enclose copy of our letter to H. B. M.'s consul, Mr. Mongan, on the loss of the General Sherman, and requesting the British admiral's assistance in the matter, Mr. Hogarth and Mr. Thomas being both British subjects.

M. & CO.

[Enclosure C.]

Mr. Burlingame to Admiral Bell.

PEKING, November 27, 1866.

SIR: I find that the Chinese government disavows any responsibility for that of Corea, and all jurisdiction over its people.

Consequently the occurrences there relating to the General Sherman are beyond my jurisdiction. It may, however, strengthen your hands to receive a suggestion from me, that if consistent with your instructions, it may be well to send a vessel of war to inquire into the facts of the case, to the end that they may be reported to the government for its instructions. Having great confidence in your discretion, I leave the matter in your hands, where it prop erly belongs.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

H. H. BELL,
Acting Rear-Admiral Commanding

ANSON BURLINGAME.

U. S. Asiatic Squadron.

No. 125.]

Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward.

UNITED STATES LEGATION, Peking, December 18, 1866. SIR The enclosed revised land regulations for Shanghai, approved by my colleagues and myself after mature deliberation, are respectfully submitted for your sanction.

Their necessity and history are clearly set forth in the memorandum written by H. B. M. chief justice, Sir Edward Hornby.

The resolutions were considered and adopted by the consuls of the various nationalities at Shanghai, after many meetings with the land-holders, and then submitted to us at Peking. Pending their discussion we were constantly in advisory relations with the consuls. In fact the present expansion of the regulations, is the fruit of the co-operative policy adopted in 1863 (see despatch 42) and the arrangements made under it.

You will find in despatch No. 37 the principles established for these revised. regulations as agreed upon by Sir Frederick Bruce, M. Berthemy, Mr. Balluzeck, and myself, at the request of the municipal council of Shanghai, through their chairman, Mr. Edward Cunningham.

The French prefer a separate municipality, which, considering their ideas of administration, may be best for all.

The citizens of the United States in China, I am happy to say, are not afraid to enter into any fair arrangements where there is an equality of chances, and results in municipal affairs at Shanghai have indicated their confidence in themselves.

Great praise is due to our consul general, George F. Seward, and to H. B. M. consul, Mr. Winchester, for their persistent efforts and perfect co-operation to secure the perfection and adoption of the regulations.

I might by virtue of the power conferred upon me now give them force; but with my colleagues I have thought it better to submit them for approval to our respective governments, after which they may be put in force.

You are fortunate in having near you Sir Frederick Bruce, who is acquainted with this whole subject of the regulations, and will, I am sure, be but too happy to consult with you in relation to them. May I request as speedy action as possible.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

ANSON BURLINGAME.

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Revised land regulations for the foreign settlement of Shanghai, approved by the land renters at a special meeting held on the 9th, 12th, 13th, and 17th March, 1866.

Extract from the minutes of a special meeting of land renters, held at her Britannic Majesty's consulate, on Friday the 9th, Monday the 12th, Tuesday the 13th, and Saturday the 17th March, 1866, to consider, discuss, and amend the code of "Proposed Revised Land Regulations," for the foreign settlement of Shanghai, prepared by the committee appointed at the meeting of land renters of the 15th April, 1865.

The chairman, in thanking the meeting for their vote, so far as he was personally concerned, said he had done much less than the judge, who had devoted a great deal of labor to the revision. He would ask them, also, not to forget the interest which had been shown by the United States consul general. Mr. Seward had gone into the country that afternoon, but though he was not present personally, his heart was with the meeting. It now only remained to arrange the alterations which had been made, so that the whole regulations could be understood by the eye running over them. When that was done it would be well that all the foreign consuls should be requested to assemble, in order that they might be consulted regarding them. Especially before sending them to Peking, he would wish to

obtain the opinion of the consul general for France. It was not possible for the two settlements to live under distinct regulations. As soon, therefore, as they were put into shape he (the chairman) would do his part by sending them on to the different consuls.

Mr. Pearson proposed that the municipal council be authorized to have the minutes of the meeting printed, together with the annexed land regulations and by-laws, and to forward copies of the same to the different foreign consuls at Shanghai, requesting their co-operation and support in obtaining the sanction of their respective governments to the by-laws. M. Cowie seconded this proposal, which was carried unanimously, and the meeting separated.

True extract.

SHANGHAI, March 18, 1866.

CHARLES A. WINCHESTER,

Her Britannic Majesty's Consul.

The following extract is published for general information:

Minutes of the proceedings of a meeting of renters of land in the Hong-que settlement, held at the consulate of the United States, Shanghai, at 2 p. m. on the 21st September, 1863. The consul of the United States opened the meeting by remarking that it had been con vened to receive the reports of the committees appointed at the previous meeting, and to enable the land renters to take such action as they might think necessary, in view of the state of the settlement. He would read to the meeting the convention made by him for the settlement with the local Chinese authorities. It was of importance, as it was the only basis upon which the municipal body which the meeting might create could claim any territorial powers.

An agreement between his excellency Hwang, imperially appointed intendant of circuit for the departments of Soo, Sung, and Tae, and George F. Seward, consul for the United States at Shanghai, concerning the boundaries of the Hong-que settlement, and certain matters pertaining to the government thereof.

1. The boundaries shall be: The Soochow creek from a point opposite the entrance of the defence canal to the Wangpoo; thence at low-water mark to the mouth of the creek entering the Wangpoo, near the lower limit of the anchorage called Yang-tse-poo; westwardly three li, along the line of the creek; thence in a straight line to the point of beginning.

2. Citizens or subjects of all nations may rent ground within the boundaries under the terms of treaty stipulations.

3. The right of jurisdiction of the Chinese authorities over their subjects resident within the settlement is acknowledged to be indefeasible, but no arrests may be made except on warrants stamped by the municipal authority.

4. The municipal authority may lay out roads and streets, and all lands acquired subsequent to the date of this agreement shall be subject to the proviso, expressed or understood, that the renter shall surrender the lands required for roads to the public use.

5. In case it shall be deemed necessary or advisable to open roads while the land remains in the hands of Chinese, it is understood that the advantages so accruing will repay the native owners; but should any person be aggrieved in property by the opening of roads, they may represent the same to the municipal authority, which shall proceed to appoint assessors to estimate the damages, and the payment of the same, if any, shall be obligatory on the public. 6. All foreigners, subjects to non-treaty powers, shall be liable to be dealt with in all things by the municipal authority, but any individual of this class may exempt himself from such jurisdiction by filing in the consulate of any treaty power a written instrument acknowledging himself to be subject in all respects to the jurisdiction of such consulate; provided that the said consulate be willing to accept such jurisdiction, which shall be judicated by the issue, in each instance, of a document declaring to the fact that the above named instrument in writing has been duly filed, and that the person is entitled to the protection of the consulate.

7. The right of the Chinese government and the municipal authority to tax Chinese residents within the boundaries of the settlement is mutually conceded under the following

terms:

The terms are as under:

1. The toutai shall appoint two or three deputies who will assess the rentals with the municipal council, but the collection of the tax shall be carried out by the latter. In case of disputes arising between the Chinese deputies and the municipal council, the toutai together with the English and American consul shall settle them.

2. Twenty per cent. per annum shall be collected, one-half of which shall be retained by the consul for municipal purposes, and the other half handed to the toutai to meet the mili tary expenditure.

3. The municipal council shall bear all their expenses, but the toutai shall pay the Chinese deputies.

4. Two sets of books shall be kept, one for the council and one for the toutai.

5. It being agreed now that 20 per cent. shall be levied on rentals, there shall be no further increase.

6. The money collected shall be deposited in the Hae-quan Bank, whence the toutai and council shall draw as required.

7. This tax on rentals having been agreed on, the toutai shall not impose a poll or similar tax within the limits of the settlement, nor shall any additional tax be made to existing ones. 8. This tax on rentals shall cease as soon as peace is restored.

9. The tax shall be collected every three months, commmencing from the 1st of July. Done this 25th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixtythree.

Memorandum on the suggested revised land regulations and bye-laws.

A reference to the causes which have suggested a revision of the land regulations, and the objects which it endeavors to attain, may perhaps be useful.

The original land regulations were framed under the authority vested in the superintendent of trade by an order in council of the 13th of June, 1853, and this order in council was passed under the authority conferred on her Majesty by two acts of Parliament, i. e. the 5 and 6 Vict., ch. 80, and the 6 and 7 Vict., ch. 94.

So far as British subjects are concerned, every rule for their good government in China emanates under the above order in council, or rather now under the China and Japan order, 1865, from the superintendent of trade. He, alone, can make laws for the purpose of ensuring such good government, and no rules are binding on British subjects in China, except such as he has directly imposed or sanctioned.

For the purposes of this memorandum it must be assumed that the representatives of France and the United States of America acted under some similar authority conferred upon them by their respective governments; for, independently of the fact that they were parties to the land regulations, it must be presumed that the governments of these two countries, and indeed the governments of other countries having trading relations with and establishments in China, have not neglected to provide for the good government of their subjects residing in or resorting to China.

The source of the authority under which the land regulations were framed being clear, the next point to ascertain is whether at the present moment they are sufficient to provide for the good government of the settlement. If they are not, the same authority that sanctioned them can sanction others more applicable and better adapted to the purpose.

By the tenth section of the land regulations the British superintendent of trade and the representatives of France and the United States of America (these three countries being then the only three powers having treaties with China) made provision "for the making of roads, building public jettees and bridges and keeping them in repair, cleansing, lighting and draining the settlement generally, and establishing a watch or police force," these being then the most obvious pressing wants of the community.

They also empowered the foreign consuls to call annually a meeting of the land renters to devise means of raising the necessary funds for these purposes, giving to the land renters permission to declare an assessment on land and buildings and to affix dues, which for want of a better name were called " 'wharfage dues," on all goods landed at any place within the limits, and they also empowered the same body to appoint a committee to levy the rates and dues, to apply the funds and to sue defaulters.

It will be seen, then, that under this section the chief objects of municipal government were intended to be provided for, and in the calling together of the land renters to declare an assessment and impose dues, and the appointment of an executive committee to levy and apply the funds raised, the essential forms of municipal government were adhered to.

The land renters were to derive means for raising funds for the purposes of building roads, jettees and bridges and keeping them in repair; for providing for the health of the settlement, and for the security of life and property within it; and a committee of them was to take on itself the task of collecting the taxes and enforcing payment from defaulters, and of applying them when collected; in other words, that which the Crown in England confers on bodies of individuals by charters of incorporation for municipal purposes, the British superintendent of trade, and the ministers of France and the United States, conferred, within certain limits, on the foreign land renters of Shanghai by these land regulations.

Time and experience now show that these regulations do not provide sufficiently for the good government of the settlement; more funds are required than can justly be raised by an assessment on land and buildings, and by the imposition of mere wharfage dues on the goods landed within the limits. No departure, however, from the original rules is asked. The "purposes" mentioned in the section referred to have extended themselves—that is to say, a greater number of roads, jettees and bridges are required, more funds are necessary to maintain and repair them, and more efficient and extensive means of cleansing, lighting and draining the settlement, in other words providing for the health of the settlement, are

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