dent succeeded to the position without any disturbance, and the assassin had been arrested, so that the affairs of government were going on quietly as usual, I hope that these considerations will alleviate your grief at the event, and you will be able to attend to public busi ness. I shall be pleased to embody the particulars connected with this event in a memorial to his Majesty, and thereby evince the cordial relations which now exist between our countries, which is the purpose of sending the present reply. His Excellency S. W. WILLIAMS, Chargé d'Affairs of United States, in China. Mr. Williams to Mr. Hunter. [Extracts.] No. 5.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Since my last despatch I have received from the department despatches Nos. 129 to 134, inclusive, addressed to Mr. Burlingame. The first containing the President's proclamation of April 11, relating to the privileges of United States national vessels in foreign ports, requires no action in China, where the courtesies due to our flag have not been withheld. The notification in No. 130, relating to the death of the President, had been anticipated, as you will have already learned from my last despatch of the 11th instant. The directions in your circular of April 17 about wearing mourning have already been complied with. * I have the honor to inform you that the disturbances in the south of this province of Chihli, and the adjacent provinces of Shantung and Honan, to which I referred in my despatch of May 24, No. 1, have been repressed, and the bands of insurgents dispersed or forced to retire to the hills, which have sheltered them many years past. The government brought up a force of 5,000 or 6,000 men from Shanghai in steamers to Tientsin, which had the effect of showing the people, as well as insurgents in that region, the facilities it now possessed for concentrating troops. The death of Saukolinsin had weakened the army under his command and terrified the inhabitants, while it emboldened the insurgents; these movements had the effect of reversing this state of things. If the latter had felt strong enough to march on the capital, there was then no adequate force to resist them. One ground of safety on the part of government was the difficulty its enemies had of getting arms of any kind in their remote condition in the interior, and that no foreigners could reach them. The funeral of Saukolinsin, on the 13th instant, was one of the most magnificent parades that has been seen in Peking for a long time; and the death of this loyal soldier is regarded as a great loss by the court, which is now without an influential leader to set over against Tsang-Kwoh-fan. The evacuation of Changchan, near Amoy, and the retirement of the insurgents from that neighborhood, is regarded here as the virtual dispersion of the last force which the Nanking rebels can bring against the imperialists on the south side of the Yang-tse-kiang. Large tracts of country in the west and northwest provinces are still harassed by bands of Mohammedan rebels, who are ineffectually opposed by government troops, and between the two the inhabitants are soon driven off or destroyed, and their country gradually turned into a desert. Such is said to be the case at present with many places in Shensi and Kansuh provinces. I have the honor to be, sir, your Hon. WILLIAM HUNTER, obedient servant, S. WELLS WILLIAMS. Acting Secretary of State. No. 150.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Burlingame. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 14, 1865. SIR: Your despatch of the 4th of May last, No. 109, from Shanghai, enclosing a communication from S. Wells Williams, esq., relative to the ministerial crisis which has taken place in China, has been received, and I have read with interest the history of that event as related by Mr. Williams. I am, sir, your obedient servant, ANSON BURLINGAME, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 151.] : Mr. Seward to Mr. Williams. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 14, 1865. SIR Mr. Burlingame's despatch, No. 112, submitting an account of his interviews with Prince Kung and other members of the foreign board, has been received. The President of the United States desires to make known his satisfaction with the very just, liberal, and friendly sentiments expressed by Prince Kung and his associates of the foreign board at these interviews. The government of the United States is not disposed to be technical or exacting in its intercourse with the Chinese government, but will deal with it with entire frankness, cordiality, and friendship. The United States desire neither to interfere with the distinct and ancient habits and customs of the Chinese people, nor to embarrass the members of the foreign board in their difficult and responsible labors. While insisting always upon rights stipulated in solemn treaties, the wish of this government is to promote that esteem which will conduce to the mutual advantage of both nations. The President also desires to express his satisfaction with the attention and courtesies which were shown to Mr. Burlingame previous to his departure from Peking. They are regarded by the President as a just compliment to the services of our minister, and at the same time an evidence of good will to the nation he represents. I am, sir, your obedient servant, S. WELLS WILLIAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 1.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Williams. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 25, 1865. SIR: Your interesting despatch of the 25th of May, No. 1, has been received, and your proceedings therein mentioned are approved. I am, sir, your obedient servant, S. WELLS WILLIAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &x. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 6.] Mr. Hunter to Mr. Williams. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Your despatch of the 11th of July last, No. 4, transmitting a copy of the correspondence which passed between yourself and Prince Kung upon the subject of the assassination of the late President Lincoln, has been received. The sentiments expressed by his excellency regarding the melancholy occurrence referred to are highly appreciated. I am, sir, your obedient servant, S. WELLS WILLIAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &x. W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. No. 7.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Williams. DEPARTMENT of State, Washington, November 6, 1865. SIR: Your despatch of the 26th of June last, No. 3, has been received. In reply, I have to inform you that the President is of opinion that the offender Burgevine may, upon a just conviction, be left to the Chinese custody without being reclaimed by the United States representative. But this is to be understood to rest upon our own voluntary consent upon the grounds of national honor, and not from Chinese right under treaty stipulations. I am, sir, your obedient servant, S. WELLS WILLIAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward. No. 115.] WASHINGTON, November 27, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to enclose a note handed to me on behalf of Prince Kung, by Tung Siun and Hangki, members of the foreign office in China. It relates to the Osborne flotilla, and my connexion therewith. I ascertained in London that the British government would take the vessels, and pay for them as soon as an appropriation could be made. I was requested by the British authorities to consult with Sir Frederick Bruce, now the British minister here, to the end that he might advise his government in the interests of justice. I have seen Sir Frederick who, I am happy to say, is prepared to aid the Chinese, and to urge his government to at once close this business according to their wishes. This proposed action on his part is but a continuation of that spirit of amity which led him, in the interests of peace, to send the flotilla to England, and will be appreciated by you. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, ANSON BURLINGAME. Secretary of State. [Enclosure.-Translation.] Note handed to the United States minister on the 11th of February, 1865, by Tung Siun and Hangki, members of the foreign office. We beg to address your excellency respecting the sale of those steamers. Last year, you and the British minister, Sir Frederick Bruce, made an excellent arrangement for us respecting the disposition of Captain Osborne's flotilla, according to which he was to take the vessels back to England, dispose of them there, and remit the proceeds to China; and both myself and all the members of the foreign office were deeply grateful for the friendly disposition and great assistance rendered us in arranging this affair, so that we could then place the details on the records of the board of revenue. We also reported the whole of the circumstances to the throne, and received directions to arrange it in that way. However, more than a year has now elapsed since that was done; and when Sir Frederick Bruce left here on his return to England last summer, we personally requested him to devise some way, on his arrival, by which the whole business could be soon closed. In September last Mr. Wade officially informed us, that owing to war then existing in the west, it was not unlikely that some delay would arise in selling the vessels, owing to an apprehension that some of the belligerents might get them. We replied, that if the British government would take them for their own use, one-fifth would be deducted, and we enclosed an account corresponding with this proposition. He answered that he could not himself make any final arrangement respecting them; but as soon as the directions of his government respecting them were received he would inform us. As no intimations concerning this matter had been received, in November last we wrote to Sir Frederick himself, urging him to arrange it as soon as he could; and confided the letter to Mr. Wade to translate and forward. As nothing has been hitherto received from Sir Frederick about the sale of the vessels and remittance of the proceeds, as we had expected, we are left in a state of anxious uncertainty concerning them. We are well aware that he and your excellency made the most suitable and satisfactory arrangement at the time for their disposal; and we all, both myself and colleagues in the foreign office, have entire confidence in your honor; but as the affair is connected with the revenue of the country, as long as it remains unsettled, so long are we responsible for the issue. Knowing that you both then so willingly agreed as to the proper mode of action, we therefore do not hesitate to write your excellency this note upon the subject. As soon as you can ascertain the present value of these steamers and (or) when their proceeds will be remitted to China, we shall be very much pleased to receive your answer, and thereby relieved from our present suspense. We avail ourselves of this opportunity to present our compliments and best wishes for your happiness. Card of PRINCE KUNG. WAUSIANG. TSUNGLUN. HANGKI, and SIEH HWAN His Excellency A. BURLINGAME. SPAIN. Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] No. 134.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I yesterday enjoyed an interview with Mr. Llorente, in the course of which his remarks on the subject of the difficulty with Peru presented no new feature except in one point. He asked me what would be the course of our government in regard to cargoes of guano consigned to ports of the United States on Spanish account. In connexion with this subject he said, that though Spain would not keep permanent possession of the Chincha Islands, yet the conduct of Peru might possibly make her occupation of considerable duration. Spain did not wish to deprive the markets of the world of that commodity on which the agriculture of many countries had come in a measure to depend. She would not, however, permit the guano deposits to be used by Peru as a means of making or prolonging war against herself. No contract or stipulation made by Peru, relating to or affecting the guano subsequent to the 14th of April, 1864, when the islands came into the posses sion of Spain, would be recognized by this government; those made previously would be religiously observed. The Spanish government would establish a system by which the guano could be supplied to consumers as heretofore, by constituting Spanish agents in place of Peruvian in the ports of different countries, to whom the value of cargoes should be paid, which sums would be sequestered by the Spanish government until the events of the war, or the conditions of the treaty of peace, should definitively dispose of them. Mr. Llorente was careful to repeat that the sums received by the Spanish agents for the sale of guano would not be immediately appropriated by Spain as her own property, but they would be held and ac counted for by her according to subsequent treaty stipulations with Peru, keeping in view always the compensation of her war expenses until Peru should agree to terms of peace and friendly intercourse. Spain meant by this means to secure a guarantee of indemnity for her own war expenses whilst she deprived Peru of the resources afforded by this treas ure, now in Spanish keeping, and at the same time responded to the commercial wants of other countries not implicated in this quarrel. He thought he ought to announce these ideas or plans of the Spanish gov ernment to me, and he would be glad to know what I thought of them, whether there would be any difficulty interposed by my government to the substitution in the United States of the Peruvian consignees of guano by Spanish agents in the manner indicated. I said that I could give no reply in the name of my government to the indications he had made, but I would write to Mr. Seward, and whatever instructions he might send me I would make haste to communicate to Mr. Llorente. In reply to a remark of my own referring to the mortgage already made by Peru of the guano deposits as a security for the payment of her national debt, Mr. Llorente said: We shall not remove that security; the islands are always there, the guano deposits are practically inexhaustible, and we have declared that we will return them to Peru on the termination of the war. If our |