British Con ulate, Canton. December 18, 1847.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 193, 5 April 1848, Page 2

British Con ulate, Canton. Dece mber 18, 1847.

I have received your Excellency's note dated yesteiday. It is therein eiroueoubly stated that the six murdered Englishmen "filed pistols, and killed Ch)»esc in return merely to the shouts of the villagers, and were put to death on the B|>ur of the moment." The truth on the contiaiy j», ih«t being attacked acordmg to the previous lejKated declaration ot the villagers, they defended thrtnaelvcs with pistola, and som^ ot tliem being captured, were subsequently put to drath in cold Moot. This him been declared by several Chinese witnesses, and tla-ir statement will be forwarded to uiy Govi'ninieutj who will maturely considei it. It is thceiore useless to slur over the r< al facts. Your Excellency, in addiessmcf your Emperor, appears to have stated as foil >ws —" Should the (oreigneis change t > have any object in view, such as the renting of lanJs, the erection of buildings, or the like trifles, the Canton people collect a mob, and niterfeie with them by making a disturbance. The local autliorities holding the people to be foremost in consideration, think it inexpedient to thwart then inclinations seiiously, or to show a devious compliance with the requests of foreigners. 1' This indeed is tlu real truth, and bting contrary to the Tieaty, it ib the whole c.uue of the constant troubles at Canton, while at lhe other ports there is peipetual quiet. Since the Canton people have been thus encouraged against the foreigners, they are ready to murder them when they rnuiely take recreation in the country under ih- T.eaiy. Unless an example is mnde by executing tae criminals at Hw.ing-chuh-ke, foreigneis will continue to oe murdered by the villagers. Since your Excellency distinctly stipulates that these four executions are not the whole of the punishment to be inflicted, but that the remainder of the criminals will either be sentenced to decapitation, strangulation, military slavery, or transportation for life, m every case awaiting the confiimation of the Criminal Bo.ird, it may be sufficient for the present and in pait of my dero»nds, if these four criminals be decapitated wheie the crime was commuted, in presence ot my officers. The only object of punishment is example for the fu. ture, and I have already informed my Government that if the example is uot imule at Hwang-chuh-ke, i

will be a mere mockery, and wholly and entirely unavailing. t It is in vain to waste more words on this subject, and if your Excellency will not make the example at the place where the crime was committed, our preient negotiations ought to stop. Accept the assurances, &c , &c M J.E. Davis. To his Excellency Keying, &c, &c. &c. (True Copy.) A.R. Johnston.