[Extracts.]

Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward.

No. 3.]

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have visited Canton, where I had an interview with Laon, the governor general of the provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi. These provinces contain a population of thirty-five millions of people. The visit was made upon him at his official residence, and resulted in the fullest expression, on his part, of the good will of his people for us and our institutions. He informed me that the young Emperor would enter upon his official duties on the 9th of this month, and that Prince Kung would remain minister of foreign affairs, thus securing a continuance of the friendly relations which now exist between the Chinese and foreigners.

When the governor desired to return my visit, I left it optional with him to do so either at the house of Russell & Co., whose guest I was, or on board of the Hankow, a fine American steamer, which was kindly placed at my service. He instantly chose the latter. He came with a large retinue and seemed much pleased with what he heard and saw.

The manner of the interview is only important in that it was the first time any one of his rank, among the Chinese, ever came so near our western civilization, as manifested in the complex machinery of a steamboat.

I have received a despatch from Mr. M. C. Morrison, the British consul at Tangchowfoo, Yentai, informing me that, as he was the only foreign official at that place, he felt that it was his duty—the friends of the deceased consenting— to procure a post mortem examination of the bodies of the Rev. Mr. Holmes and the Rev. Mr. Parker, our missionaries, who were murdered by the rebels. The examination was made by Mr. Lagarde, surgeon of the first class of the French navy, who sent me a full report, for which he refused to accept the fee usual in such cases. I addressed warm letters of thanks to each of these gentlemen, and wrote them that I should bring their noble conduct to the attention of my government.

Our consuls, Messrs. Carpenter and Mangum, whose loss I feared in my last despatch, have arrived. I shall transfer the legation from Macao to Shanghai by the next steamer.

Your obedient servant,

A. BURLINGAME.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.