No. 239.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Low.
Sir: With reference to your No. 29, dated 17th September, 1870, in relation to the removal of the American residents at Tung-chow to Che Foo on the British naval vessels Borassa and Grasshopper kindly placed at their disposal by Sir Henry Kellett, I have to inform you that I have instructed Mr. Benjamin Moran, the chargé d’affaires of the United States at London, to cause the grateful appreciation entertained by this government for the friendly and meritorious conduct of Sir Henry to be communicated to her Majesty’s government.
It is presumed that you have called upon Mr. Holmes for an explanation of his failure promptly to report to you upon the circumstances, which gave rise to the sudden exodus of the missionaries and other American residents from Tung-chow, and the manner of their departure. If not it would be well for you to do so, and it might be expedient to call the attention of other consular officers to the importance of promptly communicating with you in similar cases.