Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 1, 1873, Part I, General Correspondence; and Papers Relating to Naturalization and Expatriation, Volume I

No. 80.
Mr. Low to Mr. Fish

Legation of the United States,
Peking, July 22, 1873. (Received September 19.)

No. 277.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith two letters addressed to me, one by the North China branch of the American Board for Foreign Missions, and the other by the members of the Methodist Episcopal mission in Peking, thanking me for the aid I have been able to render the missionary cause generally, and these two missions particularly.

Heretofore I have refrained from troubling the Department with papers of this nature, nor should I depart from my usual custom now were it not that I understand these papers have already been given to the public through the press.

I have, &c.,

FREDERICK F. LOW.

P. S.—Since writing the foregoing I have received another letter of the same kind, copy of which, together with my reply, are inclosed.

F. F. L.

[Inclosure 1.]

Mr. Chapin to Mr. Low.

Peking, May 6, 1872.

Sir: The members of the North China mission of the American Board, now in session, desire to convey to you their grateful appreciation of the services rendered to the cause of Christian missions in China by the promptness and energy with which you secured redress for violence done to the Rev. Isaac Pierson in December last, by an angry mob in Yu-Cheu.

We cannot refrain from referring also to the more recent and more perplexing difficulty arising out of the renting of a building for public preaching in the southern city of Peking by the American Methodist mission. In this case your firm and just course in defending the rights of the missionaries against the measures employed by unscrupulous Chinese officials to prevent the occupation of the premises acquired in good faith, will, in our opinion, tend to the security of the lives and property of foreigners in China.

At a time when the cause of Christian missions has become so prominent a topic of international discussion, it is to us a reason for thanksgiving that we can feel that the representative of the American Government is just to missionaries; is in sympathy with their labors for the elevation of the heathen to the enjoyment of the moral and spiritual blessings of Christian lands, and is willing, within the limits of treaty rights, to protect them in their labors.

With consideration, we have, &c.,

In behalf of the mission—

• L. D. CHAPIN,
  Chairman.
• H. BLODGET,
  Secretary.

[Inclosure 2.]

American missionaries to Mr. Low.

Hon. F. F. Low, Esq.:

Dear Sir: Having learned that your excellency is about to leave the capital, we, the undersigned members of the Methodist Episcopal mission in North China, deem it a fitting opportunity to give expression to the following sentiments:

• First. The deep obligations we are under to your excellency for the prompt, able, and successful vindication of our right to hold chapel premises, lawfully purchased by us, in the southern city of Peking, and that, too, in the face of determined hostility to us on the part of certain influential mandarins.
• Second. Our deliberate conviction that the policy which has characterized your excellency’s administration, not only in this particular instance, but in connection with every missionary question so far as known to us that has come before your excellency for action, has been marked by a sound judgment, and by the energy and moderation which are wisely designed to promote a harmonious settlement of the somewhat precarious relations now existing between foreigners and natives in China.

We subscribe ourselves your excellency’s most obedient servants,

• S. N. WHEELER.
• H. H. LOWRY.
• G. R. DAVIS.
• L. W. PILCHER.

Peking, April 2, 1873.

[Inclosure 3.]

American missionaries to Mr. Low.

Sir: The American missionaries resident in Peking desire to express to you on your departure from this city their sense of the ability, discretion, and firmness which has characterized the discharge of your official duties, and they congratulate you, as well on the happy adjustment of many difficult questions in regard to the work of missions, as also on the success which has attended the efforts to secure an audience with the Emperor of China without disturbing the peaceful relations now existing between this and other countries. In all these concessions we believe China to have been not less the gainer than those nations by which the concessions were urged. The mutual benefit of these transactions will be more apparent in the time to come.

In your departure from Peking you carry with you not only our high esteem, but the regards of personal friendship, and our best wishes for your future welfare.

We have, &c.,

• H. BLOGET.
• JOHN WHERRY.
• H. H. LOWRY.
• J. L. WHITING.
• P. R. HUNT.
• L. W. PILCHER.
• G. S. J. SCHEREZCHEWSKY.
• D. C. McCOY.
• D. Z. SHEFFIELD, Tung Cha.
• CHAUNCEY GOODRICH, Tung Cha.
• HENRY D. PORTER, Tien-tsin.
• CHESTER HALCOMB.
• W. PA. P. MARTIN.

Peking, July 17, 1873.

[Inclosure 4.]

Mr. Low to the American missionaries.

Peking, July 22, 1873.

Gentlemen: I have received your letter of the 17th instant, in which you express in highly complimentary terms your appreciation and approval of my course as the representative of the United States in China.

You refer specially to the adjustment of some difficulties in connection With the missionary interest, and the peaceful and proper settlement of the audience question, as among the more important questions with which it has been my fortune to deal.

In reply, I have to say that as the representative of the United States it has been my constant aim and endeavor to secure to all our citizens, irrespective of their calling or profession, every right which an honest construction of the treaties and the well-settled principles of public law would warrant, at the same time doing what I could to promote a better understanding between the Chinese government and those of the West. To what extent my efforts have been successful I leave for others to judge.

Your letter, coming as it does from those whose residence is in and near the capital, whose opportunities have been and are good for gaining a fairly accurate knowledge of the bearing of the various questions which have come up for discussion, and are therefore able to estimate properly the loss or gain to foreign interests by what I have been able to do, either individually or acting jointly with my colleagues, is to me very gratifying.

That the recent public recognition by the Emperor of China of the equality of western nations will have the effect to improve relations I cannot for a moment doubt. Whether the results will be all that we hope for, or even expect, time alone can determine.

In leaving, this city I shall carry with me the remembrance of your unvarying courtesy and kindness, and this recollection will add to my interest in your future welfare and happiness, and the cause to which your lives are dedicated.

I reciprocate most cordially your expressions of personal regard and esteem.

I am, &c.,

FREDERICK F. LOW.