Mr. Denby to Mr.
Sherman.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, December 16,
1897.
No. 2845.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a copy of a
letter from Rev. F. B. Brown, an American missionary, to Consul Child,
setting forth that he has taken up his permanent residence in the
Province of Hunan; also a copy of the governor’s proclamation touching
that event. This is the first permanent lodgment made in Hunan by
foreigners, and is, therefore, worthy of notice. Hunan is about the size
of the State of Kansas. Its population has been intensely hostile to
foreigners. The main exports are tea and coal. Other exports are tea
oil, ground-nut oil, hemp, tobacco, rice, iron, copper, tin, and coarse
paper. The timber trade in pine, fir, laurel, and other woods is
important. The province is well watered. The capital, Changsha, lies on
the River Siang. Siangtan, at the confluence of the Lien-ki, is a city
of 1,000,000 people, and one of the greatest tea mats in China.
I have requested the consul to give some account of Ch’ang Teh Fu.
I have, etc.,
[Page 211]
[Inclosure in No. 2845.]
Mr. Brown to Mr.
Child.
Ch’ang The Fu, November 12, 1897.
Dear Sir: Inclosed you will find copy of
the proclamation put out by the officials here. I think it is all
that could be desired in recognizing our rights to rent here.
Everything continues very quiet here, and the people are friendly,
while the officials are diligent to see that we have no trouble.
Between ten and twenty of these proclamations have been posted at
various places in the city that I know of. Yamên runners are
detailed daily to look after us. Also a small official called “wei
uln” has told us he has taken up residence in a temple close at hand
to protect us. Besides this, ten soldiers have been quartered close
at hand to be at our disposal should they be needed.
This is the present favorable state of things here, and resulting
largely, I believe, from your representations on our behalf.
I believe that the putting out of these proclamations is a token of
the opening of this closed province to the Gospel and to the
foreigner in a way that has not been heretofore.
Very truly, yours,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
2845.]
Copy of proclamation.
Joh
Teh Hu Ling, Magistrate,
15th
10 Moon Kwansu, 23d
Year.
Notification is hereby given to notify all nations’ missionaries who
are going inland to rent houses or ground. I have had a dispatch
from the Emperor stating that it is legal, according to the treaty,
to rent houses or ground, and also I had a dispatch from the viceroy
instructing me to protect all missionaries coining to my
district.
There are two American missionaries, Mr. “Kiang A Teh,” “Be Liang
Jing,” who have rented a house outside of the west gate, and have
made a written agreement for the house; therefore I have sent my
proclamation around, instructing and prohibiting my subjects from
troubling them in any way.
