No. 16.—The Mandarin
Correspondence concerning the bastinadoing of a British subject in the village of Ching-Wang, 30 miles from Shang-Hai.
1. To the British Consul at Shang-Hai:—
From Ching-Wang.
April 2.
Sir,
I write to say as how I have been bastinadoed on both feet. My feet is swole something cruel. This was done by the Mandarin Lu-Chu. He says as how I stole his cherries, which I never done it. Please investigate. I am a British subjick, which my mother was a Chinee.
Yours truly,
Fu-ling Thompson.
2. To His Complacency the Mandarin Lu-Chu:—
From Consul’s House, Shang-Hai.
April 8.
Having been informed by the half-caste Fu-Ling Thompson, a British subject, that corporal punishment had been unjustly inflicted upon him by your orders, I sent my agent to investigate the matter. He informs me that Thompson speaks the truth, and that you yourself are perfectly aware of the man’s innocence. I therefore suggest that, to avoid complications with H.M. Government, you compensate Mr. Thompson to the extent of £50 or 100,000 sens.
H. Caslon, British Consul.
3. (Translation.)
To the British Consul:—
From Ching-Wang.
Almighty Consul whose face shines like the moon. I cannot give Mr. Thompson 100,000 sens, for I am a poor man. Moreover, the cherries were stolen. It was right and fitting that someone should be bastinadoed.
Lu-Chu.
4. To Lieut.-Commander Hanlon of H.M.S. Laverock:—
(Per picket boat.)
From Consul’s House, Shang-Hai.
April 12.
Dear Hanlon,
The Mandarin of Ching-Wang has been up to his old tricks again—bastinadoing a British subject. I have ordered him to pay the man £50 and he refuses. I suggest that you make a demonstration. (Correspondence enclosed.)
Yours,
H. Caslon.
5. (By Wireless.)
To Admiral Groves, China Station:—
April 12.
Another case of unjustified bastinadoing. Mandarin refuses compensation. What steps may I take?
Hanlon,
Lieut.-Commander.
6. (By Wireless from H.M.S. Thunderer):—
Leave entirely in your hands. Use great firmness but avoid complications.
Groves,
Admiral.
7. From H.M.S. Laverock (by letter):—
April 13.
To his Complacency the Mandarin Lu-Chu.
In the matter of the bastinadoing of Mr. Thompson, a British subject, the case as you know has been investigated, and I am authorized to demand the immediate payment of 100,000 sens. Unless this demand is complied with before 4 o’clock, I shall be reluctantly compelled to blow your house to pieces.
Hanlon,
Lieut.-Commander.
8. To Lieut.-Commander Hanlon (translation):—
Most superb Lieutenant-Commander, whose guns roar like many devils. I cannot pay Mister Thompson 100,000 sens, for I am a poor man. Moreover, I did but beat him upon the soles of his feet.
Lu-Chu.
9. To the British Consul at Shang-Hai:—
From H.M.S. Laverock.
April 14.
Dear Caslon,
Lu-Chu flatly refused to pay; so, with the Admiral’s leave, I took the law into my own hands. At ten past four I stood right into the harbour and fired a large wad of cotton-waste into his cherry-trees. The old fellow was frightened out of his life, and sent the money within five minutes.
Yours,
J. Hanlon.