July 14. A large supply of wheat was brought over to the British legation from a grain store near the south bridge, and distributed in several storerooms throughout the compound. This was done as there had been some burning near there, and it was feared it would be destroyed. A messenger sent out by Mr. Tewksbury on the 10th instant returned, bringing a message supposed to have been written by Prince Ching. It was soon known to be an invitation to leave the legations and go to the tsung-li-yamen for protection, though the full translation was not put upon the bulletin board till the next day.
July 15. The following bulletin was posted at 1 p.m.:
A messenger sent out on July 10 by Mr. Tewksbury, with a letter for the troops, returned yesterday. He is the gate-keeper at the Nan Vang (south cathedral) and a Roman Catholic. He says he was arrested outside the Hatamen and taken to the Wofursu (temple?), his letter was taken from him, and he was beaten with eighty blows. He was then taken to Jung Lu’s headquarters in the imperial city. Here he found a man named Yu who formerly knew him as gate-keeper. He was there given a letter, purporting to be written by Prince Ching and others, addressed to the British minister, and told that men would wait at the water-gate to-night for an answer. A translation of the letter is annexed:
“For the last ten days the soldiers and militia have been fighting, and there has been no communication between us, to our great anxiety. Some time ago we hung up a board (referring to June 25) expressing our intentions, but no answer has been received, and, contrary to expectation, the foreign soldiers made renewed attacks, causing alarm and suspicion among people and soldiers.
“Yesterday the troops captured a convert named Chin Ssu Hai, and learned from him that the foreign ministers were all well, which caused us great satisfaction. But it is the unexpected that happens—the reinforcements of foreign troops were ever so long ago stopped and turned back by the Boxers, and if, in accordance with the previous agreement, we were to guard your excellencies out of the city, there are so many Boxers on the Tientsin-Taku road that we should be very apprehensive of misadventure.
“We now request your excellencies to first take your families and the various members of your staff, and leave your legations in detachments. You should select trustworthy officers to give close and strict protection, and you should temporarily reside in the tsung-li-yamen, pending future arrangements for your return home in order to preserve friendly relations intact from beginning to end. But at the time of leaving the legations there must on no account whatever be any single armed foreign soldier, in order to prevent doubt and fear on the part of the troops and people, leading to untoward incidents.
“If your excellency is willing to show this confidence, we beg you to communicate with all the foreign ministers in Peking, to-morrow at noon being the limit of time, and to let the original messenger deliver your reply, in order that we may settle in advance the day for leaving the legations. This is the single way of preserving relations that we have been able to devise in the face of innumerable difficulties. If no reply is received by the hour fixed, even our affection will not enable us to help you. Compliments.
PRINCE CHING AND OTHERS.”
“6th moon, 18th day [July 13, 1900].”