The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-04-04

Whampos, whom the officers and soldiers the look
out, errooeously supposng them to be Engiisdmen,
attacked them, and opened upon them thcir thunder
ing artillery. and seized the white gn, Taylor Mil
ler aud Coolidge, and others, ten 10 all. and also
seized trunk and bundle Of bsdding Among
thesp persons, three received severe wounds, and
were conveyed to the rebel-quelling CTsrtar) Gen
eral, fih bhon) who sent them to tbs Court oil The
Criminal Judge to be tried clearly to ascertain whe-
thor they were truly Americans, and H. upon trial, II
appeared they were not Englishpcn to set them at
liberty, and to return the original trunk and ether ar
ucies seized, and deliver them over TO the hwapg
Chowfoo, who should order tho Hong merchants To
receive and return them to their owners
Afterwards upon the 7th or 9Th month Of the same
year, il appears that MIR. Morse pettioned several
times respecting bis account books which he had not
been so fortunate as 10 recover. Upon which, Ne,
the Governor General issued bis edict commanding
the Hong merchants, How kwsr and others, IN his
behalf To make search aud find them, and also direct
cd the district magistrate TO urge dgent search
Upon the 5th month Of the 22d year OF Taou
kwang, it appears that Commodore Kearney, OF the
United States made a communication In which ne
stated that "Mr. Morse had lost his account books,
treasure and other articles also, that the ten men IN
the boat by the Consul Delano had been made known
to the Cohong, who sufficiently indemnfed them for
the loss of money, which indemnity had been divided
and distributed among them, sc"
Again on the 9th month Of the year, II sp-
pears that Mr.. Morse pettioned stating shat the
Chinese officers and soldiers, al the time Of Selling
the boat, killed young man, countrymaD OF ms,
named Sherry; and, also, that they speared and
wounded Taylor, Miller and several others, who, as
then had not received the besowment Of favor Sc"
Again; Governor Ke issued his edict TO the Hong
merchants TO treat them with increased liberalny.-
Furthermore, (he obseryed) the 4th month Of that
year a time when the soldiers In arms were IN
VOWED great confusion and Chinese soldiers and
people were wounded and slain The former without
number and how could hey have leisure TO secure
and protect the people and merchants oil all nations
II only fit that each acqucsce In Heavens decree
Transmit this proclamation 10 Mr. Morse, for his full
information"
Shortly after, upon the 10th of the 7th month, it
appears that the Consul Delano sent up communi-
cation translated into Chinese, in which he set forth
that she had received Commodore Kearneys instruc-
tons TO acquant the Hong merchants with this al
fair and TO deliberate upon and settle the indemnity
for the money and account books and that they had
managed the business properly, reckoning that the
Hong merchants should indemnify him to the amount
Of s., 800, which they had delivered over TO Mr.
Morse and had received his receipt" For Taylor and
Miller, who wounded and Sherry, who was kill
ed they have not received PREPARATION; but his eX
celency the Governor remarked in his reply, t was
time Of war and confusion, when Chinese soldiers and
people wounded and slain, the former innumer-
able and h, is only III that each acquiesce IN the de-
cree of Heaven ~ and Commodore kearny, seeing
this reply was most reasonable, could not force men
to make indemnity in money. Now, $500 have
been paid in full indemnity for every thing and all
having been properly and clearly disposed of, there
there be no further discussion thereof. This de.
Liberation and winding up Of the subject are on re-
cord.
/, the Minister, have again examined the original
petitions of Mr. Morse, which record, and in
which he states that Sherry received his mortal
wound at Whampoa" In the statement of the hon
orable Minister the man who killed was named
Shaye but that be is the same person whose case is
on record there can be no doubt the sound of the
characters being nearly the same this discrepancy
must aiise from slight mistake in the translation.
But in the time of the commencement of war, com
pared with lime of general peace when there is
trouble, the affair is widely different The Wham.
poa officers and soldiers who were on the lookout,
and who took these Americans, apprehended them to
be EDgsbmen, and by mistake seized, wounded, and
Injured them, and not on account of a clandestine
quarrel. When the Chinese high officers had clearly
tried them according to evidence, it right they
should set them at liberty, and they did immediate
ly 1t was also incumbent they should make ndem-
nifty, and, accordingly to justice, they made restitution
As 10 Sherry, he being dead, there was consequent
ly, no means Of making restitution.
That which Governor Ke, on former OCCASION
clearly and distinctly communicated to your honora
BILE nations Commodore kearney, respecting this
subject is exceedingly reasonable that there can be
further discussion of this business, which has been
uciOeTateu upon ana setlIeu. NOW, AFTER lapse
of several years. all the Whampoa officers and sol
diers having early dispersed and returned to their
ranks, still more without the means of ascer.
tanning truly who are the real persons who
ousy wounded Shayle, (Sherry,) causing his death ;
and II is right still, according to the original records
TO consider the matter settled.
II in time of general peace, when there is
trouble, the citizens of the two countries mutually
beat and kill each other still it will be right make
Investigations, and according to the treaty set
tied, each agreeably TO the laws of his country,
TO be judged clearly and forfeit his life and we can
not make rule of the on record
As is reasonable, have made clear investigation
and reply. Taking opportunity to present my COM
Pliments, and wishing you all tranquility requisite,
make this communication.
The above communication is to Gushing, Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoentiary of the
United Strtes of America
PETER PARKER,
Joint Chinese Secretary
TAou kwANe, Gath year, 9Th month, 18th day. July
9Th, lS4i)