Treaties, Politics and the Limits of Local Diplomacy 149
prepared a letter to consular interpreter, W.R. Gingell, then Acting Vice
Consul-in-Charge, requesting his assistance in the matter.
Gingell asked a local ofβicial, Prefectural Assistant Guo Xuedian, to
procure a suitable residence for the two clergymen either within or just
outside the city. Guo was a Commissioner (weiyuan) appointed by the
provincial authorities to assist in foreign trade affairs.^5 After 15 days,
Guo sent a message to say that three houses were available along the Min
River. Two of these proved to be in a dilapidated condition. The third was
commodious, but it was subject to inundation.^6
A few days earlier, Gingell had located some rooms in a Buddhist
Shenguang Temple on Wushi (Black Rock) Hill, where the consulate
was also situated. With some alterations and repairs these would be
a reasonable place to stay, and the abbot of the temple was willing to
rent out the space. Gingell procured the rooms in his own name, and the
Bishop of Victoria, in a later comment on Gingell’s act, said he believed
that his previous appeal to the Foreign Secretary, Lord Palmerston, to
permit consular agents to act for missionaries in their dealings with
the Chinese had had a great effect on this occasion. On June 20, 1850,^7 a
contract was drawn up and forwarded to Magistrate Xinglian of Houguan
district for approval. After some minor alterations in the wording, the
Magistrate afβixed his ofβicial seal on the document, apparently believing
that Gingell was the lessee. The rent for the βirst three months at the rate
of 23 Spanish dollars per month was paid in advance.
Two days later, Xinglian sent a message to Gingell saying that the
literati were opposed to the leasing of the lodgings and were about to
petition the high-ranking provincial authorities on the subject. Worried
about the repercussions should this take place, the Magistrate asked
Gingell to give up the rooms. Gingell requested a written communication
from the Magistrate before he would make a reply. The next day he
received a message to this effect, and the abbot also came to ask for
cancellation of the lease. Various communications passed between
Gingell and the Chinese authorities, who argued that the lease was in
- FO 228/114, enclosure in no. 22, Gingell to Magistrate Xinglian, June 24, 1850.
- FO 228/114, no. 22, Gingell to Bonham, June 26, 1850.
- FO 228/114, enclosure in no. 23, n.d., Xinglian to Gingell.