Gov.YehpolitelyandcalmlyrespondstothearrogantdemandsoftheexcitedyoungBritishConsul\'.Hestatesthereasonofthearrest,andregretsthatthereshouldhavebeenanymisunderstandinginthematter;
atthesametimeheunqualifiedlydeniestheslightestintentionofinsultingtheEnglishflag,andsendsbackthemen,whom,althoughlawfullyarrested,hedesirednottodetainattheexpenseofsoseriousamisunderstanding.ButthisisnotsatisfactorytoMr.ConsulParkes-hemusthaveanofficialapology,andamoreformalrestitution,orGov.Yehmustabidetheconsequences.NextarrivesAdmiralSeymourwiththeBritishfleet,andthencommencesanothercorrespondence,dogmaticandthreateningonthesideoftheAdmiral;cool,unimpassioned,polite,onthesideoftheChineseofficial.AdmiralSeymourdemandsapersonalinterviewwithinthewallsofCanton.Gov.
Yehsaysthisiscontrarytoallprecedent,andthatSirGeorgeBonhamhadagreedthatitshouldnotberequired.Hewouldreadilyconsenttoaninterview,asusual,outsidethewalledtownifnecessary,ormeettheAdmiral\'swishesinanyotherwaynotcontrarytoChineseusageandhereditaryetiquette.ButthisdidnotsuitthebellicoserepresentativeofBritishpowerintheEast.
Uponthegroundsthusbrieflystated——andtheofficialaccountsnowbeforethepeopleofEnglandfullybearoutthestatement——thismostunrighteouswarhasbeenwaged.TheunoffendingcitizensandpeacefultradesmenofCantonhavebeenslaughtered,theirhabitationsbatteredittotheground,andtheclaimsofhumanityviolated,ontheflimsypretencethat\"EnglishlifeandpropertyareendangeredbytheaggressiveactsoftheChinese!\"TheBritishGovernmentandtheBritishpeople——atleast,thosewhohavechosentoexaminethequestion——
knowhowfalseandhollowaresuchcharges.Anattempthasbeenmadetodivertinvestigationfromthemainissue,andtoimpressthepublicmindwiththeideathatalongseriesofinjuries,precedingthecaseofthelorchaArrow,formofthemselvesasufficientcasusbelli.Butthesesweepingassertionsarebaseless.TheChinesehaveatleastninety-nineinjuriestocomplainoftooneonthepartoftheEnglish.