§ MR. WAITasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to demand the punishment of the perpetrators 1879 of the treacherous massacre of Mr. Margary and his five servants at Manwine while engaged in Her Majesty's Consular service; and, whether he has any objection to state what directions, if any, have been given on the subject?
§ MR. DISRAELISir, we sent instructions to Mr. Wade, Her Majesty's Minister at Pekin; and Her Majesty's most able Minister at Pekin—for it would be impossible to speak too highly of his qualifications—to call upon the Chinese Government to make a strict investigation into all the circumstances connected with this deplorable affair; and, until we receive his Report, it will, of course, be out of our power to decide upon the steps we will take. The death of Mr. Margary is a public calamity. He was the son of a general officer in Her Majesty's service, and he was a young man of great promise and ability, who had displayed all those qualities which were suitable to the eminent career which I have no doubt awaited him had his life been spared. With regard to the circumstances which are known to Her Majesty's Government, this unhappy event occurred in a district scarcely within the boundary of the Chinese Empire, a district in which it is doubtful whether the power of the Imperial Government was clearly established, and which is inhabited by a mixed population of Shangs and Chinese. The moment the Government receive from Mr. Wade the result of his appeal to the Imperial Government, I shall have, I hope, to make a further communication to the House.