Taiwan August 5, 1884: The Langston Affair

 When I am interested in looking into Taiwan’s history, I might refer to the Political and Economic reports, written and sent to London or embassies by the British consuls stationed in Tamsui, Taiwan from 1861 to 1960. These letters were originally confidential, so their content could end up being quite candid. Consuls did not have to worry about politics or accidentally frenzying the public, being accused of being a bunch of foreigners meddling or whatever. The following is an account from 1884. The letter was sent to Beijing, to Sir Harry S. Parkes, and dated August 5, 1884. The sender’s surname might have been surnamed Gregory. The cursive is beautiful but at times hard to read.  I cannot make out the first name:

“Sir,” the consul writes after supposedly rushing back to Tamsui: “The state of affairs here is quiet, thus far. The distressing news of the Langston affair and consequent alarms, reached me at Takow on the 18^th Ultimo.” Takow is the old name for Kaohsiung. This is the first time I have heard of Langston. Gregory had come north overland. On the way, he met soldiers from Hunan in an inn he stayed at. Enquires were made to whether coastal defenses were in place and could hold. For what these coastal defenses were needed is not explained.

Gregory was told General Yang (楊在元) was on his way out. Imperial Commissioner Lew (留銘傳) was “expected to arrive here from the north of the island but has not come.” This is where the letter gets confusing. The consul wrote on the previous page: “I came up from Takow hither overland, sleeping in an inn.” Now he is meeting an “ordinary official” that afternoon in Anping on business relating to land. Gregory informs Beijing that Lew has ordered the discontinuance of train-bands. The arsenal steamer Fuk-po steamed into port July 21, 1884 from Amoy.

This letter was sent one day after the French Far East Fleet attacked Taiwan at Keelung. Another thing that gets my attention is the mention of Imperial Commissioner Lew (留銘傳). I suppose this explains the confusion. Gregory may have even been purposely vague on his whereabouts, just in case the letter fell into the wrong hands. He still had not gotten the lay of the land.

Some see Lew (normally spelled Liu now) as an important figure in Taiwan’s history. In 1885, Lew became Taiwan’s first provincial governor when the government in Beijing

separated the island from Fujian. He was the first locally based governor in Taiwan since the end of the Koxinga era which ended in 1683. Local politicians have likened themselves to Liu, see Ma Ying-jeou. He was appreciated for his modernity and honesty. He came over from China, so he was like a waishengren (外省人).  

I will put a picture of the handwriting. I should come back to Liu. I will later.