It is to be remembered that Captain Dew had received and accepted the "apology" on the 27th, and had replied by stating, "we shall _not_ insist on the demolition of the battery." The renewal of the demands which had been formally abandoned on the previous day convinced the Ti-ping generals that Captain Dew was determined to quarrel with them. That officer knew perfectly well, as Colonel Sykes has forcibly expressed it, "that no human being with an ounce of militant blood in his veins would comply with such insulting demands." The Ti-ping generals, ever forbearing, and always truly earnest in their efforts to obtain the goodwill and friendship of the "foreign brethren," made the following admirable reply to Captain Dew's grossly offensive despatch, and its readers will find every word truth and sound reason:-- (Précis.) "Hwang, General, &c., Pang, General, &c., in official communication with Captain R. Dew, R.N., H.M.S. _Encounter_:--In reply to your letter requesting the removal of the battery and guns, we would remark that ever since the capture of Ningpo, both parties have been on most friendly and intimate terms. No suspicions or dislikes; _we have done everything in our power to protect your trade, and kept good faith in every respect_; have always inquired into complaints made to us of our soldiers, and even beheaded some men who broke into a foreign hong; _have wished to keep a lasting peace with you, and have done all in our power to that end_. "The discharge of bullets in firing the salute the other day was _quite accidental_;--have already taken steps towards punishing offenders. With regard to the erection of a fort at the point, _it is a precautionary measure that a proper regard for the lives of our soldiers renders indispensable, and has nothing whatever to do with foreigners_, as has been already stated to Captain Montgomerie. It is now completed, and we cannot assent to its removal; so also we cannot agree to the removal of the guns from the walls. We have continually esteemed good faith and right....