DISPATCH RECEIVED FROM the Vice-Commander Hu Sun-pu of Heilung-kiang province stating that the Russian boats were going to the Eastern Sea by way of the rivers Amur and Sungari owing to recent events whereby various islands lying on the east have been occupied by England. News of such a necessary measure has been communicate to the Lifan Yuan of Peking and free passage asked for. Hu Sun-pu, lacking instructions, naturally stopped them and was informed that their chief would come soon. Later in the afternoon, a large steamer with a bronze funnel anchored at the north bank of the city surrounded by several boats. Hu Sun-pu went on board, together with one of his associates, and saw the Russian Commander by the name of Muraviev who told them that he was ordered to come to rescue the eastern islands invaded by England. He was making a short cut through the Amur and Sungari, and he would not cause any disturbance to the locality to be passed through. Hu Sun-pu asked why there was no previous information, and then made further enquiries if any more men were coming. The reply was that there were only a thousand this time and more to come. At this juncture, a special delegation was sent to investigate the situation on the Russian bank of the river. It was afterwards reported that there were altogether eighty-three boats with more than two thousand men. There was plenty of provisions but not much ammunition. Besides this, there were four rafts with about one hundred horses and eighty oxen together with two boats loaded with women. Since entering Chinese territory, they had not molested any one. Hu-Sun-pu insisted that they should stop and sail no farther, but knowing the Chinese were not well prepared, he afterwards let them pass through in order to avoid any possible conflict. Some delegations were sent to pursue them to make investigations. The foregoing important report is hereby sent together with a copy of a dispatch given by the Russian Commander to the Lifan Yuan for your consideration.