residing even in the City of
the City of Macao, and although circumstances have led to her exercising an undefined authority with respect to the subjects and citizens of foreign States similarly situated; yet even as regards Portuguese foreign Subjects, the Governor and Senate of Macao are not, I understand, vested with the power of life and death, and have to send all such Criminals as are likely to demand condign punishment for trial to You.
Supposing however, that the opinion of Her Majesty's Advocate General be perfectly correct (and I repeat that I dissent from it with extreme deference), I presume, that the essence of the Treaties between England and Portugal was intended to be rigidly reciprocal, and Consequently were they infringed by one party to them, that infringement would, I conceive, virtually absolve the other party from its engagements. Now not only have
the Portuguese Authorities at Macao frequently of late years set at nought that provision of the treaty respecting Her Majesty's Subjects being considered and treated as those of the most favoured Nation, but they have on every occasion taken part with the Chinese Government against us; have driven Her Majesty's Subjects at a few hours' notice from their houses and property under an Official declaration that they dared not disobey the Edicts of the High Chinese Officers to that effect; have distantly and unconditionally declined our proffered assistance to defend Macao against the Chinese Troops which were ordered to proceed there "to expel the English"; have always refused - even in times of peace and amity, and do so at this instant - on the same plea of it's being contrary to the Commands and wishes of the Chinese Government – to allow British Ships or even Merchant Vessels, to enter the Harbour
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of War,
NDEX.