of
Government has dropped all ideas
of gaining any jurisdiction in this islands,
and we are thus relieved from the necessity of further discussing the question
As the purport of this Despatch
belongs in great measure to the Colonial
Department, Your Lordship may perhaps be pleased to communicate a copy to
My Lord,
Your Most Obedient, Humble Servant
James
RECEIVED
SEP 23 1844
Extract from Letter to Lord Stanley,
21 December, 1843.
254
"The Portuguese pretended colony of Macao, known from long acquaintance with it, is rather a beacon to warn, than an example to follow. In fact it is not a Portuguese Colony, as the Chinese are acknowledged Sovereigns, and their people bear an overwhelming proportion to the Portuguese inhabitants. The latter pay
an annual rent as the condition of their tenancy at will. A Chinese Mandarin of the lowest Magistratial rank ('Chi-lary') issues
at once his licenses to the icon, and his orders to the head of the soldiers, or he calls the
Sa disant Governor on the part of the Portuguese. A Chinese Collector of Customs vocis the duties for the Emperor, and seizes Portuguese ships when he can fix any
in the act
of