I beg that your Excellency
will receive this statement, which is made in a hurry, as a protest - the only means left me of expressing my regret at the insult which has been offered to the Portuguese Flag by Captain Henry Keppel, R.N., Commanding Her Britannic Majesty's Naval Forces in this colony, without provocation from any of the subjects of Her Most Faithful Majesty.
I must not conclude without also stating that whatever the Government of Her Britannic Majesty may think proper to propose in order to make Captain Keppel responsible, whatever may be the penalty that may be imposed on him, these steps will in no way prejudice the right of the relatives of the deceased persons to proceed against the aforesaid Captain before the proper Tribunals as the only one answerable for this unprovoked assassination.
God Preserve your Excellency.
Macao, 8th July, 1849.
The Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Sir George F. Bonham, Governor of Hongkong:
(Signed) Joao Maria Ferreira do Amaral.
(True Translation)
(Signed) L. d'Almada e Castro