of one Shin chi liang, who had been executed at Bantow as the alleged murderer of Senhor Amaral. A day having been fixed for the reception of these remains, in the presence of the Council of Macao, and the Foreign Representatives residing at that Settlement, they all assembled at the Barrier for that purpose. But to the great astonishment of all parties, the magistrate of Bazar Branca declined giving them up until three Chinese, seized at the Barrier gate the very night the murder was accomplished, were delivered over by the Portuguese authorities. The latter declined complying with this undignified proposal, and the correspondence, enclosed in communications from the Council to myself, has been carried on ever since, and is not yet brought to an end to this day, and the head and hand are still in the possession of the Chinese authorities.
No. 14.
Nos. 15 & 17 220
On hearing from the Council the terms proposed by the Commissioner for the delivery of those remains, I addressed a note to the Chinese Minister, expressing my astonishment that he had not kept the promise which he had made both to the Portuguese authorities and to myself, and reprobating the idea of the head and hand being made a matter of barter. I annex a copy of his reply, and likewise copies of two other letters which have passed between us on the same subject. Your Lordship will observe from the Commissioner's reply of the 15th instant, that he reports the capture of two other Chinese, whom he states to have been engaged in the murder. One of these, it appears, was fired at when being seized in a boat, fell overboard, and was drowned; the other is reported to be dangerously wounded, and I shortly expect to hear that he has died.