...
To 3.
Madame Marques to stay at Government House. He declined on
the grounds that they were both suffering from nervous
7
shock, but promised to come to tea (which they did) before
their departure. They left on Tuesday 5th. instant. Mean-
-while I had heard (on November 29th.) that there was some
anxiety in Hongkong among those who had relatives in
Macao. One gentlemen who had a daughter in the Convent had
I heard gone to bring her here and I received a letter
from the Honourable Mr. E. A. Hewett covering an appeal
from Mr. Soares and late in the evening I received
through my wife an urgent appeal from the Lady Superior
of the Italian Convent here urging me to take steps for
the safety of the sisters. I enclose copies of these
letters. I at once wrote to Chevalier Volpicelli, Consul-
-General for Italy, enquiring whether any of the ladies
were Italians, and in view of the fact that there is no
Italian Man-of-war in these waters at present whether he
endorsed the appeal. I asked also whether he had any
definite news and considered there was any danger. His
reply of which I attach a copy was re-assuring. I had
already earlier in the day telegraphed to the Governor
in the following terms:-
*Governor, Macao.
"Reports