182
Journal of Occurrences
March,
d'agradecer thins com tadas as minhas forças. Resta-me pois dezejar a V. S. a mais prospera viagem, e que em o sen paiz natal possa encontrar tantas venturas quan- tas tem direito a esperar.
Sou com os sentimentos da mais perfeita consideração, () mais attento venerador obediente servo,
AdriaŬ ACCACIO DA SILVeira Pisto
Ilmo. Sr. James Matheson
(Translation )
Macao, 10th March, 1842. Sir,-In your letter of this date, of which I now have the honor to acknow- ledge the receipt, and desirous that you should not leave without a reply, you inform me of your departure for Europe, and your wish to perpetuate your memory in this settlement by some act of public beneficence, to do which you have placed at my disposal the sum of five thousand dollars. It would be criminal, or at least very censurable, in me, to refuse a gift which is designed for the public good, or to fail to express, notwithstanding your wishes to the contrary, my sincerest gratitude. I could have wished that you had designated the mode of applying this sum, but since your extreme delicacy has perhaps prevented this, I, in conjunction with the loyal senate of the city, well endeavor to fulfill the trust in a manner satisfactory both to the donor and the public to whom it is presented. As to the sentiments in your letter addressed to me personally, though I attribute them more to your partiality than to my merits, you will please accept my best thanks. It remains only to wish you a very pleasant voyage, and that in your native land, you may meet all that good fortune you have a right to expect.
I am, with sentiments of highest esteem,
Sir, your humble and ob'dt servant, ADRIAŎ ACCACIO DA SILVEIRA PINTO.
TO JAMES Matheson, ESQ.
3.
The defenses at and below Canton are noticed in the follow- ing Circular, addressed to "the mercantile community of Ilong- kong, Macao, &c., &c.," dated "Government House, Hongkong, March 22d, 1842."
Gentlemen,-You are aware that some of the hong-merchants lately paid a visit to Macao, and it is probably by this time known to most of you that that the object of that visit was to find out whether the provincial government of Canton would be allowed to rebuild the Bogue and other dismantled forts, or to erect new ones, on this side of the Whampoa anchorage.
Although I of course declined having any sort of intercourse with the hong-mer- chants, I took advantage of the kindness of a friend to let these individuals know, in distinct terms. that orders had been long issued to prevent the repair of the old, or the erection of any new forts, lower down than Whampoa, and that the conse- querce of any attempt of the sort would be the renewal of hostilities in the Canton river, the stoppage of trade, and consequent distress to the provincial city.
I trust this warning will have the desired effect, and that matters will be allowed to go on in their present tranquil course; but I nevertheless think it my duty to ac- quaint you with what has passed, as well as with my resolution, which has been fully approved and confirmed by the experienced judgment of the senior officer of H. M's navy in the Canton river; and in doing so I would request you indivi- dually and collectively to give me the earlest possible notice of any collecting of materials, assemblage of workmen, or other apparently defensive (though in reality offensive) preparations that yourselves or your agents may perceive on the river below Whampoa. It is superfluous for me to observe that the safety of the ship- ping and their crews at that anchorage imperatively demand every precaution and vigilance, and I feel assured you will cheerfully aid me in the manner I
bave pointed out.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and faithful servant,
HENRY POTTINGER I M Plenipotentiary.
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