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a strict look out, and who, fore seeing that he might eventually be apprehended and beheaded, was prevailed upon by some of the gentry to deliver himself up as the slayer of the Governor, in consideration of which a reward of $1000 would be paid to his relatives.
This opinion of Mr. Meadows is corroborated by a note received by Mr. Wade from a Chinese Correspondent, the day after Seu's letter to me arrived.
The note stated that Shiw chi liang, a notorious murderer from the district in which Macão lies, knowing that from the grave charges against him he must be beheaded if taken, gave himself up to justice, in the hope of having his sentence mitigated. Contrary to expectation, and usage, the authorities executed him two days afterwards, under a summary warrant. The note did not in any way connect this Shiw chi liang, whose execution took place, with the murder of the Governor of Macao, for which Seu deduces him to have suffered.
Up to this date I have heard nothing from the Portuguese authorities at Macao respecting the receipt of the head and hand of the late Governor, or the head of the alleged assassin.
Upon reviewing the whole of the particulars of which I am at present in possession, I cannot divest myself of the belief that the man who has suffered was a supposititious offender; a fact quite in accordance with the custom of the Chinese when in a dilemma, as is proved by the existence of a law in their code against the personation of criminals. The difficulty of authenticating any report here or at Canton is however inconceivable, and Your Lordship will
142
6.
:
7.
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a strict look out, and who, fore seeing that he mach eventually be apprehended and
veheaded,
was
· prevailed upon by some of the gentry
to deliver himself ups as the suundered of the Governor, in consideration
of which is seward of $1000 would be paid to his relatives.
This
opinion of Mr. Meadows is corroborated by a note reecived by Mr. Wade from a Chinezo
Chinito Correspondent, the corning
of the day
Seu's letter to me arrived.
an
the district in
The note stated that Shiw chi liang, a notorious murderer of which Macão lies, knowing that from the gravd charges against hind he must be beheaded if takers, gave himself up to justice, in the hope of having his sentence degree. Contrary to vxpectation.
mitigated
and usage,
one.
usage, the authorities cxccuted him- two days afterwards, sender the summary
warrant - The note did not in
any way
connect this Shiw chi liang, whood cxccution
Sew nowe
·ts to
reports
one, with the murder
of the Governor of Macas, for which Sew deduces hind to have suffered.
Up to this date I have heard
nothing frond the Portuguese authorities at Macar respecting the receipt of the head and hand of the late Governor, or the head of the alleged. assassin.
Upon reviewing the whole of the particulars of which I am at present in possession, Leannot divest myself of the belief that the man who has suffered
142
supposititions offender ; a fact quite in accordance with, the custoud of the
Chinese when in a dilemma, as is
proved
by the existence of a laid in their code against the personation of friminals- The difficulty of authenticating any report here or at banton is however
inconceivable, and
Your Lordship will
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