;
!
4
mitted to do so would be inconsistent with those agreements with the Chinese under which the Portuguese occupied Macao.
Nevertheless, when on the 23rd September, 1822, a Constitution for the Portuguese Monarchy was promulgated, "the establishments at Macao" were enumerated therein as forming part of the Portuguese territory in Asia. State Papers, vol. ix, p. 921, Art. 20, § 4. So, again, on the 29th April, 1826, when a new Constitutional Charter was promulgated, "the establishments at Macao" were again mentioned as being included among the Portuguese possessions in Asia. State Papers, vol. xiii, p. 959; Art. 2, § 3.
This fact was alluded to by the Portuguese Government in the correspondence which passed in 1849, with regard to the imprisonment of a British subject at Macao, and to which reference will be made in order of date.
1835.
In 1835 a case occurred which it may be as well to record. Some English gentlemen, who were passing Macao in a Chinese boat, were fired at, to bring them to, by one of the forts of the Portuguese Settlement.
The Superintendents of British Trade in China, who were then resident at Macao, remonstrated against this proceeding. The Governor vindicated it, and, at the same time, gave the Superintendents to understand that he could not recognize them in any official character. Superintendents, No. 10; Macao, November 23, 1835.
The British Minister at Lisbon was, in consequence, instructed to acquaint the Portuguese Government that the British Superintendents "had been appointed by virtue of a Royal Commission, for the purpose of protecting and promoting the trade of Her Majesty's subjects with the Chinese, and that they were authorized to exercise their functions within the limits of the port of Canton and at the Settlement of Macao;" and he was, at the same time, directed to express to the Government of Portugal "the hope of Her Majesty's Government that the Governor of Macao might be informed that any representations which the Superintendents might have occasion, in the discharge of their duty, to address to the authorities of a Sovereign in alliance with Her Majesty, ought to be received with due credit and courtesy." To Lord Howard de Walden, No. 68; July 30, 1836.
In compliance with this request an instruction to that effect was soon afterwards sent by the Minister of Marine to the Governor of Macao; and the British Minister was directed to return the acknowledgments of his Government for the promptitude with which his representations had been attended to. Lord Howard de Walden, No. 194; August 28, 1836. State Papers, vol. xxv, page 446.
1836.
On the 31st December, 1836, Captain Elliot, Superintendent of the Trade of British subjects in China, who had transferred his residence from Canton to Macao, with the permission of the Chinese authorities, acting under instructions from the Foreign Office, issued a public notice to the effect that the powers of the British Superintendent were extended so as to include Lintin and Macao; but to satisfy the Portuguese Government, who up to that time had refused to recognize any British official stationed at Macao, Captain Elliot added these words: "Although without prejudice to the just rights, authority, and sovereignty of the Government of Her Most Faithful Majesty the Queen of Portugal at Macao, and the anchorages thereto subject." State Papers, vol. xxvii, p. 759.
1838.
On the 4th April, 1838, a new Constitution was promulgated for the Portuguese Monarchy, and it was again recorded therein that "the establishments at Macao" were comprised within the Portuguese territories in Asia.
1839.
In 1839, during the events which led to the war which broke out between Great Britain and China, in consequence of the violent proceedings of the Chinese towards British subjects, Her Majesty's Superintendent in China placed British subjects at Macao under the protection of the Portuguese authorities, and the Governor of Macao announced his intention to protect them as far as was within his power.
The Chinese authorities, being informed of this,
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;
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4
mitted to do so would be inconsistent with those
agreements with the Chinese under which the
Portuguese occupied Macao.
Nevertheless, when on the 23rd September, 1822, State Papers, vol. ix, p. 921,
Art. 20, § 4. a Constitution for the Portuguese Monarchy was promulgated, "the establishments at Macao enumerated therein as forming part of the Portu-
31
were
Art. 2, § 3.
guese territory in Asia. So, again, on the 29th April, State Papers, vol. xiii, p. 959; 1826, when a new Constitutional Charter was pro- mulgated, "the establishments at Macao" were again mentioned as being included among the Portuguese possessions in Asia.
This fact was alluded to by the Portuguese Government in the correspondence which passed in 1849, with regard to the imprisonment of a British subject at Macao, and to which reference will be made in order of date.
1835.
In 1835 a case occurred which it may be as well to record. Some English gentlemen, who were passing Macao in a Chinese boat, were fired at, to bring them to, by one of the forts of the Portu- guese Set lement.
The Superintendents of British Trade in China, who were then resident at Macao, remonstrated against this proceeding. The Governor vindicated it, and, at the same time, gave the Superintendents
to understand that he could not recognize them in any official character,
Superintendents, No. 10;
Macao, November 23, 1835.
The British Minister at Lisbon was, in conse- To Lord Howard de Walden,
No. 68; July 30, 1836. quence, instructed to acquaint the Portuguese Government that the British Superintendents "had been appointed by virtue of a Royal Commission, for the purpose of protecting and promoting the trade of Her Majesty's subjects with the Chinese, and that they were authorized to exercise their functions within the limits of the port of Canton and at the Settlement of Macao;" and he was, at the same time, directed to express to the Govern- ment of Portugal "the hope of Her Majesty's Government that the Governor of Macao might be informed that any representations which the Super- intendents might have occasion, in the discharge of their duty, to address to the authorities of a Sovereign in alliance with Her Majesty, ought to be received with due credit and courtesy.
Lord Howard dé Walden, No. 194;
August 28, 1836.
In compliance with this request an instruction to that effect was soon afterwards sent by the Minister of Marine to the Governor of Macao; and the British Minister was directed to return the acknowledgments of his Government for the promptitude with which his representations had been attended to.
State Papers, vol, xxv, page 446.
1836.
On the 31st December, 1836, Captain Elliot, Superintendent of the Trade of British subjects in China, who had transferred his residence from Canton to Macao, with the permission of the Chinese authorities, acting under instructions from the Foreign Office, issued a public notice to the effect that the powers of the British Superintendent were extended so as to include Lintin and Macao; but to satisfy the Portuguese Government, who up to that time had refused to recognize any British official stationed at Macao, Captain Elliot added these words: "Although without prejudice to the just rights, authority, and sovereignty of the Government of Her Most Faithful Majesty the Queen of Portugal at Macao, and the anchorages thereto subject."
State Papers, vol. xxvii, p. 759.
To Baron Moncorve';
September 29, 1849.
Parliamentary Paper, 1840,
p. 407.
Page 408.
1838.
On the 4th April, 1838, a new Constitution was promulgated for the Portuguese Monarchy, and it was again recorded therein that "the establishments at Macao
were comprised within the Portuguese territories in Asia,
>>
1839.
In 1839, during the events which led to the war which broke out between Great Britain and China, in consequence of the violent proceedings of the Chinese towards British subjects, Her Majesty's Superintendent in China placed British subjects at Macao under the protection of the Portuguese authorities, and the Governor of Macao announced his intention to protect them as far as was within his power.
The Chinese authorities, being informed of this,
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140
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