Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 77

1812.

Journal of Occurrences.

للات

There are, however, indications of an approaching struggle, which, while it surely will open the empire, may close for ever the reign of the Mantchou dynasty.

2. The late Thomas Beale left his residence in Macao about 5 o'clock, P. M., December 10th, and, as many others are in the daily habit of doing, walked across the Praya Grande and Campo towards the Barrier; and at twilight was met by gentlemen in the path near the village of Mongha, not far from Casilha's bay. From that time, all inquiries for him were fruitless till the 13th instant. On the 2d, some Portuguese lads, who were amusing themselves at the bay, discovered the top of a human skull; and part of a man's waistcoat was seen after they had scraped away a little of the sand. These lads, and another with them, saw the same on the 12th. But it was only on the 13th, that they reported thereof, when about 2 P. M., the Portuguese authorities, accompanied by several English gentlemen and two sur- geons, proceeded to the spot. It was near the north end of Casilha's bay, 20 or 30 yards above high water mark. The body was lying in rather a curved position, the lower extremities extended nearly par- allel with the earth's surface, about two feet beneath it. The clothes were identified as those of Mr. Beale, and bore the initials of his name. Scarcely a remnant of flesh was remaining on the head; the teeth had fallen out; and the truuk was much decayed. No marks of violence were discovered upon it, nor was there anything, so far as we know, that could indicate in what way, or when, the body had been there placed. After an exmaination of the corpse, it was borne in a coffin to the English cemetery in Macao. There, on the morn- ing of the next day, a further examination was made; and at 5 o'clock P. M., the funeral ceremonies were performed. His remains now lie buried close by those of Daniel Beale, nephew of the deceased, who died in 1827. We refrain from all comments, leaving it for time, or the records of the last day, to disclose the causes and particular means, by which the deceased was removed from the light of life. He arrived in China in the 17th year of his age, and had resided in this country about 50 years.

Here-to turn from the melancholy scene we have been describing, it will be neither out of place, nor unacceptable to our readers, briefly to notice the aviary and garden attached to Mr. Beale's establishment, which have given m considerable celebrity. The aviary, made of wire, was placed at the western end of the house in the garden, and by its position was excellently screened from the winds. It contained half a dozen large trees, with a few smaller shrubs, a small artificial pool of water, and perches, roosts, and cages arrang- ed in good order for the accommodation of the inmates, while ? complete view of the whole could be had from the window of the din ing-room, without disturbing them. The gallinaceous birds, pheasants, jungle-cocks, partridges, and pigeons of various sizes and most splendid plumage formed the principal ornaments of the collection in the aviary: the graceful and superb silver pheasant, the splendidly colored golden and medallion pheasants, together with the large