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This 1897 report, originating from the Portuguese Consulate in Shanghai, provides a detailed account of the social, economic, and institutional condition of the Portuguese community—predominantly Macanese—in late 19th-century Shanghai. It highlights the challenges faced by the Consul General, who operated without formal support staff despite extensive responsibilities under extraterritorial jurisdiction, including legal, notarial, commercial, and diplomatic duties. The document notes the doubling of the Portuguese population to around 800 over the previous decade, with increasing numbers registering with the consulate, reflecting growing trust in Portuguese protection since the 1887 arrangements with Macau. Approximately twenty wealthier Macanese traders, aligned culturally and commercially with Portugal, are identified as a key economic cohort. The text analyses three major community institutions: the "Recreio" Club, fostering national identity through cultural activities; the Mutual Aid Association, providing financial and social support; and the Jesuit-led "Shanghai Catholic Circle," which also serves as a social hub but is criticised for undermining Portuguese national education due to its use of English curricula and exemption from state oversight. The report laments the absence of proper Portuguese-language education and critiques the continued economic subordination of skilled, literate Macanese workers—employed widely in clerical, commercial, and technical roles—to British enterprises, despite their multilingual abilities and collective earning power exceeding £1,300 monthly. Drawing on the Rochdale cooperative model, it advocates for government-supported cooperative societies across Portuguese communities in Asia to achieve economic autonomy and reinvigorate colonial-commercial ties.

This diplomatic dispatch, dated 3 June and 2 July 1895, issued by the Portuguese Consulate in Canton (No. 6B and No. 9B), documents the ongoing public health situation concerning bubonic and hydroptic plague outbreaks in southern China during the late nineteenth century. The correspondence, addressed to a high-ranking official, reports isolated cases of bubonic plague within Canton while noting the persistence of epidemic conditions along the southern coast and on Hainan Island. A transcribed reply from the Minister for Home Affairs downplays the severity in Canton, asserting that the disease has not reached feared epidemic levels, though provincial outbreaks remain unconfirmed due to illegible text. A subsequent communication on 2 July 1895 references improvements in the region’s general sanitary conditions and includes a note on hydrographic matters relayed to the Director of the Macau Navigation Office. Marginal annotations indicate textual damage, uncertainty in transcription, and possible chronological notation ("10 / 9-8-25"), with the signature "M. C. F. L." appearing at the top right. The document reflects colonial-era medical discourse, employing period-specific terminology such as "hydroptic plague," likely denoting an epidemic with oedematous symptoms consistent with contemporary descriptions of plague outbreaks. This primary source offers critical insights into Portuguese consular observations on disease surveillance, regional governance, and inter-colonial communication in late Qing southern China.

This 1885 diplomatic despatch, issued by the Portuguese Consulate in Canton (No. 6, dated 9 November) and signed by C. d’Almeida, reports on a suspected conspiracy unfolding in late October and early November of that year. The document details intelligence gathered regarding an alleged uprising involving approximately 40,000 individuals, though this figure remains uncertain. Key figures mentioned include Bigguy, a British opium merchant active in Canton, and references to unnamed Chinese leaders possibly linked to prior insurrections. The authorities in Canton conducted widespread house-to-house searches under official warrants, arresting around 1,000 suspects and seizing military uniforms, munitions, dynamite, and concealed gold bullion and flour at the customs house. Suspicion points to external orchestration, potentially from Hong Kong or Macau, with logistical efforts including attempted transport of 500 suspected conspirators to Houshou, most of whom evaded capture. The report notes unrest among demobilised soldiers and refugees from Formosa following Japanese occupation, contributing to instability. While the city remained outwardly calm, rumours of imminent revolution and arson persisted. The Viceroy had assumed control, but the target and current status of the revolt remained unclear. The consul speculates the movement may have been directed against the government due to grievances over gambling houses, deeming it ultimately ineffective despite its scale. The despatch underscores concerns about consular responsibilities and requests immediate notification of any developments reported by Macau authorities.

This is a historical diplomatic dispatch, dated 16 January 1891, issued by the Portuguese Consulate in Canton (Guangzhou), bearing the reference number 8. The document reports on two key developments of strategic interest to Portugal: first, the proposed formation of two syndicates in Hong Kong to secure the concession for constructing the railway from Kowloon (situated opposite Hong Kong) to Canton; second, the anticipated opening of the ports of the West River. The author notes that both matters have been widely reported in local newspapers and are deemed of considerable importance to Portuguese interests in the region. The dispatch is addressed to a superior authority, whose identity remains unclear but is likely a Portuguese colonial or diplomatic official. The text employs period-appropriate colonial terminology and reflects the geopolitical concerns of European powers regarding infrastructure development and port access in southern China during the late 19th century. This document provides valuable insight into Portuguese diplomatic awareness and priorities concerning railway projects and riverine trade routes in Guangdong Province at the turn of the century.

This 1895 Portuguese consular correspondence from Canton (Guangdong Province, China) comprises a series of official dispatches addressed to the Minister and Secretary of State for the Kingdom in Lisbon, transmitted via the Consulate of Portugal in Canton. The documents, dated between 4 April and 30 April 1895, with an additional report transmitted on 10 June 1895, concern the outbreak of bubonic plague in the province of Canton during that year. Authored primarily by Portuguese consular officials including W. L. R., M. F. K., and C. de Cunha Santos, the dispatches detail observations on the spread of the disease within Canton city and surrounding settlements along the eastern riverbanks, including Tung-kim and Pali-Hoi. Reports indicate isolated and fatal cases occurring within hours, with growing evidence of an epidemic pattern similar to previous years. The texts note limited cooperation from local authorities in controlling the outbreak and highlight communication challenges due to imprecise geographical reporting in local media. Reference is made to diplomatic coordination among foreign consuls, including American and British representatives, and notifications sent to the Governor of Macau for preventive measures. The final document includes the transmission of Dr. Lovsson’s epidemiological report on the prior year’s plague outbreak in Hong Kong, regarded as the most comprehensive study available. These records provide primary source material on colonial health diplomacy, imperial sanitary surveillance, and the transregional response to infectious disease in late nineteenth-century South China.

This 1896 diplomatic dispatch, originating from the Portuguese Consulate in Canton (A-203, fol. 159), addresses two interconnected cases of commercial insolvency involving Portuguese subjects and foreign enterprises in late Qing China. The document, dated 29 January 1896, is addressed to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and authored by a Portuguese consular official. It details the bankruptcy of V. A. Rosário and the ‘Hotel Victoria’, a tavern-style establishment managed by the Portuguese national T. da Cruz and owned by Chinese individuals operating within the Shamshuipo concessions. The consul outlines procedural irregularities in the handling of these bankruptcies, particularly the absence of formal public notices or legal seals, and describes the customary practice whereby consular authorities recover debts and distribute proceeds proportionally among creditors. Attention is drawn to the role of the British Vice-Consul Bourne, who collected $9.06 from the Hotel Victoria’s estate but failed to report the matter promptly, resulting in uncertainty over rightful claimants. The author proposes that unclaimed sums—$20.01 from Alliston & Co. and $9.06 from the Hotel Victoria—be deposited into the consulate chest as state revenue, pending potential future claims. The text provides insight into colonial commercial practices, extraterritorial jurisdiction, and informal economic networks in treaty-port China at the close of the 19th century.

This 1894 diplomatic dispatch, issued by Demetius Cinatti, Portuguese Consul in Canton, documents an outbreak of bubonic plague in two native districts of Canton (Guangzhou) during April 1894. Addressed to the Portuguese Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the report summarises medical observations from Dr. Alexander Rennie, physician to the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, and Dr. Swan, director of the American Mission Hospital, both of whom assessed the epidemiological situation as locally contained and not alarmingly contagious. The document details clinical symptoms—including violent fevers, gangrenous inflammations, and buboes in the groin, axillae, or neck—and notes higher mortality among women and children, attributed to their indoor domestic lifestyle. While Chinese sources reported up to 200 cases by 24 April, European medical observers regarded these figures as exaggerated, citing poor reporting and conflation of all deaths with plague. The outbreak was associated with unsanitary conditions and seasonal miasmatic influences, particularly in impoverished peripheral neighbourhoods. An unconfirmed resurgence was reported in a suburban district across the river on 28 April, but on-site inspection by the Consul and medical personnel failed to verify its extent. Two additional cases were admitted to the American Mission Hospital, though both were moribund upon arrival. The report highlights discrepancies between local accounts and Western medical assessments, and underscores the perceived decline of the disease by late April. This primary source offers critical insights into colonial-era public health perceptions, cross-cultural medical interpretation, and epidemic response in late Qing China.

This is a consular dispatch from the Portuguese Consulate in Canton, dated 10 July 1895 (document number 11B), reporting on the sanitary conditions in Canton and surrounding areas during an outbreak of bubonic plague. The document, addressed to the Minister and Secretary of State for Royal Affairs, details the consul’s communication with the Governor of Macau regarding the epidemic. It confirms that while Canton itself was free of active plague transmission since April 1895, neighbouring populations continued to report cases. The consul notes that although local mortality remains elevated due to tropical heat and the Chinese population’s relative immunity, no confirmed bubonic plague cases have been recorded within Canton’s urban boundaries. He acknowledges persistent rumours of isolated cases but cannot verify them. Conversely, he reports that plague continues to appear in certain villages near Canton, as confirmed by local mandarins residing among Chinese communities. The document underscores the difficulty in monitoring rural outbreaks and the limitations of official reporting mechanisms. This transcription offers valuable insight into late 19th-century public health perceptions, colonial administrative responses, and the challenges of epidemic control in treaty port cities under imperial frameworks.

This is a diplomatic dispatch from the Portuguese Consulate in Canton, dated 19 June 1895, originating from the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs in Lisbon. The document, classified as Series A, reports on an alleged uprising against Europeans occurring in the interior of China, specifically within the province of Le-Tchouen. It notes that British and American missionaries are reportedly sheltered within the ‘Yamens’ of various Mandarins, while European ministers resident in Peking have already formally protested the incident. The dispatch acknowledges uncertainty regarding the veracity and scale of the revolt, stating that no concrete developments or official response have yet materialised as of the date of writing, and reserves the right to provide further updates should the situation evolve. The communication reflects contemporary diplomatic protocol and colonial-era terminology, offering insight into European diplomatic reporting mechanisms and perceptions of unrest within Qing China during the late 19th century. This transcription is suitable for scholarly analysis of imperial diplomacy, missionary safety, and intra-imperial tensions in East Asia circa 1895.

This document is a formal dispatch from the Portuguese Consulate in Canton, dated 1895, classified under Series A. It reports on a reported uprising against Europeans occurring within China’s interior, specifically in the province of Le-Chonou (modern-day Liao Ning). The writer, acting as Consul, informs his superior that European missionaries—English and American—in the region are seeking refuge in Yamen, under the protection of various Mandarins. European ministers stationed in Peking have already formally protested, though further evidence remains lacking. The dispatch notes that while there is no confirmed current outbreak of revolt, the situation remains unsettled and potentially volatile. The author cautions that the gravity of the event may yet be underestimated, and expresses willingness to provide updated information if developments warrant. Signed by the Consul and Secretary of the Foreign Department, the communication reflects diplomatic reporting conventions of the period, focusing on factual observation, official correspondence, and cautious assessment of emerging geopolitical tensions. This record offers insight into late Qing-era perceptions of internal unrest and foreign diplomatic responses.

This 1893 official correspondence comprises a Vatican diplomatic document originating from the offices of the Holy See, dated 20 October, and numbered 14752. It is addressed to the Ambassador of Portugal to the Holy See by Cardinal Mariano Rampolla, then Cardinal Secretary of State. The document acknowledges receipt of a formal note from the Portuguese Ambassador transmitting a petition from the Bishop of Macao concerning two ecclesiastical matters: the approval of the liturgical calendar for the Diocese of Macao and the authorisation of a proper Mass and office in honour of the feast commemorating the translation of the body of Saint Francis Xavier. The text records that these requests were submitted to Pope Leo XIII, who referred them to the Sacred Congregation of Rites—specifically noted as having been previously examined by the Congregation for the Sacraments—for review and deliberation. The endorsement confirms diplomatic protocol through its formal address to the Portuguese Ambassador and concludes with a reaffirmation of papal esteem. The document forms part of a broader administrative and ecclesiastical exchange between the Holy See and Portuguese colonial ecclesiastical authorities in Macau, reflecting the intersection of colonial religious administration and centralised Vatican authority in late nineteenth-century Catholicism. It provides primary evidence of liturgical governance and diplomatic channels within the Roman Curia during the pontificate of Leo XIII.

Official correspondence from the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Directorate of Political and Diplomatic Affairs, First Division, dated 24 August 1903, transmitted in Lisbon and addressed to General Carneiro. The document, authored by Miguel Martins d’Almeida, forwards a petition submitted by the Superior of the College of Overseas Missions, which had already been reviewed by the Apostolic Nunciature regarding matters within its ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The letter requests that General Carneiro intercede to secure approval from the Holy See on those aspects of the petition falling under papal authority. Endorsed with administrative annotations indicating internal processing and final approval on 5 October 1903, the file includes partially illegible, damaged, and uncertain sections, reflecting limitations in textual preservation. This primary source offers insight into early 20th-century ecclesiastico-diplomatic relations between Portugal and the Vatican, particularly concerning the administration of overseas missionary activities within the context of colonial religious institutions. The document serves as evidence of formal state mediation in ecclesiastical affairs and highlights bureaucratic procedures in the governance of Catholic missions under Portuguese influence. Researchers will find this material relevant for studies on church-state relations, colonial religious policy, and diplomatic history in the late Portuguese Empire.

This 1891 translated newspaper article, originating from the *Ling-nan-chi-pao* (The Southern Daily), No. 438, dated 22 June 1891, and transmitted as an enclosure to Despatch No. 7-A from the Portuguese Consulate in Canton on 29 July 1891, provides a contemporary Chinese perspective on the political and economic status of Macau under Portuguese administration. The document asserts that Macau was leased by China to Portugal for commercial purposes, with annual rent paid, and challenges the legitimacy of Portuguese territorial claims, arguing that any attempt to sell the territory would violate treaty obligations explicitly prohibiting its alienation. It outlines the weakening geopolitical position of Portugal, characterised as no longer a major power, and references its prior colonial sales as fiscally motivated acts inviting international derision. The text further details Macau’s economic decline, sustained primarily by revenue from opium and gambling, and notes repeated failed attempts by the colonial government to impose taxation due to local resistance. Strategic vulnerabilities are emphasised in comparison to Hong Kong’s fortified defences, rendering Macau militarily insecure. The article concludes with prescriptive recommendations: that Portugal should develop Macau as a free port through harbour improvements and trade-focused policies to ensure fiscal stability and effective governance. Translated by Ph. Quan and formally submitted by J. T. Emalli, Consul of the Portuguese Consulate in Macau, the document serves as a critical primary source on late 19th-century colonial discourse, sovereignty disputes, and economic conditions in South China.

Official dispatch from the Portuguese Consulate in Canton, dated 24 May 1892, addressed to Dr. Demétrio Cinatti and copied to Mr. Ct. Atyras de Gonçalves All. and an unnamed British official. The document analyses three parliamentary proposals concerning a proposed 50% customs duty reduction on goods originating from Macau, intended to stimulate its economy. The first proposal, by Deputy Mota e Costa, advocates a 50% rebate on shared duties for industrially produced Macanese goods shipped directly to Portugal. The second, Bill No. 84, limits the benefit to goods transported on Portuguese vessels, effective from 1 July 1892, while the third, by Peer Coude de Castro, extends the reduction to all Macau-origin goods cleared at Canton and adjacent islands. The author critically evaluates each, warning that the third is overly liberal and risks benefiting foreign enterprises more than Portuguese interests. Emphasising Macau’s entrepôt function and limited industrial capacity, the consul argues that previous incentives, such as the 1889 25% tea bonus, yielded no tangible results. He highlights severe fiscal implications: potential annual revenue losses exceeding 1,600 contos de réis due to displaced domestic production and expanded colonial competition, particularly disadvantaging African territories. Noting that Macau’s trade is largely controlled by Chinese and foreign actors, he cautions against measures enriching foreign capital at the metropole’s expense. Instead, he proposes a moderate 10–15% tariff reduction combined with a 36 contos subsidy to secure regular shipping services, ensuring economic stimulus without disproportionate cost or loss of state revenue.

This document comprises a translation and verification of an article from the Chinese-language newspaper *Ling Man-chi-pau* (*St. Louis Daily*), issue No. 143, dated 28 July 1891, produced by the Portuguese Consulate in Canton. The text addresses rumours circulating in foreign press reports suggesting that Portugal might sell its colony of Macau as a means of settling governmental debts, a proposal allegedly extended from discussions in the Portuguese elected chamber regarding the sale of African colonial territories. The translation clarifies that while Deputy Dr Almeida had proposed the sale of certain African possessions, no such suggestion was made concerning Macau. The document underscores that Portugal cannot legally alienate Macau and emphasises the emotional and historical ties of the Macanese people—particularly those of Portuguese descent born or long resident in the colony—to their homeland. It dismisses the rumour of Macau’s potential sale as baseless and attributes its propagation to ‘fraudulent historians’. The translation was officially verified by the Portuguese Consulate in Canton on 29 July 1891, serving both as a corrective to misinformation and as a reassurance to the Portuguese community in Macau. This primary source offers valuable insight into late 19th-century colonial policy, imperial identity, and the geopolitical perceptions surrounding Portuguese holdings in East Asia.

This 1891 diplomatic despatch, authored by Demetrio Cinatti, Consul of Portugal in Canton, constitutes a formal protest addressed to Sir Ly, Viceroy of the Two Guangs under the Qing Dynasty, concerning the destruction of Portuguese missionary properties in Hainan during civil disturbances in 1884. The document details the legal and historical grounds upon which the Portuguese mission’s claim for restitution is based, refuting Chinese provincial authorities’ assertions that the destroyed chapels were locally owned Christian structures dating from the Ming dynasty. Drawing on ecclesiastical law, treaty obligations, and empirical evidence—including financial records, prior compensation precedents, and official correspondence—the consul demonstrates that the chapels in Giang-tó (Siang-tô) and Wang-fo were constructed in 1795 by Portuguese missionaries on legally acquired land, maintained through foreign ecclesiastical funding, and remained under the exclusive ownership of the Catholic Church. The text further establishes that local officials were fully aware of these institutions, citing administrative actions from 1854 and 1880 as proof of official recognition. It condemns the Hainan authorities’ failure to protect the properties despite treaty guarantees, their fabrication of local consent, and their contradictory claims regarding the events. The despatch also invokes Portugal’s strict neutrality during the Sino-French War (1883–1885), contrasting it with the targeting of its missionaries, and appeals to the Viceroy’s sense of justice and diplomatic reciprocity in demanding full reparations.

This 1891 diplomatic document, originating from the Portuguese Consulate in Canton and dated 29 June, comprises a despatch enclosing anti-religious placards distributed in Guangdong during June of that year. The text includes translated excerpts of polemical broadsides targeting Christian missionary activity, particularly focused on derogatory depictions of Jesus Christ and foreign religious influence. The placards employ scatological and sacrilegious imagery, alleging abhorrent rituals involving human body parts and framing Christianity as morally corrupt and alien to Confucian values. Accompanying these is an engraved illustration of a crucified pig containing human organs and a child, alongside depictions of decapitated Europeans, underscoring the intensity of local hostility. The document further contains a formal notice issued by Demétrio Cinatti, Portuguese Consul in Canton, warning Portuguese subjects of rising tensions and the potential spread of unrest from the Yangtze Valley to Guangdong and Guangxi. Reference is made to a minor incident involving a Portuguese national that had been exaggerated within Chinese communities, prompting heightened diplomatic vigilance. The material reflects anxieties among foreign residents and consular authorities amid growing anti-missionary sentiment in late Qing China. Endorsed and verified by consulate officials—including Deydón Lizalde and D. Emaldi—this record serves as a primary source on Sino-foreign relations, religious conflict, and colonial-era perceptions in southern China at the end of the nineteenth century.

This is a diplomatic correspondence dated 1 June 1891, authored by Demétrio Cinatti, Portuguese Consul in Canton, and addressed to the Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The document forms part of an official dispatch series from the Portuguese Consulate in Canton during 1891 and includes multiple annexes and indices referencing subsequent pages. It discusses Sino-Portuguese relations with particular focus on Macau’s territorial integrity and Chinese administrative encroachments. Key issues include opposition from Chinese authorities regarding Portuguese jurisdiction in Macau, tensions over Green Island (Ilha Verde), and the activities of local mandarins such as Sse and Chang Chi Tung, identified as the Viceroy of Liangguang. The consul reports that obstacles to diplomatic operations have eased due to interventions by the Governor of Macau, enabling access to interpreters. He expresses concern over growing Chinese influence in Taipa and Coloane, noting the significant disparity between the small European population and approximately 8,000 Chinese residents on these islands, which facilitates covert assertions of jurisdiction. The text highlights fears that Chinese officials may replicate tactics used in northern disputes within southern territories. Administrative practices, including falsified inspection reports by mandarins, are detailed as mechanisms to erode Portuguese sovereignty. Additional matters include the Hainan question, where delayed responses from the Viceroy reflect increasing indifference toward foreign claims, and anti-Christian unrest in northern China, attributed to secret societies and popular rumour. Economic observations note high rice prices in Guangdong and reliance on cheaper Siamese imports. The document also references ecclesiastical disputes over property rights in Hainan, asserting that chapels destroyed in 1884 were built and maintained at mission expense, thereby entitling Portugal to indemnity. Later sections address anti-foreign agitation in Canton, including inflammatory placards and arson attempts against missionary residences, prompting consular advisories and calls for naval reinforcement. The proposed appointment of a Chinese consul in Hong Kong is reported as withdrawn due to colonial opposition. Finally, press reports alleging Portugal’s intention to sell Macau are refuted, with emphasis on treaty prohibitions against alienation and recommendations for economic development instead. The material provides critical insight into late 19th-century colonial diplomacy, jurisdictional conflicts, and cross-cultural tensions in southern China under Qing administration.

This is a formal ecclesiastical dispatch dated 1 June 1891, issued by António, Bishop of Macau, to the Governor of Macau and Timor, in response to an official inquiry concerning the destruction of Catholic chapels in Hainan during the 1884 persecution. The document details the historical presence of Portuguese missionaries in Hainan since their initial establishment in 1630 by Father Bento de Mattos, including the founding of chapels in Kim-tchau-fu and interior settlements. It outlines the expulsion of Jesuits in 1769, the re-establishment of the mission in 1795, and subsequent French involvement until their withdrawal in 1876, after which Portuguese missionaries resumed control. The Bishop refutes claims that Chinese Christians owned or destroyed the chapels, asserting that all properties were constructed and maintained with mission funds—totaling nearly 3,000 taels by 1890—and thus belonged exclusively to the Catholic Church under canonical and treaty-based rights. He rejects the validity of forced apostasy declarations and denounces the Viceroy of the Two Quangs’ evasive responses to diplomatic inquiries, drawing parallels with prior cases involving French, British, and Spanish claims. The text includes detailed expenditures, administrative correspondence, and arguments for indemnity, emphasizing that just reparation is essential for the resumption of missionary activity. Attached documents substantiate financial outlays and diplomatic efforts, positioning the dispute within broader Sino-foreign treaty relations and colonial religious policy in late 19th-century South China.