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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 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 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 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.