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This archival document is an official notice issued in 1754 by the Imperial Commission for the Guangzhou Maritime Defence Prefecture and Civil–Military Administration, concurrently overseeing maritime security and foreign trade supervision across the four counties of Panyu, Dongguan, Xiangshan, and Sihui. Dated the twentieth day of the intercalary fourth month in the nineteenth year of the Qianlong reign (1754), it records a petition submitted by the Cohong merchant firm Yifeng Hang, represented by its principal Qiu Kun, concerning the foreign merchant Yamlij from the Kingdom of Linglan—a Sinophone rendering likely referencing a Persianate or South Asian polity. The notice details Yamlij’s arrival in Guangzhou under prior authorisation from the Imperial Maritime Customs Commissioner (Guān Xiàn) and his intended travel to Macau with one attendant and personal effects, including a sword. It directs the foreign headmen Anhuk An and others to verify Yamlij’s identity, retinue, arms, and baggage upon his arrival in Macau; assume formal custody; issue a written receipt; and ensure no conduct threatening public order occurs. The document bears multiple official seals—including the ‘Seal of the Guangzhou Prefecture’—and marginal annotations indicating authentication, archival reference (T15 1454), and an immediate one-day deadline for receipt submission. It serves as a primary source on Qing-era maritime administration, foreign merchant regulation, and the operational framework of the Cohong system within the Canton System.

This archival document is an official Qing dynasty directive issued on the twenty-fourth day of the intercalary fourth month of the nineteenth year of the Qianlong reign (1754) by the Guangzhou Maritime Defence Prefecture for Military and Civil Affairs, concurrently overseeing customs enforcement in Dongguan, Shunde, Xiangshan, and Zhongshan counties. Addressed to Magistrate Wei and formally transmitted to foreign headmen (*Yí mù*), including Jiāsīduō, the directive responds to recurrent smuggling activities involving Cantonese subjects colluding with foreign merchants at Shízì Mén (‘Cross Gate’)—a designated outer anchorage near Macau—where light, high-value goods were illicitly transported via fishing boats to evade customs duties. The text outlines administrative concerns regarding enforcement failures, reaffirms prior prohibitions recorded in official archives, and mandates immediate, rigorous surveillance and interdiction across the prefecture’s jurisdiction. It specifies that any Cantonese subject found conspiring with or inciting foreigners to smuggle dutiable commodities shall be summarily apprehended and prosecuted, and warns foreign headmen that collusion, inducement, or facilitation of such smuggling will result in immediate arrest and judicial investigation. Marginalia indicate a same-day compliance deadline and a return receipt date of the twenty-ninth day. As a primary source, the document illuminates Qing coastal governance, Sino-foreign commercial regulation, and the institutional role of *Yí mù* intermediaries in mid-eighteenth-century Pearl River Delta trade.

This archival document is an official Qing dynasty travel permit (yinzao) issued on the 19th day of the fourth lunar month in the nineteenth year of the Qianlong reign (1754), originating from the Guangzhou Prefect for Maritime Defence and Civil-Military Administration, Wei, and transmitted via the Office of Daily Administrative Affairs. It authorises John Agar, a British merchant, to travel from Guangzhou to Macau under strict regulatory conditions, accompanied by three male servants, for the purpose of settling accounts and residing temporarily at the residence of the Portuguese *yí mù* Louluoduo (Lorodo), with mandatory return to Guangzhou by the end of the fifth lunar month. The permit reflects the formal administrative framework governing foreign merchants’ movement between Guangzhou and Macau, requiring prior approval, verification by licensed Chinese hong merchants (here Chen Zhengbiao of the Zunfeng Hang) and official interpreters (tōngshì), submission of a formal guarantee (bǎojié), and dual oversight by the Guangdong Maritime Customs Office and the Macau Defence Office (*Àofáng Tīng*). It mandates verification of arrival date and personnel count by Portuguese authorities, custodial supervision by Louluoduo, and submission of a written acknowledgment (*gānjié*) upon expiry of the permitted stay. Endorsed by the Provincial Financial Commissioner (*Fānsī*) and Governor-General (*Dūbùyuàn*), the document exemplifies Qing bureaucratic control over Sino-foreign commercial interaction in the Canton System era and provides primary evidence of institutional procedures, jurisdictional coordination, and colonial-era administrative terminology.

This abstract describes a Qing dynasty administrative edict issued on 22 May 1756 (22nd day of the fifth month, Qianlong 21) by He Xian, Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, and transmitted through Wei, Record-Officer of the Guangdong Macau Maritime Defence and Civil-Military Administration (sixth appointment), to foreign headmen (‘Yi mu’) in Macau, including Do-lo and Ma-cha-duo. The document, bearing official seals of the Dongguan County Magistracy and dated annotations confirming its issuance in May 1756 and resealing on 22 May 1757, mandates the annual Spring Rites (Chūn Jì) tribute. It specifically requires the procurement and delivery—by the tenth lunar month of 1756—of fifteen bottles of high-grade imported snuff (‘yang binyan’ or ‘yang biyan’), stipulating strict quality criteria: sharp, pungent or sour aroma; golden-yellow colour; fine, authentic texture; and verifiable foreign origin. A marginal note emphasises urgency and prohibits substitution upon rejection. The edict also references genuine maritime-imported opium (‘yangyan’) for delivery in the same lunar month, requiring declared valuation and prohibiting adulterated or substandard goods. Intended for imperial presentation, the consignment necessitates accompanying documentation specifying unit price and total value for official assessment and reimbursement. The document reflects Qing bureaucratic protocols governing foreign trade communities in Macau and Canton during the mid-eighteenth century.

奏報拿獲馮文子講天主教規應解還原籍摺 具奏日期：乾隆19年07月23日 (1754-09-09) 具奏人：閩浙總督兼理福建巡撫 喀爾吉善 硃批內容：知道了（另有夾批） 文件類別：奏摺 形制：摺件 尺寸：21.5×10.7(公分) 質材：紙 出版品：《宮中檔乾隆朝奏摺》第09輯，頁228

奏覆遵旨嚴禁天主教不必視同邪教摺 具奏日期：乾隆19年05月03日 (1754-06-22) 具奏人：廣東巡撫 鶴年 硃批內容：覽 文件類別：奏摺 形制：摺件 尺寸：22×10.5(公分) 質材：紙 出版品：《宮中檔乾隆朝奏摺》第08輯，頁415

奏報地方情形並查拿天主教教士事宜摺 具奏日期：乾隆19年閏04月09日 (1754-05-30) 具奏人：江蘇巡撫 莊有恭 硃批內容：覽奏俱悉 文件類別：奏摺 形制：摺件 尺寸：22×10.5(公分) 質材：紙 出版品： 《宮中檔乾隆朝奏摺》第08輯，頁219

奏報查勘堤工及拿獲天主教士摺 具奏日期：乾隆19年閏04月05日 (1754-05-26) 具奏人：兩江總督 鄂容安 硃批內容：覽奏俱悉 文件類別：奏摺 形制：摺件 尺寸：22×10.5(公分) 質材：紙 出版品：《宮中檔乾隆朝奏摺》第08輯，頁209

奏報審理信奉天主之人民並拿獲天主教西洋人犯摺 具奏日期： 乾隆19年04月22日 (1754-05-13) 具奏人：提督江南總兵官 林君陞 硃批內容：已有旨了 文件類別：奏摺 形制：摺件 尺寸：22×10.2(公分) 質材：紙 出版品：《宮中檔乾隆朝奏摺》第08輯，頁081

Departamento de Manuscritos - China