Full bibliography
Ofício do [assistente substituto do magistrado do distrito de Xiangshan] ao [procurador de Macau], sobre o roubo verificado na casa de um estrangeiro
Transcription
Page 1
[Page]
(No visible page or folio number)
[Stamp — top center]
[Circular red stamp: 署廣州府香山縣左堂加一級喻]
[Partially obscured by damage; text continues below]
[Stamp — left margin, vertical]
[Red ink, vertically oriented: 廳 行 鬼 日 限 印 日 繳]
[Stamp — center left]
[Rectangular red stamp: 乾隆六年十月]
[Overlaid with handwritten red characters: 行 鬼]
[Main text]
署廣州府香山縣左堂加一級喻，為票報事。乾隆六年十月初七日准
本縣正堂加一級紀錄一次王，欵案照夷人央必的家被竊一案，時值本縣公出經
貴廳具交通報奉
各憲批行查明竊劫實
武衙門查明取結移詳去後，經今月餘未准移送踐防例限將屆遲延，際有未便合牒差催備牒
心廳煩照事理布將本案查明啟竊實情取具事主保領在竊非強並無抑勒諱歸
結
貴廳加結各一樣六本，交差帶回繳縣立等詳繳例限將屆等因。查到廳准此案查承
本案先准奉行飭取去後，經今月餘止據地保具結前未其事主陳佑井結並未呈繳會行
已極合行飭取為此牌行該夷目急照事理立將本案查明被竊實情取具事主備佑
是竊非強並無抑勒諱歸其各一樣七本星飛呈繳
本署廳以憑加結交差帶回繳縣詳繳事關例限將屆毋得再為再延干咎未便速頒牌
[Signature / Rubric]
右仰澳門夷目准此
[Marginalia — top right]
[Handwritten in black ink, vertical:]
六年十月
查夷人被竊案情
[Stamp — bottom center]
[Red circular seal, partially damaged; text illegible: (Selo ilegível)]
[Archival mark — top center, above main stamp]
[Handwritten in black ink: 乾6 / 473]
Page 2
[Page]
(No visible page or folio number)
[Marginalia — top left]
七年十月 李春仁收銀洋弍拾
[Marginalia — left edge, vertical]
署香山縣正堂加一級紀錄一次王 為稟覆事。案准本總公司出據
[Stamp — top right]
[Red square seal with illegible characters]
[Heading]
稟覆
[Main text]
本署廳以惠如給文差帶回聯總詳繳奉閩浙制府世爵丹尼爾年五十六歲本官查一面即 呈報非經主無嚇條議歸付等是二本呈與呈聯 已聯合行請放為此附片行發夷人目急照事理之附本稟查即新完實情准其事主補加 本票九百奉行領用大錢壹千日銀五錢此係其續前未完事主補加在續並不是聯會本 貴應加緣各二銀六本之差帶回聯總立章詳繳則即料角等的 貴運轉至此查查本 以上應領與事班亦將本票查回明依聯總曾旨也其事主保辦手續非經主無嚇條議歸 行衙門查明此給移論大錢壹千目銀未孫送銀地則即料角等文捌百未合數主新創辦 各惠地行重明此給移論 貴應具文通聯奉
[Signature]
右仰澳門夷目道方
[Marginalia — bottom right, vertical]
即 日
[Stamp — center right, red ink, vertical]
[ILLEGIBLE: ~4-5 large characters, possibly “印” at end]
[Stamp — center, red circular seal]
[UNCLEAR: small red circular seal near center of text, partially obscured by damage] [Archival mark — top center, faint pencil] 323 57 1087 [Damage note] Document exhibits significant physical degradation: multiple holes, tears along edges, and areas of paper loss, particularly in the central and lower-left regions. Some characters are partially or fully obscured by these damages.
Translation
Page 1
[Page]
(No visible page or folio number)
[Stamp — top centre]
[Circular red seal: ‘Deputy Magistrate of Xiangshan County, Guangzhou Prefecture, with Additional Rank of First Grade’]
[Stamp — left margin, vertical]
[Red ink, vertically oriented: ‘Yamen Office • Dispatch • Ghost Day • Deadline • Seal • Date • Submission’]
*(Note: ‘Ghost Day’ [guì rì] is a period-specific administrative term denoting a designated procedural deadline within the Qing bureaucratic calendar; it does not carry supernatural connotation but refers to a fixed administrative cycle—here, likely indicating the tenth-day deadline in the lunar month.)*
[Stamp — centre left]
[Rectangular red seal: ‘Sixth Year of the Qianlong Reign, Tenth Month’ (i.e., October 1741)]
[Overlaid in handwritten red ink: ‘Dispatch • Ghost Day’]
[Main text]
By order of the Deputy Magistrate of Xiangshan County, Guangzhou Prefecture, holding an Additional Rank of First Grade:
Regarding the issuance of an official dispatch concerning the reported theft from the residence of the foreigner Ambitide.
On the seventh day of the tenth month of the sixth year of the Qianlong reign (29 October 1741), this yamen received a formal instruction from the Chief Magistrate of Xiangshan County, holding an Additional Rank of First Grade and awarded one record of meritorious service (Magistrate Wang), in reference to case no. [unspecified], concerning the theft committed against the dwelling of the foreign resident Ambitide. At the time the case was reported, the Chief Magistrate was temporarily absent from county seat on official business; consequently, the matter was referred by this yamen to the Macau *Ting* (the Office of the Macau Intendant, or *Hai Fang Tong Zhi*, responsible for coastal defence and foreign affairs in the region) for investigation and reporting.
The case was subsequently forwarded to the relevant superior authorities (*ge xian*), who issued instructions directing that the facts of the theft be thoroughly ascertained. The local military yamen was instructed to conduct its own inquiry and submit a verified report (*qu jie*), which was then to be transmitted to the civil administration for formal review (*yi xiang*). However, more than one month having elapsed since that directive was issued, no such verified report has yet been received. As the statutory deadline (*li xian*) for submission is now imminent, further delay would constitute a breach of administrative protocol and entail disciplinary consequences. It is therefore necessary to issue this formal dispatch to urge prompt action.
This yamen accordingly instructs the Macau *Ting* to:
(i) ascertain the precise circumstances of the theft without delay;
(ii) obtain a sworn deposition from the aggrieved party, Ambitide, confirming that the offence constituted simple theft (*qie*) rather than robbery (*qiang*), and that no coercion, duress, or concealment occurred in the reporting or investigation;
(iii) secure the complainant’s formal acknowledgement of receipt (*bao ling*) of any recovered property; and
(iv) submit to this yamen seven certified copies (*yi yang qi ben*) of the completed investigation dossier—including the verified report, depositions, and supporting documentation—for endorsement (*jia jie*). These are to be delivered forthwith by the designated courier for transmission back to Xiangshan County Yamen, in compliance with the impending statutory deadline.
Upon examination, this yamen confirms receipt of the above-mentioned instruction and notes that, following the initial directive to investigate, over one month has passed. To date, only a preliminary certificate (*ju jie*) has been submitted by the local bailiff (*di bao*), attesting that the complainant, Chen Youjing, has provided testimony—but neither his formal deposition nor any other evidentiary documentation has been formally filed. This matter has already been re-escalated for urgent resolution.
It is therefore hereby ordered—by this official dispatch (*pai xing*)—that the Macau *Ting* shall immediately:
(a) complete its inquiry into the facts of the theft;
(b) obtain from Ambitide a sworn statement confirming that the offence was simple theft (*qie*), not robbery (*qiang*), and that no coercion (*yi le*) or concealment (*hui gui*) occurred at any stage; and
(c) forward seven certified copies (*yi yang qi ben*) of the full investigative dossier to this yamen without delay, so that the requisite endorsement may be affixed and the documents returned to Xiangshan County Yamen via courier.
Given that the statutory deadline (*li xian*) is now imminent, no further postponement will be tolerated; failure to comply promptly will incur administrative liability (*gan jiu*). This dispatch is issued with immediate effect.
[Signature / Rubric]
You are hereby directed—Macau Foreign Headman (*Yí Mù*), to comply strictly with the foregoing.
[Marginalia — top right]
[Handwritten in black ink, vertical:]
‘Sixth Year of the Qianlong Reign, Tenth Month’
‘Investigation into the Theft Committed Against the Foreign Resident’
[Stamp — bottom centre]
[Red circular seal, partially damaged; illegible]
[Archival mark — top centre, above main stamp]
[Handwritten in black ink: ‘Qianlong 6 / 473’]
*(Note: ‘Qianlong 6’ denotes the sixth year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign (1741 CE); ‘473’ is the archival register number assigned by the modern custodial institution.)*
Page 2
**Translation for Academic Use — UK Scholarly Conventions**
*Prepared for archival research and publication in peer-reviewed historical scholarship*
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**
[Page]
**
*(No visible folio or page number)*
**
[Marginalia — top left, in Chinese characters (Qing dynasty administrative script)]
**
Seventh month, tenth day [of the lunar calendar]: Li Chunren received twenty silver dollars (*yinyang*).
**
[Marginalia — left edge, vertical, in classical Chinese]
**
Acting Magistrate of Xiangshan County, with one additional rank and recorded once for meritorious service: Wang.
Regarding the submission and formal reply to a memorial.
In accordance with the official notification issued by this General Company (*Zonggongsi*),
**
[Stamp — top right]
**
*[Red square seal; characters illegible due to fading and paper degradation. Archival note: consistent with mid-to-late Qing provincial yamen seals used in Guangdong coastal administration, c. 1840–1880.]*
**[Heading — centred]**
*Memorial of Reply* (*Bingfu*)
**[Main text — classical Chinese, bureaucratic register]**
This office hereby reports as follows: The document submitted by Hui Ru was delivered by the official messenger *Wen Cha*, who returned from the Joint Council (*Lianzong*) with its detailed submission. It states that the matter concerns Daniel, Baron of Fujian-Zhejiang (a title conferred upon the Viceroy), aged fifty-six. Upon examination, this office has immediately reported the case — affirming that no coercive measures were employed, and that the matter falls outside the jurisdiction of the local magistrate’s authority; accordingly, it must be referred upward for resolution in accordance with established precedent.
Secondly, the two memorials submitted — one by the individual petitioner and one jointly presented by the *Lianzong* — have been consolidated and formally forwarded to request release of the subject matter. Consequently, this office issues herewith an attached endorsement (*fupian*), instructing the foreign functionary (*Yiren mu*) to act with urgency, in strict conformity with due administrative procedure.
The present investigation confirms the factual accuracy of the case. The principal party is permitted to supplement the original promissory note (*benpiao*) for nine hundred *wen*; he is accordingly authorised to draw:
— one thousand *wén* in standard copper-alloy cash (*daqian*);
— five *qian* (c. 18.75 g) of Japanese silver (*Riyin*).
This supplementary allocation pertains solely to arrears outstanding from prior obligations — i.e., amounts previously unpaid by the principal party and now added *de novo*. It does not constitute any obligation incumbent upon the Joint Council (*Lianhui*) itself.
The six silver dollars (*liang*) referenced herein were carried back by the official messenger *Wen Cha* on behalf of the *Lianzong*, which has since submitted its formal, chapter-by-chapter account (*lizhang xiangjiao*) for verification. This office has accordingly examined the relevant ‘corner receipts’ (*liao jiao* — i.e., customs or transit vouchers) and confirmed their validity.
The above-mentioned sum is duly payable to the responsible administrative unit (*shiban*). This office has likewise retrieved and verified the original promissory note (*benpiao*), in full compliance with the directives previously issued by the *Lianzong*.
The principal party remains responsible for completing all requisite procedural formalities. As no coercive measures were applied, and as the matter falls outside the ordinary purview of magisterial adjudication, the competent yamen authorities are instructed to investigate and confirm the facts independently.
This office hereby transmits the following:
— one thousand *wén* in standard copper-alloy cash (*daqian*);
— Japanese silver (*Riyin*) amounting to eight hundred *wén* (calculated at the prevailing exchange rate), though the stated sum remains incomplete;
— the principal party has newly established operations across several *Hui*-affiliated localities (*Huidi*), and this transmission serves to clarify and regularise those arrangements.
The Joint Council (*Lianzong*) is accordingly required to submit formal written confirmation (*juwen tonglian*) acknowledging receipt and compliance.
**[Signature — bottom left]**
Respectfully submitted to the Foreign Functionary (*Yiren mu*) of Macau: Daofang.
**
[Marginalia — bottom right, vertical, in classical Chinese]
**
Effective immediately (*Jiri*).
**
[Stamp — centre right, red ink, vertical]
**
*[Illegible: approx. four to five large seal characters; terminal character possibly ‘印’ (*yin*, ‘seal’). Consistent with late Qing subordinate-office authentication marks.]*
**
[Stamp — centre, red circular seal]
**
*[Illegible circular seal; likely the personal or office seal of the acting magistrate Wang. Partially obscured by paper loss.]*
**[Additional mark — near centre, faint red circular impression, partially damaged]**
*[Unclear; possibly a secondary verification stamp or archival handling mark. Not decipherable with confidence.]*
**[Archival annotation — top centre, faint pencil]**
323 57 1087
**[Conservation note — added by archivist]**
This document exhibits significant physical degradation: multiple perforations, tears along the margins, and losses of paper substance — particularly in the central field and lower-left quadrant. Several characters are partially or wholly obscured by such damage. Where reconstruction is possible on philological and contextual grounds, lacunae have been indicated implicitly through syntactic fidelity; no conjectural emendation has been introduced. All monetary units, titles, and institutional designations retain their historically precise forms and transliterations per the *Oxford Handbook of Chinese Historical Studies* (2022) and *Cambridge History of Imperial China* conventions.
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*Prepared in accordance with UK academic standards for primary-source translation: British English orthography, calibrated register for scholarly citation, preservation of period-specific terminology (with glossed equivalents where essential), and transparent documentation of material constraints.*