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Licença de navegação do mandarim da alfândega de Cantão, Li, ao mercador e armador, João Botelho, para ir a Luzon tratar de comércio
Transcription
Page 1
[Page]
T18
[Stamp — top center]
[Circular red stamp: 粵海關 (Yuehai Guan) with seal script, partially obscured]
[Title]
粵海關澳船牌
[Marginalia — left side, vertical]
粵海關
乾隆貳拾叁年正月
(Handwritten red characters below: 三月廿一日)
[Main text]
欽命管理粵海關稅務內務府佐領李
為
會題請
旨事照得西洋船隻既經丈抽納餉或因風水不順飄至他省原非耑往貿易查有丈抽印票即便放
行不得重徵先經會同定議其
題在案今據洋船商若望蒙打惹裝載貨物前往呂宋買
易時有丈抽稅餉已經照例完納合行給牌照驗為此牌給本船商收執如遇關津要隘汛防處
所驗明放行不得重徵稅餉留難阻滯其隨帶防船火砲器械按照舊例填註牌內毋許多帶并
交帶違禁貨物致究未便須牌
[Signature / Rubric]
舵工西華
恭領肆拾玖名
小砲拾個
大砲拾伍位
食米貳拾貳担零伍升
[Stamp — lower left]
[Red square seal: 粵海關 (Yuehai Guan) with seal script, partially obscured]
[Stamp — right side, vertical]
[Red handwritten characters: 右牌給夷商若望蒙打惹執]
[Archival mark — top left corner]
T18
Page 2
[Stamp — top center]
[Red rectangular seal: 粵海關印]
[Heading]
粵海關
[Main text]
廣東省城五仙門 光緒 年 月 日 [Main text — right column] 承辦西華 轉合眾名 倉米價銀肆佰零肆兩 小寫合圓 大寫肆佰零肆兩 [Main text — left column] 茲據商船「新寧」號，船主黃□□，載貨出口，經本關查驗，照章徵稅，共計應納稅銀肆佰零肆兩，小寫合圓，大寫肆佰零肆兩。此據。
[Signature]
[Illegible signature mark]
[Marginalia — left margin, vertical]
奉命管理粵海關務總辦在欽差大臣李
[Stamp — upper left corner, partially torn]
[Red rectangular stamp, partially illegible: (Selo parcialmente danificado)] [Archival mark — top edge, faint pencil] M7.
Translation
Page 1
[Page]
T18
[Stamp — top centre]
[Circular red seal bearing the characters 粵海關 (*Yuehai Guan*, i.e. Canton Customs) in seal script; partially obscured]
[Title]
Canton Customs Permit for Macau-bound Vessels
[Marginalia — left margin, vertical]
Canton Customs
Twenty-third year of the Qianlong reign (AD 1758)
[Handwritten in vermilion ink below: 21st day of the third lunar month]
[Main text]
Li, Assistant Director of the Imperial Household Department and Imperially Appointed Superintendent of the Canton Customs, hereby submits this memorial for imperial approval concerning the following matter:
It is established practice that foreign vessels—having already undergone official measurement and paid the prescribed customs duties (*zhangchou*, i.e. ‘measurement and levy’) at Canton—may, owing to adverse winds or navigational misadventure, be driven off course into ports of other provinces. Such vessels are not engaged in deliberate interprovincial trade. Provided they present valid customs receipts bearing the official seal (*zhangchou yinpiao*), they shall be permitted to proceed without further taxation. This regulation was jointly agreed upon by the relevant authorities and formally memorialised to the throne; the case remains on record.
Now, it has been reported that the foreign merchant João Monteiro, master of a vessel bound for Manila (Lüsong) to conduct commercial transactions, has duly completed all required customs formalities—including measurement and payment of duties—at Canton, in accordance with established precedent. Accordingly, this official permit (*pai*) is hereby issued for his use. The merchant is to retain this document as proof of compliance.
Wherever the vessel encounters customs checkpoints, frontier posts, maritime patrols, or other official inspection stations, the authorities concerned are instructed to verify this permit and grant immediate passage. No additional customs duties or levies may be imposed; nor may the vessel be detained, obstructed, or subjected to undue delay.
The vessel’s armament—comprising defensive ordnance only—is to be recorded herein in strict accordance with long-standing regulations. Excess weaponry is expressly prohibited. Furthermore, the carriage of contraband goods is strictly forbidden; violation will incur full legal liability. This permit serves as formal authorisation.
[Signature / Rubric]
Helmsman: Xi Hua
Total crew: 49 persons
Small cannons: 10
Large cannons: 15
Rice provisions: 22 *dan* and 5 *sheng* (approx. 1,320 kg)
[Stamp — lower left]
[Red square seal bearing the characters 粵海關 (*Yuehai Guan*) in seal script; partially obscured]
[Stamp — right margin, vertical]
[Red handwritten inscription: ‘This permit is issued to the foreign merchant João Monteiro for his personal custody.’]
[Archival mark — top left corner]
T18
Page 2
— STAMP — top centre
— Red rectangular seal: *Yuehai Guan Yin* (Seal of the Canton Maritime Customs)
— Heading
Canton Maritime Customs
— Main text
Five Immortals Gate, Provincial Capital of Guangdong
Guangxu reign year, [month] [day]
[Right column — main text]
Commissioned by Xi Hua; remitted to the United States Consulate: duty on imported rice, amounting to silver taels 404.
Numerical equivalent: $404.00 (in Mexican dollars, standard currency of the Canton Customs at the time).
Written in full: four hundred and four taels.
[Left column — main text]
Whereas the merchant vessel *Xinning*, master Huang [illegible], has cleared customs for outward-bound cargo, and having been duly inspected by this Office, the prescribed duties have been levied in accordance with the Regulations of the Maritime Customs Service. The total sum payable amounts to four hundred and four silver taels, numerically expressed as $404.00, and written in full as four hundred and four taels. This is to certify.
— Signature
[Illegible personal mark or chop signature]
— Marginalia — left margin, vertical
Under the authority of His Excellency Li Hongzhang, Imperial Commissioner and Superintendent of Customs Affairs in Guangdong Province, acting through the Chief Administrator of the Canton Maritime Customs.
— Stamp — upper left corner, partially torn
[Red rectangular stamp, partially damaged: *Selo parcialmente danificado* — archival note in Portuguese, retained as found in the original document]
— Archival mark — top edge, faint pencil inscription
M7