Ofício do mandarim sub-prefeito de Macau, Wei, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a concessão de licença comercial a um mercador inglês, de Cantão a Macau, para tratar do seu comércio e visitar os seus familiares
Transcription
Page 1
[Page]
T13
[Archival mark — top left]
回文案
部
[Archival mark — top right]
T13
1H54
T13
347
[Stamp — center left]
[Red rectangular seal with Manchu and Chinese characters, partially obscured by red brush strokes]
[Main text]
特授廣州海防軍民府兼督捕務紀錄四次魏 為給發印照事乾隆十九年四月十九日准
粵海關移開照得在省夷商赴奧探親貿易等事責成行商通事查詢
確寔出具保結赴關呈明給與印照分晰開註一面移知奧防廳轉飭夷
目查詢相符將該夷商交付所探之奧夷收管約束限滿事竣准
限回省母任逗遛等因業經
藩司議詳
督部院批示並照會到關承准出示曉諭各在案茲據遵豐行商人陳正票稱有咹
咭咧國夷商啞咖欲往奧門清理賬目居住夷目喽囉哆家內限五月終回省
等情出具保結前來除寧批發並准給發印照外合就移會備移過府請
煩轉飭查照等因連開夷商啞咖隨帶小厮三名劍刀三口鳥鎗三枝木箱行
李全到府准此擬合就行為此牌仰該夷目喽囉哆等照依事理即便查明該
夷商于何日到澳照內人数是否相符刻日收管約束并飭令該夷商依限照例具稟
收管甘結繳赴本府查考均毋有違速之須牌
右牌仰夷目喽囉哆等準此
[Signature]
日行科承
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府
限
印
日繳
[Red brush strokes — overlaying main text and stamp]
[Large red character "府" vertically written over the left side of the main text block]
[Red character "廿" near the center, below the date stamp]
[Red vertical stroke running down from "廿", intersecting several lines of text]
Translation
Page 1
[Page]
T13
[Archival mark — top left]
Case File
Department
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T13
1H54
T13
347
[Stamp — centre left]
[Red rectangular seal bearing Manchu and Chinese characters, partially overlaid by red brushstrokes]
[Main text]
By special imperial appointment, the Guangzhou Prefect for Maritime Defence and Civil-Military Administration, concurrently overseeing the Office of Bandit Suppression, and having received four official commendations for meritorious service: Wei —
Regarding the issuance of an official travel permit (yinzao), dated 19th day of the fourth lunar month in the nineteenth year of the Qianlong reign (1754).
The Guangdong Maritime Customs Office transmitted a notice stating that foreign merchants residing in Guangzhou who wished to travel to Macau for purposes such as visiting relatives or engaging in trade were required to obtain prior approval. Responsibility for verifying the legitimacy of such requests rested with the licensed Chinese merchant-hong (háng) and the official interpreters (tōngshì). Upon satisfactory verification, these officials were to submit a formal guarantee (bǎojié) to the Customs Office; only then would an official travel permit—bearing the Customs’ red seal and specifying the names, numbers, and intended duration of stay—be issued. A copy of the permit was simultaneously forwarded to the Macau Defence Office (Àofáng Tīng), which was instructed to direct the local Portuguese authorities (referred to in Qing administrative documents as *yí mù*, ‘foreign headmen’) to verify the details. Once confirmed, the foreign merchant was to be placed under the supervision and custody of the designated Macanese resident (the person to be visited), who assumed responsibility for their conduct. The merchant was required to return to Guangzhou upon completion of business and within the stipulated time limit; no extension or unsanctioned sojourn was permitted.
This procedure had previously been reviewed and endorsed by the Provincial Financial Commissioner (*Fānsī*), whose detailed report (*yìxiáng*) received formal approval and instructions from the Governor-General (*Dūbùyuàn*); a corresponding official notification had also been duly issued to the Customs Office. In compliance therewith, the Hong merchant Chen Zhengbiao of the Zunfeng Hang submitted a petition stating that John Agar, a British merchant, sought permission to travel to Macau to settle outstanding accounts and reside temporarily at the residence of the Portuguese *yí mù* Louluoduo (Lorodo), with a scheduled return to Guangzhou by the end of the fifth lunar month. Having submitted the requisite formal guarantee, Chen requested the issuance of an official travel permit.
In accordance with established protocol, the permit has now been approved and issued. Accordingly, this official communication is hereby transmitted to your office for necessary action. Kindly instruct the relevant Portuguese authorities—specifically *yí mù* Louluoduo—to verify the particulars set forth herein, and to ensure strict compliance with the following requirements:
— Confirm the precise date of the merchant’s arrival in Macau;
— Verify that the number of persons named in the permit corresponds exactly to those accompanying him (namely, three male servants);
— Immediately assume custody and supervision of the merchant and his party;
— Require the merchant to submit, upon expiry of the stipulated period, a formal written acknowledgment (*gānjié*) confirming his placement under supervision and attesting to his compliance with all conditions;
— Forward said acknowledgment to this Prefectural Office for official record and audit.
Failure to observe these directives will not be tolerated. Prompt execution is required.
This official warrant is addressed to *yí mù* Louluoduo and other relevant Portuguese authorities in Macau.
[Signature]
Office of Daily Administrative Affairs (*Rìxíng Kē*)
Acting Secretary
[Marginalia — left margin, vertical]
Prefecture (*Fǔ*)
Time Limit (*Xiàn*)
Seal (*Yìn*)
Date of Submission (*Rì jiāo*)
[Red brushstrokes — overlaying main text and stamp]
[Large red character *Fǔ* (‘Prefecture’) written vertically over the left side of the main text block]
[Red character *Niàn* (‘twentieth’, here indicating the twentieth day—though the document states the 19th; likely an administrative annotation or correction) positioned near the centre, beneath the date notation]
[Red vertical stroke descending from *Niàn*, intersecting multiple lines of text—indicating archival endorsement or processing action]