Ofício do mandarim da alfândega de Macau, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a intimação aos dois navios registados no porto de Macau para tratarem da sua medição
Title
Ofício do mandarim da alfândega de Macau, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a intimação aos dois navios registados no porto de Macau para tratarem da sua medição
Abstract
This archival document is an imperial edict issued on the second day of the seventh month of the twenty-first year of the Qianlong reign (1756 CE) by Yang, Imperial Commissioner for the Administration of Macau and Chief of the Maritime Customs and Defence Office. Addressed to the foreign headman Lóluóduō (Lorodo), the edict concerns the Portuguese vessel *Guliedi’ai Du Lu’andi Gulu’ou*—a transliteration of *Nossa Senhora da Graça* (‘Our Lady of Grace’)—which had entered Macau’s port but failed to comply with the mandatory requirement of immediate official measurement and customs assessment. The edict records that repeated official reminders had been issued without resolution and directs the headman to investigate the cause of the delay, conduct a thorough examination of the vessel for contraband or prohibited goods, and submit a detailed report specifying all circumstances contributing to the non-compliance for onward transmission to superior administrative authorities. The document reflects Qing regulatory protocols governing foreign maritime trade at Macau during the mid-eighteenth century, emphasising procedural compliance, customs enforcement, and hierarchical administrative accountability. It is a primary source illuminating Sino-Portuguese commercial interaction, colonial administration under Qing sovereignty, and the operational mechanisms of maritime governance in the South China Sea region. The marginal note on the same page incorrectly dates the report to the seventh month of the twenty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1757 CE), though the edict itself bears the earlier date of 1756 CE.
Archive
Portugal. Arquivos Nacionais da Torre do Tombo
Loc. in Archive
PT/TT/DCHN/1/1/000017
Notes
Transcription
Page 1
[Page]
362
[Archival mark]
T17
1.456
[Marginalia — top right]
乾隆廿二年七月
桅洋船报文
[Stamp — top center]
谕
[Main text]
奉委管理澳门总税务防禦府杨 谕
夷目喽啰哆知悉照得本埠洋船
回帆进口例应随即请丈输钞兹查
知古列地啀度卢安地古鲁藕一船进口
久未据请丈屡催迟延其间是何情弊
合行谕查谕到该夷目知照速即将该船
查明因何不请丈验船内有无藏匿违禁货
物以致迟延之处即确查具报以便转禀
宪辕免得再延致于未便速速特谕
[Signature]
乾隆贰拾壹年柒月 二日
Translation
Page 1
[Page]
362
[Archival reference]
T17
1.456
[Marginal note — top right]
Seventh month of the twenty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1757 CE)
Report concerning a foreign vessel at Macau
[Official seal — top centre]
Imperial Edict
[Main text]
Edict issued by Yang, Imperial Commissioner for the Administration of Macau, Chief of the Maritime Customs and Defence Office
To the Foreign Headman Lóluóduō [Lorodo], take notice:
It is stipulated that foreign vessels returning to Macau must, upon entering the port, immediately request official measurement and assessment for customs duties. It has been ascertained that the vessel *Guliedi’ai Du Lu’andi Gulu’ou* [a transliteration of the Portuguese name *Nossa Senhora da Graça*, i.e., ‘Our Lady of Grace’] has entered the port but has long failed to submit such a request. Repeated official reminders have been issued, yet the matter remains delayed. The cause of this delay requires urgent clarification.
You are hereby instructed to investigate forthwith: ascertain the precise reason why the vessel has not requested official measurement; examine the vessel thoroughly to determine whether it carries any contraband or prohibited goods; and report your findings without delay—specifying all relevant circumstances contributing to the delay—so that the matter may be duly forwarded to the superior administrative authority. Failure to act promptly would be prejudicial to due procedure. Act with urgency. This edict is issued accordingly.
[Signature]
Second day of the seventh month of the twenty-first year of the Qianlong reign (1756 CE)
Citation
Ofício do mandarim da alfândega de Macau, Yang, ao procurador de Macau, sobre a intimação aos dois navios registados no porto de Macau para tratarem da sua medição. (1756). Portugal. Arquivos Nacionais da Torre do Tombo (PT/TT/DCHN/1/1/000017). http://43.156.68.124/docs/NSFEDMPP/viewer_NSFEDMPP.html