Ofício do [mandarim sub-prefeito de Macau], ao [procurador de Macau], sobre o caso do escrivão e intérprete do procurador
This abstract describes an imperial edict issued on the eighteenth day of the fifth month in the forty-ninth year of the Qianlong reign (1784), bearing the red oval seal of the Zongli Yamen—the Qing dynasty’s Office for the General Management of Affairs concerning Foreign Countries—and a secondary r...
Saved in:
| Format: | Manuscripts |
|---|---|
| Published: |
1784-06-25
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://macau-legacy.usj.edu.mo/docs/2HU56CMW/viewer_2HU56CMW.html |
| _version_ | 1877197618696683520 |
|---|---|
| archiveLocation | PT/TT/DCHN/1/2/000101 |
| building | Portugal. Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo |
| collection | Portugal. Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo |
| description | This abstract describes an imperial edict issued on the eighteenth day of the fifth month in the forty-ninth year of the Qianlong reign (1784), bearing the red oval seal of the Zongli Yamen—the Qing dynasty’s Office for the General Management of Affairs concerning Foreign Countries—and a secondary red rectangular seal inscribed with ‘Junjichu’ and ‘Zouzhe’, indicating submission through the Grand Council. The document addresses the conduct of an official interpreter tasked with overseeing matters pertaining to the foreign community, accusing him of persistent negligence, incompetence, and improper deference to foreign headmen, thereby breaching his official duties. It records the referral of the matter for investigation while suspending immediate disciplinary action, and issues a formal warning that any future reckless or improper submission of memorials will result in immediate inquiry and punishment without leniency. Marginalia include a directive for strict observance ‘by special mandate’, an archival reference mark ‘T101’, a date annotation ‘1784’, and a catalogue number ‘585-’. The text is a primary source reflecting Qing administrative protocols, intercultural governance challenges, and institutional mechanisms for accountability in foreign affairs during the late eighteenth century. Researchers will find this document valuable for studying Qing bureaucratic practice, Sino-foreign relations, imperial edict composition, and the evolving role of interpreters in cross-cultural diplomatic contexts. |
| first_indexed | 2026-05-17T07:58:51Z |
| format | Manuscripts |
| fulltext | [transcription]
{{PAGE:1}}
飭諭到該夷目等即便遵照外，其番事
通事自應諳曉一切諸事，留心辦理；乃一
味糊塗，任聽夷目指使，更屬膽玩本
{{PAGE:2}}
[Main text]
應提究處姑寬外嗣後務須小心辦
理倘仍敢混稟定即提究決不寬貸
[Marginalia — left]
毋違特諭
[Stamp — left center]
[Red oval seal: 總理衙門章]
{{PAGE:3}}
乾隆四十九年五月
十八日諭
[Stamp — center]
[紅色長方形印鑑，字跡密集；上部可辨「軍機處」與「奏折」，其餘部分因墨漬滲染及紙張損毀而不可辨]
[Marginalia — right]
T101
1784
[Archival mark]
585-
[translation]
{{PAGE:1}}
Having instructed the said foreign headmen to comply accordingly, it is further required that the official interpreter—responsible for overseeing all matters pertaining to the foreign community—must possess full familiarity with all relevant affairs and discharge his duties with due diligence and attention. Yet he has instead acted in a consistently negligent and incompetent manner, passively submitting to the direction of the foreign headmen; such conduct constitutes a flagrant disregard of his official responsibilities and a serious breach of duty.
{{PAGE:2}}
[Main text]
The matter in question is hereby referred for investigation; however, on this occasion, disciplinary action is suspended. Henceforth, utmost care and diligence must be exercised in the handling of such matters. Should any further instance of reckless or improper submission of memorials occur, the responsible party will be immediately summoned for inquiry and punished without leniency.
[Marginalia — left]
This instruction is to be strictly observed. By special mandate.
[Stamp — left centre]
[Red oval seal: ‘Seal of the Zongli Yamen’ — i.e., the Office for the General Management of Affairs concerning Foreign Countries (1861–1901), the Qing dynasty’s de facto foreign ministry]
{{PAGE:3}}
Eighteenth day of the fifth month, forty-ninth year of the Qianlong reign (1784)
Imperial edict issued
[Stamp — centred]
[Red rectangular seal, densely inscribed; upper portion legible as ‘Junjichu’ (Grand Council) and ‘Zouzhe’ (memorial submitted to the emperor); remainder illegible due to ink bleed and paper deterioration]
[Marginalia — right-hand margin]
T101
1784
[Archival reference mark]
585- |
| fulltext_transcription | {{PAGE:1}}
飭諭到該夷目等即便遵照外，其番事
通事自應諳曉一切諸事，留心辦理；乃一
味糊塗，任聽夷目指使，更屬膽玩本
{{PAGE:2}}
[Main text]
應提究處姑寬外嗣後務須小心辦
理倘仍敢混稟定即提究決不寬貸
[Marginalia — left]
毋違特諭
[Stamp — left center]
[Red oval seal: 總理衙門章]
{{PAGE:3}}
乾隆四十九年五月
十八日諭
[Stamp — center]
[紅色長方形印鑑，字跡密集；上部可辨「軍機處」與「奏折」，其餘部分因墨漬滲染及紙張損毀而不可辨]
[Marginalia — right]
T101
1784
[Archival mark]
585- |
| fulltext_translation | {{PAGE:1}}
Having instructed the said foreign headmen to comply accordingly, it is further required that the official interpreter—responsible for overseeing all matters pertaining to the foreign community—must possess full familiarity with all relevant affairs and discharge his duties with due diligence and attention. Yet he has instead acted in a consistently negligent and incompetent manner, passively submitting to the direction of the foreign headmen; such conduct constitutes a flagrant disregard of his official responsibilities and a serious breach of duty.
{{PAGE:2}}
[Main text]
The matter in question is hereby referred for investigation; however, on this occasion, disciplinary action is suspended. Henceforth, utmost care and diligence must be exercised in the handling of such matters. Should any further instance of reckless or improper submission of memorials occur, the responsible party will be immediately summoned for inquiry and punished without leniency.
[Marginalia — left]
This instruction is to be strictly observed. By special mandate.
[Stamp — left centre]
[Red oval seal: ‘Seal of the Zongli Yamen’ — i.e., the Office for the General Management of Affairs concerning Foreign Countries (1861–1901), the Qing dynasty’s de facto foreign ministry]
{{PAGE:3}}
Eighteenth day of the fifth month, forty-ninth year of the Qianlong reign (1784)
Imperial edict issued
[Stamp — centred]
[Red rectangular seal, densely inscribed; upper portion legible as ‘Junjichu’ (Grand Council) and ‘Zouzhe’ (memorial submitted to the emperor); remainder illegible due to ink bleed and paper deterioration]
[Marginalia — right-hand margin]
T101
1784
[Archival reference mark]
585- |
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| last_indexed | 2026-09-24T07:28:05Z |
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| publishDate | 1784-06-25 |
| publishDateRange | 1784 |
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| spelling | Ofício do [mandarim sub-prefeito de Macau], ao [procurador de Macau], sobre o caso do escrivão e intérprete do procurador This abstract describes an imperial edict issued on the eighteenth day of the fifth month in the forty-ninth year of the Qianlong reign (1784), bearing the red oval seal of the Zongli Yamen—the Qing dynasty’s Office for the General Management of Affairs concerning Foreign Countries—and a secondary red rectangular seal inscribed with ‘Junjichu’ and ‘Zouzhe’, indicating submission through the Grand Council. The document addresses the conduct of an official interpreter tasked with overseeing matters pertaining to the foreign community, accusing him of persistent negligence, incompetence, and improper deference to foreign headmen, thereby breaching his official duties. It records the referral of the matter for investigation while suspending immediate disciplinary action, and issues a formal warning that any future reckless or improper submission of memorials will result in immediate inquiry and punishment without leniency. Marginalia include a directive for strict observance ‘by special mandate’, an archival reference mark ‘T101’, a date annotation ‘1784’, and a catalogue number ‘585-’. The text is a primary source reflecting Qing administrative protocols, intercultural governance challenges, and institutional mechanisms for accountability in foreign affairs during the late eighteenth century. Researchers will find this document valuable for studying Qing bureaucratic practice, Sino-foreign relations, imperial edict composition, and the evolving role of interpreters in cross-cultural diplomatic contexts. Manuscripts Portugal. Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo PT/TT/DCHN/1/2/000101 1784-06-25 Foreign Headman Grand Council Qianlong Reign Edict Qing bureaucratic accountability Qing foreign affairs administration Sino-foreign diplomatic protocol Zongli Yamen intercultural governance official interpreter misconduct {{PAGE:1}} 飭諭到該夷目等即便遵照外，其番事 通事自應諳曉一切諸事，留心辦理；乃一 味糊塗，任聽夷目指使，更屬膽玩本 {{PAGE:2}} [Main text] 應提究處姑寬外嗣後務須小心辦 理倘仍敢混稟定即提究決不寬貸 [Marginalia — left] 毋違特諭 [Stamp — left center] [Red oval seal: 總理衙門章] {{PAGE:3}} 乾隆四十九年五月 十八日諭 [Stamp — center] [紅色長方形印鑑，字跡密集；上部可辨「軍機處」與「奏折」，其餘部分因墨漬滲染及紙張損毀而不可辨] [Marginalia — right] T101 1784 [Archival mark] 585- {{PAGE:1}} Having instructed the said foreign headmen to comply accordingly, it is further required that the official interpreter—responsible for overseeing all matters pertaining to the foreign community—must possess full familiarity with all relevant affairs and discharge his duties with due diligence and attention. Yet he has instead acted in a consistently negligent and incompetent manner, passively submitting to the direction of the foreign headmen; such conduct constitutes a flagrant disregard of his official responsibilities and a serious breach of duty. {{PAGE:2}} [Main text] The matter in question is hereby referred for investigation; however, on this occasion, disciplinary action is suspended. Henceforth, utmost care and diligence must be exercised in the handling of such matters. Should any further instance of reckless or improper submission of memorials occur, the responsible party will be immediately summoned for inquiry and punished without leniency. [Marginalia — left] This instruction is to be strictly observed. By special mandate. [Stamp — left centre] [Red oval seal: ‘Seal of the Zongli Yamen’ — i.e., the Office for the General Management of Affairs concerning Foreign Countries (1861–1901), the Qing dynasty’s de facto foreign ministry] {{PAGE:3}} Eighteenth day of the fifth month, forty-ninth year of the Qianlong reign (1784) Imperial edict issued [Stamp — centred] [Red rectangular seal, densely inscribed; upper portion legible as ‘Junjichu’ (Grand Council) and ‘Zouzhe’ (memorial submitted to the emperor); remainder illegible due to ink bleed and paper deterioration] [Marginalia — right-hand margin] T101 1784 [Archival reference mark] 585- |
| spellingShingle | Ofício do [mandarim sub-prefeito de Macau], ao [procurador de Macau], sobre o caso do escrivão e intérprete do procurador Foreign Headman Grand Council Qianlong Reign Edict Qing bureaucratic accountability Qing foreign affairs administration Sino-foreign diplomatic protocol Zongli Yamen intercultural governance official interpreter misconduct |
| title | Ofício do [mandarim sub-prefeito de Macau], ao [procurador de Macau], sobre o caso do escrivão e intérprete do procurador |
| title_autocomplete | Ofício do [mandarim sub-prefeito de Macau], ao [procurador de Macau], sobre o caso do escrivão e intérprete do procurador |
| title_full | Ofício do [mandarim sub-prefeito de Macau], ao [procurador de Macau], sobre o caso do escrivão e intérprete do procurador |
| title_fullStr | Ofício do [mandarim sub-prefeito de Macau], ao [procurador de Macau], sobre o caso do escrivão e intérprete do procurador |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ofício do [mandarim sub-prefeito de Macau], ao [procurador de Macau], sobre o caso do escrivão e intérprete do procurador |
| title_short | Ofício do [mandarim sub-prefeito de Macau], ao [procurador de Macau], sobre o caso do escrivão e intérprete do procurador |
| title_sort | ofício do [mandarim sub-prefeito de macau], ao [procurador de macau], sobre o caso do escrivão e intérprete do procurador |
| topic | Foreign Headman Grand Council Qianlong Reign Edict Qing bureaucratic accountability Qing foreign affairs administration Sino-foreign diplomatic protocol Zongli Yamen intercultural governance official interpreter misconduct |
| topic_autocomplete | Foreign Headman Grand Council Qianlong Reign Edict Qing bureaucratic accountability Qing foreign affairs administration Sino-foreign diplomatic protocol Zongli Yamen intercultural governance official interpreter misconduct |
| topic_facet | Foreign Headman Grand Council Qianlong Reign Edict Qing bureaucratic accountability Qing foreign affairs administration Sino-foreign diplomatic protocol Zongli Yamen intercultural governance official interpreter misconduct |
| url | https://macau-legacy.usj.edu.mo/docs/2HU56CMW/viewer_2HU56CMW.html |
| zotero_collection_key | 6E6PR22G L8SIPB5W |