The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-21 00:00:00

CHINA.

(From the Overland Friend of China, of September 28.) ;
Last monthly paper contained a lengthened account ,
of the murder of the Governor of Macao by the Chinese
on the 22d of August, the consequent excitement
among the Portuguese, and the position of the colony I
when the overland despatches were closed. We men-
tioned that on hearing of the atrocity her Majesty's ,
ship Amazon, and her Majesty's steamer, Medea, •
went over at once, in order to restore confidence by i
their appearance; two American and one French
men-of-war have been there for the same purpose.
Since the Portuguese soldiers captured a small
Chinese fort outside the barrier, three days after the
murder, there have been no acts of hostility on either
side. The number of Chinese killed and wounded on
that occasion was not far from 70; in Canton exag-
geration has swollen the number to over 100. The
Chinese within the walls of Macao are quiet : there
has been neither riot nor plunder, and the presence
in the town of marines belonging to the French and
American ships of war will have an excellent effect.
The Fiench minister to China resides in Macao ; and
the American government occupies naval stores there
for the supply of the squadron in the east. At these
places respectively there is a French and an American
marine guard.
The Chinese commissioner's reply to the despatch
from the Macao government, informing him of the
crime that had been committed, is marked by the
cool insolence of its tone. It is said that the answer
sent to Mr. Bonham's communication was much in
the same strain. The Macao government answered
seriously, but it had little, if any effect. About the
20th, government received another communication
(we rather think net written by Seu himself) offering
to deliver up the head and hand of the late governor,
also a bead said to be that of one of the murderers,
provided the Portuguese wou'd release the three
Chinese soldiers captured at the barrier gate on the
• 25th ultimo. To this the Portuguese could not con-
' bent, mach value being put on the evidence
of the soldiers. It is said they were on guard
when the murder was committed—witcessed the
whole affair, and feasted in the guard-house with the
r murderers, the head and hand being there until near
midnight, when they embarked for Canton. They
reached Canton tho following evening when there
was much rejoicing within the city. At Whampos,
in sight of the foreign shipping, there was a public
procession a few days later. Many Chinese soldiers
were present carrying with them the figure of a
European on horseback, which they placed in the

temple of one of their idols. Rumours are current df
rewards and even rank having been conferred on the
murderers ; but of this foreigners have no 0,144
knowledge. The authorities at Macao will spare
no exertion to get at the truth ; no „as
man for a moment can believe that this pm
the net of mere desperate ruffians. Plunder was act
their object ; before they committed the deed a retrial
was secured to Canton, and the very hour of their
arrival at the city timed.
It now appears, that some days previous to the
murder, a mandarin vessel moored in the bay ate
the barrier. She anchored off the Praya on the eve.
iog the deed was done, and left some time durieg the
night. It is probable, that after marking the state
of excitement, this boat put off and embarked the
murderers according to previous arrangement. Ag
express boat dispatched for Canton that evening re,
turned, stating that they had been fired at by pirates
and compelled to return. The crew of the expel"
assert that the boat which prevented their going fon.
ther was the identical Mandarin boat we have re.
(erred to.