James Madison to William Jarvis regarding foreign affairs - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC03329.02
From Archive Folder	Documents Relating to 1803
Title	James Madison to William Jarvis regarding foreign affairs
Date	1 January 1803
Author	Madison, James (1751-1836)
Recipient	Jarvis, William
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	Secretary of State Madison sends a copy of a letter from Samuel Snow, United States Minister to Canton, to Jarvis, United States Consul in Portugal. Sent with GLC03329.01, dated 14 January 1803. Snow informs Madison that the Chinese government desires foreigners to depart from China after the business season ends in April. States that most Consuls retire to Macao, a nearby Portuguese settlement, until the business season resumes in September. Requests that Madison obtain the Portuguese Government's permission for his Macao residence from Jarvis.
Subjects	President Government and Civics Diplomacy Asia Global History and Civics Commerce
People	Jarvis, William (1770-1859) Madison, James (1751-1836) Snow, Samuel (fl. 1803)
Place written	Washington, D.C.
Theme	Government & Politics; Foreign Affairs; Industry; Banking & Economics; Merchants & Commerce; The Presidency
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information	Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Related documents	Letter from James Madison to William Jarvis regarding negotiations with Portugal
Transcript	Show/hide From Samuel Snow Sir, Washington lst January 1803 The Chinese Government have always been in the practice of desiring Foreigners of every description to leave Canton after the season of business is over, generally ending in April; and the Agents of all the East India Companies, and Consuls, invariably leave Canton on or about that time and retire to Macao a Portuguese settlement bout seventy miles below, and not far from the mouth of the River Tygris, there they remain during the summer months and return again to Canton generally in September. The Governor at Macao does not feel himself authorised to permit the residence of any foreign Officer within the limits of his Jurisdiction, without special permission first obtained from the Court of Portugal, this permission the Uropean Consuls and Agents of the East India Companies have obtained, and Whilst I was in China the Governor of Macao did so far wink at the law, as to allow me to take a house and reside there under equal privileges with the other Gentlemen, but the time for which the Old Governor was appointed expired, and a New Governor arrived t2 just as I came away,' and my Agen has informed me since, that the new Governor will not permit his residence at Macao unless permission is obtained from the Court of Portugal. This, if persisted in, will place him in the disagreable alternative of either taking a passa to Manilla, or Malacca, the former of which may be estimated at an average passage of ten days, and PJM-SS, 4/12 5 the latter at fifteen, besides the very great expence which in that country would attend a removal only at that distance. I beg leave therefore, to request that you would be pleased to write to our Minister at the Court of Portugal and desire him to obtain permission for me to reside at Macao during the suspension of business at Canton, and as I expect to sail for China again early in the Spring, I shall feel myself particularly obliged if a return could be had previous to my departure. I have the honour to be with very great Respect, Sir, Your Obedient & very humble Servant Samuel Snow P S. Please to direct to me at Providence Rhode Island

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