CHARLES SEYMOUR, United States Consul to Russell Young, February 22, 1883

Mr. Seymour to Mr. Young.

Sir: Two notable events have occurred in this vicinity, to which I respectfully call your attention, although it is probable yon will have learned the facts sooner through other sources of information.

One of these events is a “royal decree” now going into operation for the reopening of the Portuguese port of Macao to emigration, which was stopped many years ago on account of the Chinese coolie trade at that port having become, practically, slave traffic, attended with brutalities and iniquities, alike intolerable and indescribable, in the shipment and transit of the victims.

Whether any efficient guards or restrictions are thrown around the measure for the reopening of Macao to emigration, that will prevent revival and renewal of the deplorable traffic that was formerly carried on through that port, or not, I am unable to determine, but through correspondents at Macao I will try to obtain a copy of the “royal decree” just received from Lisbon. In any event, I deem it proper that this matter should be attended to, and kept in line with the interests of humanity, and therefore respectfully bring it to your notice.

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I have, &c.,