This is what the Chinese call "making "face," or keeping up appearances, with respect to any circumstances they are desirous of having reported their own way; and the people on the spot are literally ordered not to believe the evidence of their own senses, but to take the proclamation or edict* (as it is termed) for their guide, which is spread about in other parts, and handed down to posterity as good history, which no man dares to contradict. There was, however, a good deal of talk, sub rosa, upon the subject, and the shot found in the battery having been sent up to Canton and weighed, they hai-yawed a great deal at what we termed our smaller ships throwing shot of 25 catties (32lbs.) each, asking seriously about the probable consequences of the rejection of the embassy, and whether our larger ships could come up the river.

That the viceroy had an intention of

* Some how or other the word edict has crept into general use for any piece of common information, whether it is from the emperor, or has the force of a law or not.

insult beyond the mere exclusion of the ship is rendered more than probable from the circumstance of a number of barges having been placed in the back passage to Macao, and not in the route of Lord Macartney to Canton, which were removed from that situation immediately after the late occurrence; and likewise from the general tenour of his conduct throughout. Be this as it may, it would clearly have been a triumph to his cause, and that of his adherents, that the Embassador should have arrived at Canton with as little eclat and appearance of respect as possible. It would have added (as exterior is every thing with them) in the eyes of the Chinese, as well as foreigners, to the idea of disgrace and discomfiture to an obnoxious mission. But the advance of the ship to Wampoa not only commanded as brilliant an entry for the embassy* as ever had been witnessed on

* That the Chinese did not join in it, is only an additional proof that they would have prevented it, had they dared; indeed, a few days before the arrival of the Embas

any other occasion; but, what was of equal

sador, it became necessary, from their conduct in stoning and annoying our boats in passing up and down the river, to write to the Viceroy, requesting this practice might be discontinued ; and hinting that the next application to him. would be a personal one. The letter was translated into Chinese by Mr. Bannerman; and as a ship employed in an embassy is assumed by the Chinese to be, for the time, in the service of the emperor, it was couched as follows:"His Britannic Majesty's Ship Alceste, December 16, 1816.

SIR,

"THE very distinguished honour I at present enjoy of being employed in the service of His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of China, together with the profound respect and duty I owe to my own Sovereign, must have entirely prevented my incurring the risk of any further humiliation to their respective services, by addressing a second letter to your Excellency, whilst a moon had passed away, and my former one, stating the insult and outrage offered to both, in the assault made upon this ship on the 13th of last November, was still unanswered.

"But, as the Chinese people, who live in the boats, and upon the banks of this river, encouraged, no doubt, by the unfriendly and inhospitable conduct of your Excellency towards us, have also commenced an attack, by using most opprobrious language, making signs as though they would cut our heads off, and frequently throwing large stones, so as to endanger our lives, when passing quietly to and from Canton; it becomes an essential duty for me to inform your Excellency that there are limits to

importance, it sustained the dignity of the flag, and reduced the viceroy to the mean

the patience and forbearance of an English ship of war; any trespass beyond which it would be cowardice and ignominy to endure.

"My instructions from my King are most positive to treat the Chinese people with the greatest kindness and regard, which I have hitherto done, and am anxious to continue to do; but, as His Britannic Majesty, when giving these gracious orders, could not have anticipated that his ship was to have been fired upon by Chinese forts and fleets, with the view of destroying her; and that his officers and men were to be daily exposed to insult and injury from the unrestrained licentiousness of the lower classes of the people of China, I must endeavour, should your Excellency not deem it expedient to put an immediate stop to these disgraceful and dangerous proceedings, to act under such unlooked-for circumstances, as I think will best merit hereafter His Majesty's approbation, who always estimates the honour and dignity of his crown, by the safety and protection it affords to his people in every quarter of the globe.

"I have the honour to be

"Your Excellency's

"Most obedient and very humble servant,

"MURRAY MAXWELL.'

"To His Excellency the Viceroy of Canton."

An edict or order was immediately placarded on receipt of this, desiring the people to desist from any molestation of the English.

ness of congratulating those who had defied his flotilla and battered his fortifications.

Canton may be considered the most interesting city in China. It is one of the first in point of size, and, perhaps, the very first with respect to wealth. Here also, as the native manners may be seen in all their purity as perfectly as in any other part, the traveller has the additional advantage of viewing them as connected with Europeans, and of noticing their brightest efforts of imitative genius which the encouragement afforded by the commerce of the place calls forth.

The number of junks* and boats of all descriptions in motion upon the Tigris surpasses even the busy scenes upon the Thames. Here the boats are the only residence of some thousands of families, who live entirely on the water, and manage to obtain a livelihood, some by plying passage, others by fishing and picking up

A Chinese junk accords more with our conceptions of the appearance of Noah's ark than of a ship.

N