C H A P . X.
P ro c e e d in g s a t th e C ity o f Canton, a n d th e r e tu r n o f
th e Centurion to England.
WH E N the Commodore arrived at Canton, he was vifited
by the principal Cbinefe Merchants, who affedled to appear
very much pleafed that he had met with no ob-
ftrudtion in getting thither; and who thence pretended’ to conclude
that the Viceroy was fatisfied about the former miftake, the reality
o f which they (till infilled on. In the converfation which palled
upon this occafion, they took care to infinuate, that as foon as the
Viceroy Ihould be informed that Mr. Anfon was at Canton, (which
they promifed Ihould be done the next morning) they were per-
fuaded a time would be immediately appointed for the vifit which
was the principal bufinefs that had brought the Commodore to
that city. .
The next day the Merchants returned to Mr. Anfon, and told
him, that the Viceroy was then fo fully employed in preparing his
difpatches for Pekin, that there was no getting admittance to him
at prefent; but that they had engaged one o f the officers of his
court to give them information, as foon as he Ihould be at leifure
when they propofed to notify Mr. Anfon S arrival, and to endeavour
to fix the audience. The Commodore - was already too well acquainted
with their artifices, not to perceive that this was a falfe-
hood; and had he confulted only his own judgment, he would have
applied direftly to the Viceroy, by other hands. But the Cbinefe
Merchants had fo far prepoffeffed the fupercargoes o f our (hips
with chimerical fears, that they (the fupercargoes) were extremely
apprefc.ifive of being embroiled with the Government, and of
fuffering in their intereft, i f thofe meafures were taken which
appeared to Mr. Anfon at that time to be the moil prudential: And
3 therefore,
therefore, left the malice and double dealing of the Cbinefe might
have given rile to fome finifter incident, which would be after-
. wards laid at his door, he refolved to continue paffive, as long as
it Ihould appear that he loft no time, by thus fufpending his own
opinion. In purfuance of this refolution, he propofed to the Eng-
lijh, that he would engage not to take any immediate ftep himfelf
for getting admittance to the Viceroy, provided the Cbinefe, who
contracted to furnilh his provifions, would let him fee that his bread
was baked, his meat faked, and his (lores prepared with the ut-
moft.difpatch. But, if by the time when all was in readinefs to be
fhipped off, (which it was fuppofed would be in about forty days)
the Merchants Ihould hot have procured the Government’s per-
milfion to fend it on board, then the Commodore was determined
to apply to the Viceroy himfelf. Thele were the terms Mr. Anfon
thought proper to offer, to quiet the uneafinefs o f the fupercargoes;
and notwithftanding the apparent equity of the condition, many
difficulties and objections were urged : nor would the Cbinefe agree
to the propofal, till the Commodore had confented to pay for every
article he belpoke before it was put in hand. However, at laft,
the contraft being pall, it was fome fatisfadtion to the Commodore,
to be certain that his preparations were now going on, and being
himfelf on the fpot, he took care to haften them as much a?
poffible.
During this interval, in which the (lores and provifions were
getting ready, the Merchants continually entertained Mr. Anfon with
accounts of their various endeavours to procure a licence from the
Viceroy, and their frequent difappointments : This was now a matter
of amufement to the Commodore, as he was fully fatisfied there
was not on f word of truth in any thing they faid. But when all was
compleated, and wanted only to be (hipped, which was about the
24th of November, at which time too the N. E. monfoon was fet
in, he then refolved to demand an audience of the Viceroy, as he
was perfuaded that, without this ceremony, the grant of a per-
miffion to take his (lores on board would meet with great difficulty.
On the 24th of November, therefore, Mr. Anfon fent one
F f f 2 of