C H A P . VIL
Auguft.
Friday 16.
Arrive at the city of Tong-tcheiv, where the -voyage ends. The ,em-
bajfy dfembarks j ceremonies on the occafon. The place appointed
for the reception of the prefents and baggage deferibed. Defcription
of the' building appropriated for the refdence of the Ambajfador and
bisfuite, ThedoM^ievoorfbiptffhe Chinefe. Theentertainment
of the embaffy. An account of tbs city of TongAdhevjJ Circym-
fances relative to its civil government. - Theprefents for the Mmperor
examined. -Abe artillery exereifed^ F tft from the mandarin. The
death gf Mr. jEades, and his funeral. . The Ambajfador receives notice
of the time appointed fo r his departure for Pekin.
As we proceeded on our voyage, .the villages became more frequent,
and the people more numerous. We continued to receive -our ufual
fupply o£ .meat, Jfhwls, vegetables, and fruit; and about five o’clock
in the afternoon o f this day, we arrived at the city o f TOfig-tchew,
which is fituated at the diftance o f twelve miles from Pekin, and
where our voyage up this fine river found, its termination. It may
appear to be a continual repetition o f the lame fubje<fi,hut the circuna»-
fiance appeared to be fo extraordinary, that I cannot-fail to repeat it,
by obferving that, at this place, the people Wlo covered the. banks o f
the river far ea^eded in number any thing that we had yet feen.
Soon after the arrival o f the fleet at this place, Lord Macartneyand
Sir George Staunton, , accompanied by the conducting mandarin, Van
Tadge-Jn, went on fhore jto infpedt the place allotted for the landing the
prefents and baggage, which the Chittefe had previoufly ereCted fdr
that purpofe. It contained about the fpace p f an acre, fenced in with
rpatting, and fuynilhed with long theds made of uprights of wood and
mattinsr.
m p )
matting, with a roof o f the latter, in order to prevent the „package^1
from being' injured b y the rain -OÏ dew T h e '‘-ground was entirely Auguft.
covered with .mats, ;and the place well:guarded on all fides by petty
mandarins and foldiers.
The grand mandarin o f the place lent to inform,the AmbaflTador
that a public brfeakfafi would’ be prepared at the temple allotted for
the rgfidence o f the embafly, during its -ftay ^Çong-tchew, on the
following, morning at feven. o’clock > to which Lord Macartney apd
his w hole'fuite, including mechanics, foldiers, and fcrvants, wesq
im^Jed. Notice of this general meifage was eonfeqttendy given to
each junk, and orders were at the fame time ifliied to prepare for disembarkation.
‘
A t fix, o’clock this morning two palanquins were fent for Lord M a i Saturday 17,
cartney and Sir George Staunton, who, in about an hour after their
arrivai^-left the junks, and were carried to the. temple already mentioned
^i-as the' plac? appointed for their refidence, efcbrted by a party
o f Chinefe feldigrs and an immenfe concourfe o f fpeftators.
The breakfafi confifted >.of a profufion o f . ftews and made diffiçsy
meat of aR kin®^ tea, wines, boiled eggs, with a great variety o f
fruits, and elegant, confectionary.
A certain number o f coolies, in fmall boats, were ordered , to each
junk, to remove all the articles belonging t,o the embafly to. the place
already mentioned as'prepared for their receptions;, During the greater
part o f the forenoôn I was employed in takingcarèthat the proportion
o f baggage committed ta my charge, was conveyed. in i fafe^ to- the
fhed$i
At the gate o f this inclofure there were two Chinefé officers, who
infpecSreilall cafes and packages which were brought from die junks i
they firfi took their dimenfions, o f which they appeared to take a
written