CHAPTER XVIL , .
Reason to hope for a prosperous Termination o f the E m b a s s y — meet with
\ strenuous Opposition— on what G r o u n d s .— Vessel arrivesuat Repngoon
, f r o m Mauritius— N e w s f r o m Europe unpleasant— ^industriously propagated.—
M r . W o o d visits the Woongees-r— polife Reception— remarkable
Circumstance— ^require to know'his Majesty's Pleasure— D a y appointe^
fo r the Delivery of Presents f r o m the B i r m a n J\ ing.— popverudion jit
the JMpo-r^Ârrogance'of the B i r m a n Taurt^resglve to^fçn^çiteftattàrr,
uncivil Treatment.—M r . W o o d presents a written a n d solemn Declaration—
Ferment caused by it— favourable D a y appointed
fo r our Receptionby the King.— Liberal Rétifn ^fres^/fts—
different Articles.-— -Proceed to the Palate— Introduction
dience— the K i n g — his Dress— Pe rs on— M a n n e r—Recdyeiojffmgj%Pa-,
pers in the R h o o m . — Formality in conveying the-Kings Letter.—
Return.
iiilst we were thus passing our time in amusement, and the'indui-
gence of our curiosity, the more important interests of the mission were
not forgotten. The council, I was informed, had held frequent deliberations
on some general propositions, which I had submitted with a view to assist
the mercantile interests of the two countries, and glace commerce oh a'li-
beral and secure basis. I had reason given me to conclude, that t ty suggestions
had met w ith a favourable reception, and I was likewise informed by
«n authority. w«ch?iEt&n;ceiMe4®,to'. be 'compel!», that it was intended
'to) (lupine .1 il5irmanj,1)llk u ()ft»<lisonuuon m .ui official capacity to Bengal;
, therestot confei&^'fdrf# the pariHojjkBis Birman Majesty, the gipli
understand in« Mi'alj&as .Ifenohoi tli ter siS®sS|t4b'^®|i!|the feiuijWof Um-
'•tteiapooras' .iiid;.thc iQo^cwmu ulr Genii a$bi India»." Assui mcis of this
natuie,i'ffbgethu, v ith ihc> uninuoik p u d fo,oui pw\ ttufaccommod luonf
iridkceBKiBa^fdi'^pu for' a leimihajibri' of-' tin? iriis^fon1, with
wBrcn; I was ^wus!teW ’:';
■<>I ISme\*iTffl6onjlolhid,"Ifrliptiho ittainmcnt of IKesc objects', which were
jonwi'lislyic tku]atcd'’t<wfo’oi itf ipiot d'ad^.im.igOTcVBwuvh'I^i'tli i and'the
Biiman mpue$!'was opposed by >ilier
jessing e’ihierests might' e\ cutuli l'l v*Ik, ilfeiual In ' my rmio’-
vation, and wlio on ihat^account suhdousHflpmcuTOll'jLildus5|Sfnd dts*
trust. ’ I li-kwfee' learned that the' pride ^w lii^ ’oultt '&dv^®OTPfylawak-
enedjtlljpl representation that the government of**Buig d» !>ein„ provincial,
and the Governor’General) horn whom 1 dciiveikm^b'ffiiitnSsioMi «nubile'
; suqjtfei.’of a k in g r i ^ ^ f p ^ h f e r |f o r e 'lJ ^ < I ^ ,giinmy't(Fftm'wBinn&lmov,'
narch, to treat on feSfa#*©#e^pfity with an adminj\traiom,that w as'lsffijnyS
dinate, or to correspond w ith anv person l-itncath the digfiit-i' jiiPa’i'i ro'w'iiciP
head. It is however doubtful whether the Birimn^miriAviulirl have manifested
itstS&timents so une^fri as to* draw Tram’ rimfe foiinalmxplanation,
had not circumstances subsequently occuncd wfticlJjjSuvcid to-
strengthen its arrogance, and which gave plausibility to the representations*
that had Been fabricated tQ mislead'. -
Matters were in this stilSjf'-wheri ad'Vi'C&l’camfer offtH^'avr^I ofra'isjoyajlf
vessel at Rangoon, from tfieisL of TRmccj'firulli' Bfrmtflfc>l^n^'vvJncli-
Ixrought an imfaVdiirable'a&ount of 'thcl'sUuauonrtn^illaiistti Europe; ex