visit to m Majesty. T h e y even ventured to hint some personal in-
matt. convenience to his Excellency, in default o f his uncon-
=5==== ditional compliance: which circumstance afforded him
an opportunity of testifying how much his sense o f d$ty
to his sovereign, was above any sense o f danger ; and-of
declaring, that it became particularly indispensible for
him to take care, either that th& ceremony be Wi
ciprocal, or that there should be something to distinguish
a compliment to be paid on the part o f a great and independant
sovereign, from the homage of tributary princes,
since an attempt had been made already to confound
them, in giving the name o f tribute to the British presents,
in the inscriptions placed upon themiby the Chi*
nese. T h e Embassador’s knowledge ofthis circumstance,
forced the mandarines to feel the propriety o f Ms proposal;
and thask him how for he thoughtfhemightj eo%
sistently with his duty, but' in a mannerdifferent from
the prostration of tributaries, mark his ^personal respect
to his Imperial Majesty? HisExce llencyob se rved,th ät
to his own sovereign, to whom he was bound b y every
bond o f allegiance and attachment, he bent , on approaching
him, upon one knee; and that he was willing to d e monstrate
in the same manner, his respectful sentiments
towards his Imperial Majesty.
With this answer the mandarines appeared extremely
pleased; and said that they would return soon with the
determination of the court, either to agree to the reciprocal
ceremony « .^proposed by the Embassador* or to
accept:of.the English obeisance,inhliepifpf the Chinese
prostration'. ■>,'
In the mean timdMie*:conversation* \-whieh pas§ed?-at
theipalace with the Colao, spread1 quickly through Zhe-r
hoh;>fSeveral pfersons^ who sawi incite Embassy only va
few solitary foreigners, entirely atuthe me^gty :of the
court which they came to visit,’ 1 were at,' adfess^toneon-
eeiveho'w they; cdirld'presume ito propose; conditions^«?
it, or hesitate-to obey its pleasure.: Othersi euhfideMly
predicted? 4 that they jwould .be sent backs without being
admitted ito an audience^. | Tbki(3Hinese: interpreter;
.wh0se;zealous gttaehmen t; tpthe Embassyafendsieed h im
anxiouslyls^^itous about, it,«began- to.’be,apprehensive
lest some of his countrymeh attendant on, it;should be
tempted to misbehave, udder the?tfotion, that in the p resent
juncture little attentiam wbuld he paid- teifeoffiplaints
against them. ThoreiV^as occasion however to make some;
at I this moment* relative‘tDprovisibns, whi®fc;yt#iid instantly
redressed; and supplies were furnished even in
greater profusion thah,before,
While the-business of the ceremony was in suspense,
several o f; the^gsntlemen of |the Embassy made a short
excursion in the environs of Zhe-hol. Tbe^were not
encouraged to d p s® 1 by the: mandarinbs.v iwho always
were in dread that some ineonveniehle ibighficesuh from
indiscretion or, imprudence pn the part o f ' the strangers,