Macao. ill •which this little island lies, is called the inner har-
hour, by way of contradistinction from the apposite or
outer bay, more open to the sea, where ships are exposed
to bad weather, especially during the north-east monsoon.
It is the general observation of the mariners at
Macao, that this outer bay has been gradually growing
shallower for several years. It opens, on one side, into
a bason formed by four islands, in which Lord Anson’s
ship lay. formerly to be repaired ; but no such ship
could ënter into it at present. The soundings now, are
laid down in a Chart of the town, harbours, and environs
of Macao, in No. 11, of the folio; volume. The original
was made with great care and accuracy, by a gentleman
long resident upon the spot, and who presented it to the
Embassador.
Soon after his Excellency’s arrival at Macao, his subsequent
destination was determined by the receipt of
letters from England, and from Batavia. B y the former
- it appeared that the British government, having received
no accounts that any fleet had been sent from France to
the East Indies, which could endanger the China ships
returning without convoy, and the public service requiring
the employment of the British navy elsewhere, no
English force had been Ordered out for the protection of
the Chinèse fleet returning home. But the dispatches
from Batavia, announced “ the arrival, from the Isle of
“ France, in the straits of Sunda, in the direct track of
the, China ships,^ofoa->squa3ron of Ithie enCmyycOn-
“ siting ®f o i^ ^ s i^ y - g ^ ship* ^ f f ig ie ©hfmt;y, and'
“ ^another o f twentyigun^ .that they had taken Ahe Prin-
^ S ^ o y a l Indiaman, which- they .soon, converted into
“ a ship,of, war; a n d jt ,w$s>apprehended -that a still
‘‘.larger force wouldffoljowquickly,v||p^aqcQlUtit.0f the
capture^o£ the Pigot Inditmahfwas known scion- after-
wa#5; an4 the ganger which th^eatenedc-lheenibark^d
PJPPerty of Ale Company, to the a hW n t;J® r& millions
.sterling,|Qin board fifteen sJagS|bound l|om Canfflito
England,* distantly ‘to abandon
ah.id^s of-general poHhy and advartth|e„ likej^ to,accfifer
from any longeJsSy in the ar^him:b%o, or\neighbomW
hood, of Chirta; -and to accoi^pany'hpme|the fleet in thel
Lion, destined^ t f attend, !upon him,;that[he might thus:
^ c u r e ^he protection of a line of battle,'ship fo&so lirge
mass of British p ro p e rty ^ '
T ^ is determination having converted to
different portsof Tastern Asia, twn.rjcbjy laffen^flibs,
one from Manilla, the other a Portugueze'^uF tblfer-
selves also under th e l ^ v o ^m j iheJLion 1 % soon as
all the ships were readwand assembled near Mafca§®e
Embassador embarked on board the S ^R e a v in g none
°f ^gentlcmenL b q h in i w h® ^ om p an ied him* to
China. except Mr. Henry BarinS'^^S,supercargo* at
Canton, and the Chinese inteijueter who, in^the’'dress-
a n | namehLan Englishman,Continued with his Excel