298 A V O Y A G E T O T H E
1787. of dunnaging the hold; and this afternoon we received 897 bun-
December. from ^ R 0f6) and 0n the 27th, 563 bundles more.
We are in daily expectation of hearing good news from Can-,
ton, fo that our preparations on board for a cargo of tea go on
brilkly. Adieu.
Thine, ever,
W. B.
W à m p o , ?
December 28th. 3
L E T T E R XLIVA
S we were now anxious to have the veflel ready for a cargo-,
and the weather was rather precarious, we engaged two
Caulkers from the Houghton Indiaman, on the 28th of December,
to aflift our Carpenters, it being abfolutely neceflary to have
the {hip tight, before we could pretend to take any teas on
board.
On the 29th an American veflel called the Alliance,. Captain
Read, anchored in the river. This veflel is frigate built, and had
been employed againft us with fome degree of fuccefs during our
late unhappy conteft with the Americans; but now it feems their
a Jpeart
N O R T H - W E S T C O A S T O F A M E R I C A , 299
Jpeart are turned to pruning-books, and their frigates to marchrnt-
men.
*7®3*
D&cembea.
For fome days paft our fupply of beef from the Royal Admiral
had been by no means regular, and we had been ohliged to ufe
fait provifions more than once; this occafioned us to apply to
Captain Portlock, (who had engaged a Comprador on his ftrft
arrival in the river) and on the 3 il l we began to receive our beef
from the King George.
By this time our after-hold was clear, and the calks on the
ground tier ready for water; on this the long-boat was fent to
Canton, that being the neareft place where water can be procured
fit for ufe.
WJiilft every thing on board our veflel was getting forward
with the utmoft difpatch, in order to be ready for a cargo whenever
the Council o f Supercargoes Ihould think proper to fend one,
our bufinefs at Canton was totally at a Hand, none of Qur furs
being as yet difpofed of.
In order to form fome idea of the; probable realons for this delay,
it perhaps may be necelfary to fay a few words refpecting the
confignment of our Ikins, the methods taken by the perfons they
were configned to for the difpofal of them, and the various impediments
raifed by the Chinefe to prevent their being fold to advantage.
At the time our voyage was firft fet on foot, China was th#
market fixed on for the difpofal of whatever furs we might procure;
and at the fame time it was judged o f no fmall confequence
to