1842
Trip to Canton in the Constellation
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of one of the new forts, that which is nearly opposite to Howqua's folly, which fired upon her. This, as some of the guns were shotted, might have proved a very "untoward event." The demand for ex- planation was promptly answered by the governor, aud in a manner that afforded full statisfaction to the commodore; and, without its being demanded, the officer in command at the fort was degraded.
Previously to this occurrence, adıniral Wú, had signified his wish to visit the commodore. In the meantime, the Boston, commander Long, having returned from a short cruize to Manila, came up and joined the Constellation. About noon May 9th, the day fixed upon for the admiral's visit, two messengers arrived to announce his approach. But it was past 2 o'clock before his barge was in sight. As he neared the ships, they were in readiness to do the honors due to his rank and station; and the manning the yards and firing of the salute, in most admirable style, were to him a sight equally novel and animating. He was received by the commodore on the quarter- deck, and conducted to the cabin. The admiral, a native of Fukien, was appointed to this station shortly after the battle of the Bogue, where his predecessor fell in the storming of one of the forts. Kwán bore a good reputation among his own countrymen; but in his ap- pearance and whole bearing as a warrior, Wú is decidedly his superior. He is now 44 years of age, tall, well formed, has a high aquiline nose, a keen eye, and moved across the deck with an easy, but firm and manly step. He had hardly been seated in the cabin, before he begged that the men might be put at their ease—he supposing that they were then, as when he came on board, standing upon the yards. As his own request he was shown round the ship, and was afforded an opportunity of seeing the men at their quarters. The marines particularly attracted his attention; and for several minutes, while going through their evolutions, he stood like a statue fixed in perfect amazeinent. While the men were still at their guns, and without the admiral's knowledge, orders were given to repel boarders on the starboard quarter, where he chanced to be standing. Instantly, almost, a hundred or more men, with swords and pikes and fixed bayonets, rushed up from the gun-deck, and took their proper sta- tions. For the moment the admiral found it impossible entirely to conceal his feelings, though the lines of his face were screwed up to the highest pitch he could command. He had been forewarned of treachery by some of the wise men at the provincial city. But his fears were banished, by the men the next moment moving to the other quarter Still more ludicrous scenes occurred at Canton The
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