Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 350

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Trip to Canton in the Constellation

JUNE.

dispatched for the first time to the provincial city. She passed up through the barrier, close under the guns of the forts, and by an im- mense flotilla of war boats and junks, without being hailed or in any way molested. Some little excitement was caused when the boat reached the landing-place, and the party stepped on shore in front of the factories; but not the slightest disturbance was created. From this time one or more boats went almost daily to Canton, and special care was evidently taken by the authorities to secure to them an unobstructed and undisturbed passage up and down the river. The tide-waiters, too, became reinarkably civil, allowing the men to take with them in the boats whatsoever they pleased.

On the 27th, about noon, Mr. Reynolds, first lieutenant of marines, arrived at the consulate with a dispatch to the governor. A message was immediately sent into the city, intimating that the bearer of the dispatch would wait its reception only till 4 o'clock, and that within that time he would deliver it to an officer from the governor, either at the cousulate or at the public hall of the hong- merchants. At 3 o'clock P. M., the arrival of the Kwangchau hie, the chief military officer in the department, of the rank of colonel, was announced, as in waiting at the hall. Lt. R. proceeded thither, and on entering the hall the officer rose from his seat, and came forward and received him. The formalities of compliments, &c.,

finished, the dispatch, bearing the follow superscription,

* ^ BÀI) nui tsz' tsung-tu tái jin tsió tsien, was 總督大人爵前

presented and received in due form, and the two officers took leave. Lt. having gone in full dress, attracted not a little attention. An

R...

immense throng was collected as he came out of the hall and passed down the street, all preserving the most perfect silence and good order.

Two days after this, his excellency gave his reply, £ ★ fu wan,

sending it direct to the commodore on board ship, by the hand of an officer of the rank of captain. The whole of the subsequent cor- respondence was conducted in like manner.

Before this time the Constellation had changed her berth, and was now at anchor off the east end of Dane's island, where one of the branches of Junk river unites with the Whampoa reach. The dis- tance from Canton being fully 12 miles, it was thought a more convenient anchorage might be found higher up the river, and a boat was sent to ascertain the practicability of this. The boat proceeded up Junk river, taking the soundings and at length was under the guns