אן
Loss of the Madagascar
641
him, demanding our release; but which being explained, that he had received a letter from a friend at Macao and not from us, the go- vernor was satisfied; and as all difficulties now appeared to be removed, there could be no reasonable pretext for much longer delaying our release.
On the 24th and 25th November, I wrote an answer, although with extremnc difficulty to avoid observation, and sent it by the friend to Mr. R., inclosing a letter for Macao, in which was a hurried state- ment of the loss of the steamer, with the names of my companions in captivity, begging that it might be forwarded to the senior ma val officer at Hongkong. The cold weather having now set in, accompanied with heavy rains, and we being housed in the open verandah of a temple, which was but partially covered with a mat roof, and sleeping on the damp brick floor, nearly all of us without shoes or stockings and little or no clothing, (for the Chinese had only given each of us an old jacket,) diarrhea and fever began to make their appearance amongst us; and I applied to the officers in charge of us to forward a letter to Canton for a supply of clothing and medicines. Since nothing had been discovered against us, I could only attribute this want of kindness to the officers having a strong suspicion as to our real character. They complied with the request, and dispatched my letter to Mr. R. on the 18th of November. On the 5th of December, we received the clothes and medicines sent, which added much to our comforts, for we had been without a change of linen of any description for eleven weeks; our sickness now soon disappeared. The period from the 23d of November (date of the last letter) to the 26th of December was an anxious time to us. Among other rumors which we heard, was one that the go- vernor would not take upon himself the responsibility of releasing us; and had reported the whole affair to the emperor; and that we should be detained until an order arrived from the court of Peking.
At this time our Chinese friend made his appearance with a letter to us from Canton, informing us we were to be released and for- warded to Macao. I also received a public letter through the Chi- nese officers from Mr. Delano, American vice-consul, informing me that I and my party were to be delivered over to the Rev. Mr. Bridg- man, at Macao, which gentleman would hand me a letter nearly the counterpart of one, an extract from which is here attached, receiv ed at Weichai.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Delano, vice-consul V. Sto the
VOL. XI NO. XII
AI
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.