50
J. L. CRANMER-BYNG
It is now time to turn to Morse's account of the incident which is as follows:
On February 2nd the Committee took the extreme measure of presenting a memorial at the City gates, addressed to the Governor and the Hoppo. The memorial was taken by Mr. Parry, the junior member of the Committee, and Captain the Hon. Hugh Lindsay, the senior commander (commodore) of the Company's fleet, and
in order to give the deputation a respectable appearance suited to the occasion it was accompanied by a party of Gentlemen of the Factory and of the Commanders and Officers of the Ships now in China.
The party was not obstructed at the city gate and proceeded to the Hoppo's yamen, where the memorial was received. In the evening the merchants brought it back, returned after perusal by the Governor and the Hoppo. On February 8th the Committee
gave notice to the principal Mandarins thro' the medium of the Merchants that however desirous we are at all times to pay due deference to the laws of China and the regulations of the Government, we cannot much longer submit to the present injurious detention of our Ships in justification of which we are assured not a single law or regulation of the Empire can be alleged and that we shall therefore take on ourselves to dispatch the fleet even without the usual permission should the Government by protracted delays absolutely reduce us to that unpleasant alternative.
On that same day in the evening they were assured that the Grand Chops would be issued forthwith; and they were actually issued and the fleet with Mr. Roberts was dispatched on the morning of February 10th. The second fleet, with Mr. Browne on board, was dispatched without further incident on March 26th.
Now, by way of amplification, let us look at Hugh Lindsay's
account.
My dear Sister,
You have requested I would give you some anecdote of my life which might be interesting. Had my first outset in the world been fortunate, and the profession which I chose been auspicious to me,
50
J. L. CRANMER-BYNG
It is now time to turn to Morse's account of the incident which is as follows:
On February 2nd the Committee took the extreme measure of presenting a memorial at the City gates, addressed to the Gover- nor and the Hoppo. The memorial was taken by Mr. Parry, the junior member of the Committee, and Captain the Hon. Hugh Lindsay, the senior commander (commodore) of the Company's fleet, and
in order to give the deputation a respectable appearance suited to the occasion it was accompanied by a party of Gentlemen of the Factory and of the Commanders and Officers of the Ships now in China.
The party was not obstructed at the city gate and proceeded to the Hoppo's yamen, where the memorial was received. In the evening the merchants brought it back, returned after perusal by the Governor and the Hoppo. On February 8th the Com- mittee
gave notice to the principal Mandarins thro' the medium of the Merchants that however desirous we are at all times to pay due deference to the laws of China and the regulations of the Government, we cannot much longer submit to the present injurious detention of our Ships in justification of which we are assured not a single law or regulation of the Empire can be alleged and that we shall therefore take on ourselves to dispatch the fleet even without the usual per- mission should the Government by protracted delays abso- lutely reduce us to that unpleasant alternative.
On that same day in the evening they were assured that the Grand Chops would be issued forthwith; and they were actually issued and the fleet with Mr. Roberts was dispatched on the morning of February 10th. The second fleet, with Mr. Browne on board, was dispatched without further incident on March 26th.
Now, by way of amplification, let us look at Hugh Lindsay's
account.
My dear Sister,
You have requested I would give you some anecdote of my life which might be interesting. Had my first outset in the world been fortunate, and the profession which I chose been auspicious to me,
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