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J. L. CRANMER-BYNG
answer. He gave orders that we should have refreshments, and be conveyed back to the Company's factory in chairs belonging to the palace—made us a 'chin-chin', (a complimentary mode of saluting,) which was considered by the Chinese present as a mark of great favour towards us—and then passed on out of the palace.
As soon as the Hoppo was gone, we were taken by the Mandarins into another apartment, where several tables were laid, covered with fruit and sweetmeats. I was placed at one table with two Mandarins and Mowqua, Mr. Perry and Howqua at another, with two other Mandarins; the rest of the security merchants and Mandarins were placed at tables of four, agreeably to the Chinese custom. A handsome dinner was served, with great abundance of hot wine, the produce of China, and, after passing a very pleasant hour, we were put into state chairs, and carried through the city back to the Company's factory—to the astonishment of all the Chinese, and to the no small satisfaction of Mr. Brown, who had been under much uneasiness on our account.
Next day there was a heavy fine levied on the security merchants—the port-clearance was issued the fleet despatched—and here ends my story.
I remain, dear Sister,
Your affectionate brother,
HUGH LINDSAY.
Lindsay ends his story abruptly. "Next day", he says, "there was a heavy fine levied on the security merchants, the port clearance was issued, the fleet despatched..." This should be compared with Morse's account. The incident took place on February 2nd. Lindsay would have everything taking place on the 3rd, including the sailing of the fleet. But Morse has the Select Committee of supercargoes sending a document to the principal Chinese officials on the 8th, threatening to dispatch the fleet without permission. This produced the desired effect, and permission was given and the first half of the fleet sailed on 10th February.
The question remains—which of the two accounts should one accept for this particular piece of information? On the whole, since Morse was a serious and experienced historian basing his
58
J. L. CRANMER-BYNG
answer. He gave orders that we should have refreshments, and be conveyed back to the Company's factory in chairs belonging to the palace-made us a 'chin-chin', (a complimentary mode of saluting,) which was considered by the Chinese present as a mark of great favour towards us—and then passed on out of the palace.
As soon as the Hoppo was gone, we were taken by the Man- darins into another apartment, where several tables were laid, covered with fruit and sweetmeats. I was placed at one table with two Mandarins and Mowqua, Mr. Perry and Howqua at another, with two other Mandarins; the rest of the security merchants and Mandarins were placed at tables of four, agreeably to the Chinese custom. A handsome dinner was served, with great abundance of hot wine, the produce of China, and, after passing a very pleasant hour, we were put into state chairs, and carried through the city back to the Company's factory-to the astonishment of all the Chinese, and to the no small satisfaction of Mr. Brown, who had been under much uneasiness on our account.
Next day there was a heavy fine levied on the security merchants -the port-clearance was issued the fleet despatched—and here ends my story.
I remain, dear Sister,
Your affectionate brother,
HUGH LINDSAY.
Lindsay ends his story abruptly. "Next day", he says, "there was a heavy fine levied on the security merchants, the port clearance was issued, the fleet despatched..." This should be compared with Morse's account. The incident took place on February 2nd. Lindsay would have everything taking place on the 3rd, including the sailing of the fleet. But Morse has the Select Committee of supercargoes sending a document to the principal Chinese officials on the 8th, threatening to dispatch the fleet without permission. This produced the desired effect, and permission was given and the first half of the fleet sailed on 10th February.
The question remains-- which of the two accounts should one accept for this particular piece of information? On the whole, since Morse was a serious and experienced historian basing his
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