1826. 



134 VOYAGE TO THE 



we received an edict from the Hoppo concerning Peit- 

 che's cruiser anchoring at Tausae, and ordering her 

 A(^;i, away. We send a copy of the document for your 

 perusal, and beg your benevolent brethren of the com- 

 mittee to enforce the order on the said Peitche's 

 cruiser to go away and return home. She is not al- 

 lowed to linger about. 



" We further beg you to inform us of her departure, 

 that we may with evidence before us report the same 

 to government. 



" We write on purpose about this matter alone, and 

 send our comphments, wishing you well in every 

 respect. 



" To the chiefs : " We the merchants : 



Mr. Fraser, Wooshowchang, (Howqua's son), 



Mr. Toone, and others." 



Mr. Plowden." 



The officers of the factory were aware of the ground 

 upon which the Chinese founded their appeal, it being 

 understood, I believe, that a vessel of war is not to 

 enter the Chinese territory except for the purpose of 

 protecting their own trading ships. At the same 

 time they were sufficiently acquainted with the Chi- 

 nese style of writing to know that this was only a 

 common remonstrance, however strong the language 

 used might appear, and they amicably arranged the 

 business until near the time of our departure, when 

 another letter arrived, to which they were able to give 

 a satisfactory answer by our moving out of the Typa. 



As our object was to procure the stores we required, 

 and to proceed to sea as quickly as possible, our move- 

 ments were not in any way influenced by this order 

 of the Hoppo ; and had it not been necessary to pro- 



