1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 383 



In this state of agitation, it was not surprising, 

 that our reception, though no way deficient in civi- 

 lity or kindness, should appear cold and formal. In 

 our inquiries, as far as they related to objects of pri- 

 vate concern, we met, as was indeed to be expected, 

 with little or no satisfaction; but the events of a 

 public nature, which had happened since our depart- 

 ure, and now, for the first time, burst all at once 

 upon us, overwhelmed every other feeling, and left 

 us for some time, almost without the power of re- 

 flection. For several days we continued questioning 

 each other about the truth of what we had heard, as 

 if desirous of seeking, in doubt and suspense, for 

 that relief and consolation, which the reality of our 

 calamities appeared totally to exclude. These sen- 

 sations were succeeded by the most poignant regret 

 at finding ourselves cut off at such a distance from 

 the scene, where, we imagined, the fate of fleets and 

 armies was every moment deciding. 



The intelligence we had just received of the state 

 of affairs in Europe, made us the more exceedingly 

 anxious to hasten our departure as much as possible ; 

 and I therefore renewed my attempt to procure a 

 passage to Canton, but without effect. The difficulty 

 arising from the established policy of the country, 

 I was now told, would probably be much increased 

 by an incident that had happened a few weeks before 

 our arrival. Captain Panton, in the Seahorse, a ship 

 of war of twenty-five guns, had been sent from 

 Madras, to urge the payment of a debt owing by 

 the Chinese merchants of Canton to private British 

 subjects in the East Indies and Europe, which, in- 

 cluding the principal and compound interest, 

 amounted, I understood, to near a million sterling. 

 For this purpose, he had orders to insist on an 

 audience with the viceroy of Canton, which, after 

 some delay, and not without recourse being had to 

 threats, was at length obtained. The answer he 



