THE' PACIFIC OCEAN. 429 



Though I was not much difpofed to relifli this compli- j 77q- 



1 i- December. 



rrient, yet I could not help being diverted with an incident 

 that occurred very opportunely to convince me of the truth 

 of their reprefentations, and of the fufpicious character of the 

 Chinefe. The reader will recollect, that it was now about 

 fifteen days fince Captain Gore had written to the factory, to 

 defire their affiftance in procuring leave for one of his offi- 

 cers to pafs to Canton, In confequcnce of this application, 

 they had engaged one of the principal Chinefe merchants 

 of the place, to intereit himfelf in our favour, and to folicit 

 the bufinefs with the Viceroy. This perfon came to vifit the 

 Prcfidcnt, whilft we were talking on the fubject, and with 

 great fatisfaction and complacency in his countenance ac- 

 quainted him, that he had at laft fucceeded in his applica- 

 tions, and that a paffport for one of the officers of the 

 Ladrone fhip (or pirate) would be ready in a few days. The 

 Prefident immediately told him not to give himfelf any far- 

 ther trouble, as the officer, pointing to me, was already ar- 

 rived. It is impoiiible to defcribe the terror, which feized 

 the old man on hearing this intelligence. Ilis head funk 

 upon his breaft, and the fofa on which he was fitting fliook, 

 from the violence of his agitation. Whether the Ladrone 

 ihip was the object of his apprehenfions, or his own go- 

 vernment, I could not difcover; but after continuing in this 

 deplorable (late a few minutes, Mr. Bevan bade him not de- 

 fpair, and recounted to him the manner in which 1 had 

 paffed from Macao, the reafons of my journey to Canton, and 

 my wifhes to leave it as foon as poffible. This laft circum- 

 ftance feemed particularly agreeable to him, and gave me 

 hopes, that I mould find him equally difpofed to haften my 

 departure ; and yet, as foon as he had recovered the courage 

 to fpeak, he began to recount the unavoidable delays that 

 s would 



