ALARM OF AMERICANS IN C n I N A. 



287 



CHAPTER XVI. 



ALARM OF AMERICAKS IN CHINA. REQUEST TO COMMODORE THAT HE 1V0DLD SEND A SHIP TO CANTON. SUPPLY SENT. THE REST 



OF THE SCIUADRON AT CUM-SING-MOON. HOSPITAL ESTABLISHED AND HOirSE TAKEN AT MACAO. SICKNESS IN THE SQUADRON. 



WORK KEPT UP I-N ALL DEPARTMENTS, NOTWITHSTANDING. HEALTHINESS OF CANTON. GLUTTONY OF THE CHINESE. 



CHINESE SERVANTS. CHINESE ENGLISH, OR " PIGEON." MALE DRESSMAKERS, CHAMBER SERVANTS, ETC. CHINESE FEMALE 



FEET. CHINESE GUILDS.^ BEGGARS. CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. THIEVES. BOATMEN. LABORING CLASSES. DOMESTIC 



SERVANTS. POLYGAMY AND ITS MORAL RESULTS. DECADENCE OF MACAO. HUMBLED CONDITION OF THE PORTUGUESE. 



HARBOR OF MACAO. COMMODORE ESTABLISHES HIS DEPOT FOR THE SQUADRON AT HONG KONG. PLEASANT SOCIETY OF 



MACAO. POWHATAN STATIONED AT WHAMPOA TO RELIEVE THE SUSQUEHANNA. SUPPLY STILL AT CANTON. CHINESE PEACE- 

 ABLE TOWARD FOREIGNERS. STEAMER 'QUEEn' CHARTERED TO PROTECT AMERICAN INTERESTS IN CHINA WHILE THE SQUADRON 



SHOULD GO TO YEDDO. SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS OF RUSSIANS AND FRENCH INDUCE THE COMMODORE TO HASTEN HIS RETURN 



TO JAPAN. LEXINGTON ARRIVES. THE SQBADRON ORDERED TO RENDEZVOUS AT NAPHA, LEW CHEW. ORDERS RECEIVED, 



JUST AS THE SQUADRON LEAVES CHINA, TO DETACH A STEAMER FOR THE USE OF MR. MCLANE, AMERICAN COMMISSIONER TO 



CHINA. — EMBARRASSMENT OF THE COMMODORE IN CONSEQUENCE. HIS MODE OF PROCEEDING TO ACCOMPLISH BOTH THE 



OBJECTS OF THE GOVERNMENT. CORRESPONDENCE WITH SIR GEORGE BONHAM TOUCHING THE BONIN ISLANDS. COURTESY 



OF THE ENGLISH ADMIRAL PILLOW. — SQUADRON ASSEMBLES AT NAPHA. 



UCH time had not elai^sed after the arrival of Com- 

 modore Perry at Hong Kong before the American 

 merchants at Canton applied to him for further 

 protection to their lives and property, which they 

 believed endangered by what appeared to them the 

 imminent prospect of a revolutionary outbreak in 



^ the city. These gentlemen addressed a communi- 



71~ cation to the Commodore, in which they expressed 

 =J^ their great satisfaction at his determination to re- 

 _^Jmain upon the Chinese coast with his squadron 

 ^^ until he was prepared to resume negotiations with 

 Japan. They moreover stated their belief that 

 the revolution which had commenced in China would result in the overthrow of the Tartars 

 with no immediate prospect for the fliture but a confused state of anarchy, without a power 

 anywhere to reduce it to the order of a settled government. 



While it was acknowledged that the majority of the Chinese people are distinguished by a 

 disposition to cultivate the peaceful pursuits of industry and commerce, and the opinion was 



