{ 
j6o ANNWAU REGIS THR, r497. 
the fplendid reception which it was 
underftood their fovereign intended 
for his Excellency, when he fhould 
arrive at the imperial court. 
The eclat of fuch a reception 
was, no doubt, likely to operate 
upon the minds of the people of 
China, who look with more than 
an ordinary degree of reverence’ 
to the throne. It might tend to’ 
imprefs them with ‘a general fenfe 
of confideration for the Englifh na- 
tion, of which the agents of the 
Englifh Eaft India Company at 
Canton might experience effects. 
conducive to their benefit and com- 
fort. tin 
The fhallownefs of the water 
obliged the Lion to come to anchor 
on the 25th of July, about four 
leagues from the Chinefe coaft, 
which at the north-weft extremity 
of the Gulph of Pekin, confifts of a 
low and fandy beach. From this 
anchorage, the river Pei-ho, which 
comes from Tien-fing, was found 
to be fifteen miles diftant. A bar 
croffed the mouth of the river, which 
did not matétially obftruét ‘the na- 
vigation’ of’ Chinefe fhips, thongl 
of three and four hundred tons 
Hurden; while the Jackall, an Eng- 
' Tith vefel of 100 tons, followed 
them with mueh dificulty. Having 
entered the river, ; 
The Jackall was‘foon accofted 
by Chinefe foldiers in a boat, de- 
firing her to anchor, and wait the 
arrival of a mandarin, who had in- 
quiries to make about her, This 
gentleman made his appearance 
prefently, with feveral attendants, 
upon the Jackall’s deck. As foon 
as he was fatisfied that fhe belonged 
to the expected embafly,» he made 
many inquiries. about the ambaffa- 
‘dor, and the prefents brought for 
his Imperial Majelty. As the an- 
1 
fwers were general, he, after a little’ 
time, endeavoured to obtain a more 
particular account by changing the 
manner and form of his queftions ; 
and he feemed to exert no little 
addrefs to obtain his objeét. Though’ 
the motion ‘of the brig and fmell of 
the tar were offenfive to him, yet 
he continued long on board to col- 
le& information as to the fize and 
ftrength of the fhips aitending the 
ambaffador, and the number of men 
and guns onboard; while one of 
his attendants was bufy writing all 
the time of the conference, as if 
taking notes’ of every thing that 
pafied. The: mandarin concluded 
by declaring, that the Emperor had 
iffued orders for the- reception and 
accommodation of the embatly, ind 
offered to fupply whatever might 
be wanted. The brig being oblig- 
ed to wait in the river forthe re- 
turn of the tide next day, Captain 
Campbell and Mr. Hunter were 
invited on fhore, where they were 
hofpitably treated ; but ina manner 
crofs-examined, ‘and the former 
queftions repeated to them. Par- 
ticular inquiries were alfo made as 
io the fpecies of nutriment to which 
the ambaflador and his fuite had 
been accuftomed, and how his Ex- 
cellency wifhed to travel, obferving 
that gentlemen in China travelled 
either in fedan-chairs, or in two 
wheeled carriages by land, or in 
commodious boats by water; which 
latter method was generally prefer- 
red wherever practicable; but add- 
ing, that his Excellency and his 
fuite were to be accommodated 
whichever way they wifhed. The 
mandarins fpoke alfo about the ar- 
ticles of merchandize which they 
fuppofed were brought for fale to 
Pekin, and faid they might be fafely 
depdfited in thé four chriftian chur- 
ches 
eee ee ee ee 
