SEA CAPTAINS. 91 



after we had the satisfaction of seeing our 

 convoy pass almost singly up the river to 

 Whampoa, nearly all in a disabled state. 



A little later I accompanied the cap- 

 tain to Canton, and at the residence of 

 the East India Company's agent, or consul, 

 remained two or three days, and was in- 

 troduced to the captain of a 1200 ton ship, 

 the " Cirencester," with whom I was to take 

 my passage to England. In their company 

 was the captain of the " Dedaigneuse," who 

 I soon learned was about to take his passage 

 home in the same ship. 



The captain of the Indiaman, though 

 bred to the sea, was a gentleman of quiet 

 manners and pleasing address, and, coming 

 north of the Tweed, was a tolerably good 

 specimen of a commander in the E. I. C. 

 service. 



The captain of H. M. ship " Dedaig- 

 neuse" struck me as being of a higher 

 order. His antecedents, in regard to a very 

 lamentable affair, had gone the round of 



