1845.] ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENTERING. 339 



action, nor are possessed of the ordnance for rendering 

 them respectable. Their force, therefore, could only be 

 reckoned as to numbers in hand to hand conflict. 



Matters being now arranged, I was informed, after a 

 delay of, at least, an hour, that they were prepared for 

 our reception. The officers mounting their horses, which, 

 fortunately, I had insisted upon their providing, and the 

 force shouldering arms, we proceeded to the eastern gate, 

 which we found closed, whilst the batteries above were 

 crowded with people. Under any other circumstances 

 this alteration of arrangement in avoiding the great sea 

 gate, and refusal of admission here, would have touched 

 my pride, and induced me to return to the ship, but I 

 had an object in view of more importance : I wished to 

 enter their town, and make the friendship of their chief, 

 an object, possibly, as related to future communication 

 with Korea, of national importance ; moreover I conceived 

 that these disagreeable arrangements might result from 

 the vacillating conduct of some timorous official. 



It was now intimated to me that the Examiner desired 

 to pay me the greatest compliment which he could offer, 

 and that he wished me to enter in state by the great city 

 gate, on the land side, the officials having been deputed 

 to arrange this ceremony. I directed them to lead, 

 and conducting us by a circuit of about a mile and a 

 half, we at length reached the avenue which led to the 

 land gate. If this scheme was concocted in order to 

 entrap us, it was well managed, had they possessed the 

 courage to carry it out. To speak the truth, 1 had 

 already made up my mind to stand the brunt of my act, 

 and had taken into consideration the position of the 



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