4 ORDERED TO ANCHOR. [1845. 



remained, therefore, to be seen whether I had miscon- 

 strued these people. I had proceeded hither entirely at 

 my own risk, and upon my head would any failure most 

 inevitably fall. Looking to their imperative letter, re- 

 quiring obedience, I read, " Un ordre expres du Gover- 

 neur de Nangasaki, vous en joint de mouiller pres de 

 Cavallos Septentrional dans un endroit convenable" &c. 

 Now as I did not intend their bawling boatman to in- 

 struct me which was a convenient berth for my ship, 

 near the position alluded to, I stood on until I reached 

 the view I designed to have of the inner harbour, and 

 relative range of the batteries, and there anchored. After 

 waiting some time, a boat came off, and hailed us in 

 Dutch, but as I declined having any communication in 

 that language, she returned to the shore, leaving us 

 with a trivial supply of guard boats. As my original 

 communication, by the pratique boats, led me to expect 

 an immediate visit from the authorities, I drew up a 

 letter, by the aid of my Chinese interpreter, stating " that 

 having in compliment to their customs, performed my 

 part of the contract by anchoring in the position assigned 

 by their letter, that I was quite at a loss to account for 

 their want of attention in not waiting upon me according 

 to their promise, and that I expected an officer of proper 

 rank might be sent to confer with me, otherwise I should 

 land forthwith." This letter was not despatched until 

 near 4 o'clock, and then by an armed boat from us to 

 the nearest guard-boat, and I did not expect a reply 

 before the morning. To my great surprise, however, this 

 document was promptly responded to, and a gaily deco- 

 rated boat approached the ship, attended by six others, 



