Chap. IV. 
ENGLISH NAMES ON SHOP-DOORS. 
51 
pieces of manufactured silk, much cheaper and better 
than could be purchased in Canton. The embroidery 
in these shops was of the most elaborate and beautiful 
description, which must be seen before it can be appre- 
ciated ; this the Chinese were making into articles such 
as scarfs and aprons for English ladies. 
The shopkeepers in Tinghae supposed an English 
name indispensable to the respectability of their shops 
and the success of their trade, and it was quite amusing 
to walk up the streets and read the different names 
which they had adopted under the advice and instruc- 
tion of the soldiers and sailors to whom they had applied 
on the subject. There were Stultz, tailor, from 
London ; " " Buckmaster, tailor to the army and navy f 
" Dominie Dobbs, the grocer ; " Squire Sam, porcelain 
merchant ; " and the number of tradesmen " to Her 
Majesty" was very great, among whom one was "Tailor 
to Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria and His 
Eoyal Highness Prince Albert, by appointment," and be- 
low the name was a single word, which I could not make 
out for some few seconds, — Uniformsofalldescriptions. 
Certificates from their customers were also in great re- 
quest, and many of these were most laughable perform- 
ances. The poor Chinese were never quite at their ease ) 
about these certificates, as they were so often hoaxed by 
the donors, and consequently were continually showing 
them to other customers and asking " what thing that 
paper talkie ; can do, eh ? " The answer was probably 
in this strain — " Oh, yes, Fohei, this can do, only a 
little alteration, more better." Poor Fokei runs and 
brings a pen, the little alteration is made, and it is need- / 
D 2 
