?54 COCHINCHINA. 
created Duke of Anjou by Louis XII., relinquished his pre- 
tensions to a crown, and accepted the degraded title of a 
Chinese ]\Iandarin : after which an invitation in due form 
was sent down for Qu^ng-tiing to proceed to Pekin. This 
-wary general, how^ever, thinking it might be -a trick of the 
Viceroy to get possession of his person ; and naturally dis- 
trusting the man whom he had so shamefully defeated, re- 
mained in doubt as to the course he ought to pursue : but, 
on consulting one of his confidential generals, it w^as con- 
cluded between them that this officer should proceed to thq 
capital of China as his representative, and as the new King 
of Tiing-quin and Cochincliina. He was received at the 
, court of Pekin with all due honours, loaded with the usual 
presents, and confirmed in his title to the united kingdoms, 
which were in future to be considered as tributary to the Em- 
peror of China. On the return of this mock king to Hu6y 
Quang-tung was greatly puzzled how he should act ; but 
seeing that the affair could not long remain a secret with so 
many living witnesses, he caused his friend and the whole of 
his suite to be put to death, as the surest and perhaps the 
only means of preventing the trick, which he had so success- 
fully played on the Emperor of China, from being discovered. 
This event happened in the year 1779- 
To those who are acquainted Avith the Chinese character, 
and tlie nature of that government, it will appear the less 
surprizing that the commanding officer of an army should 
transmit to the supreme tribunal in Pekin a false report of his 
proceedings. Where the chances are in favour of falsehood 
escaping detection ; where military merit has no other mea- 
