348 COCHINCHINA. 
that the King of Cochinchiiia is not favourably disposed to- 
wards the Enghsh nation. 
The correctness of this conclusion may, however, in my 
opinion fairly be called in question, Plowever well qualified 
the gentleman might be who was sent on this embassy, in every 
respect except in his not knowing a single character of the 
written or one syllable of the spoken language, the want of the 
indispensable means of communication seems quite sufficient 
to have rendered the object of the mission completely abortive. 
As far as the joint testimonies of several English gentlemen, 
who a few years ago were at the Cochinchinese Court, and 
of French officers in the service of that Court, can be allowed 
to have weight — as far as any confidence is to be placed in 
professions declared in public edicts — as far as actions may 
be considered to develope sentiments — and as far as we were 
enabled to judge of the disposition of the people during our 
stay at Turon, I should be inclined to conclude that the con- 
trary is the case, and that neither the King of Cochinchina 
nor the people would be in the smallest degree averse 
to an intimate connection with the English, provided 
suitable overtures were made to them in a direct manner 
from the British government, and not through those French- 
men to whom the Sovereign owes so many personal obliga- 
tions, nor through the medium of tiie East India Company, 
•Where the prejudices of the people will not admit of any 
honourable distinction being annexed to the profession of 
merchant, whilst the utmost deference is paid to a royal 
commission, official rank and literary acquirements, it 
is neither politic nor expedient to fly in the face of 
