1832.] 
COMMERCIAL RIVALRY. 
375 
modore, Monsieur Dordelin, and his oflicers,"welcomedus in the most 
affectionate manner ; and as his own ship was immediately bound 
to Canton, gave us an invitation to go in company with him. This 
friendly , offer we most cheerfully accepted, and the commodore 
furnished us with his signals by day and night, and added such 
instructions for our passage through the Chinese Seas, as would 
have been exceedingly beneficial had any unfortunate accident 
occasioned our separation. Happily, we pursued our route to- 
gether. On our arrival at the Island of Macao, the French consul 
for China, Monsieur Vieillard, with some other gentlemen of his 
nation, came on board to congratulate and welcome us to that part 
of the world, and kindly undertook the introduction of the Ameri- 
cans to the Portuguese governor. The little time that we were 
there was entirely taken up by the good offices of the consul, the 
gentlemen of his nation, and those of the Swedes and Imperial- 
ists who still remained at Macao. The other Europeans had 
repaired to Canton. Three days afterward, we finished our out- 
ward-bound voyage. Previous to coming to anchor, we saluted 
the shipping in the river with thirteen guns, which were answered 
by the several commodores of the European nations, each of 
whom sent an officer to compliment us on our arrival. These 
visits were returned by the captain and supercargoes, in the after- 
noon, who were again saluted by the respective ships as they 
finished their visit. When the French sent their officers to con- 
gratulate us, they added to the obligations we were already under 
to them, by furnishing men, boats, and anchors, to assist us in 
coming to safe and convenient moorings. Nor did their^ good 
offices stop here ; they furnished us with part of their own 
banksall, and insisted further, that until we were settled, we should 
take up our quarters with them at Canton. 
" The day of our arrival at Canton, August thirtieth, and the 
two following days, we were visited by the Chinese merchants, 
and the chiefs and gentlemen of the several European establish- 
ments, and treated by them in all respects as a free and indepen- 
dent nation. As such, during our stay, we were universally con- 
sidered. The Chinese themselves were very indulgent towards 
us, though our being the first American ship that had ever visited 
China, it was some time before they could fully comprehend the 
distinction between Englishmen and us. They styled us the 
