208 
CANTON. 
peremptory order to drop his anchor, or to proceed on his course at 
the hazard of being sunk under the batteries at the entrance of the 
river. He chose the latter alternative, and steered his ship close 
under the principal fort, followed by a fleet of war junks. Both 
junks and batteries immediately endeavoured to make good the threat 
by opening a heavy fire. The return of a single shot silenced the 
fleet, and when the guns could be brought to bear, one broadside 
was sufficient for the batteries. After this affair the ship proceeded 
quietly to her anchorage. 
The effect of this decisive conduct was evinced the next day, by 
the arrival of all kinds of supplies to the Alceste, and of a cargo 
to the General Hewitt Indiaman, before withheld on the plea of 
her being a tribute ship ; and by the publication of an edict, endea- 
vouring to make the action appear to the Chinese as a mere salute. 
Such is a rapid outline of occurrences which the interesting nar- 
ratives of Captain Hall and Mr. M‘Leod have rendered a more 
detailed account of unnecessary in this place. 
The viceroy having been defeated in his attempts to intimidate or 
cajole Captain Maxwell, hoped to recover his consequence in the 
eyes of his countrymen by his treatment of the Ambassador. It was 
known soon after our arrival at Canton that an imperial edict had been 
received by the viceroy, giving a fallacious account of the transactions 
of the Embassy, and directing him to invite the Ambassador to a 
feast and to point out to him all the advantages that he had lost by re- 
fusing to perform the ceremony of the Ko-tow. The words of the edict 
will best explain their own purport. “ When the Ambassadors arrive 
at Canton, you will invite them to dinner in compliance with good 
manners, and will make the following speech to them: “ Your good 
fortune has been small ; you arrived at the gates of the imperial house, 
and were unable to lift your eyes to the face of heaven (the emperor.) 
The great emperor reflected that your king sighed after happiness 
(China), and with sincerity. We therefore accepted some presents, 
and gifted your king with various precious articles. You must return 
thanks to the emperor for his benefits, and return with speed to 
