350 
EMBASSY ANNOUNCED AT CANTON. 
there. Our party was then requested to proceed with the letter, which, con- 
tained in a box, was carried in form by Mr. Morrison. We walked up to the 
higher end of the hall, made a bow, and put on our hats again, as it was 
inconvenient to stand with them in the hand. After which, Sir Theophilus 
Metcalfe opened the box and gave the letter into the Fooyuen’s hand. He 
received it, rose and asked if our aged king was well, and how the Prince 
Regent did, spoke of the former embassy with satisfaction, and then gave 
the letter into the hands of an attendant officer. On this we withdrew, 
returned to the door of the room we had left, and prepared to leave the 
the palace. Puankhequa, an old and active Hong merchant, who managed 
the announcing of the last embassy, desired us to wait till some questions 
should be put by the Fooyuen. 
“ Sir Theophilus, however, thought that these had better be sent to the Fac- 
tory, as more respectful on the part of the Chinese, and also as affording 
more time to give suitable answers. Old Puankhequa pressed our stay in 
vain, then sighing said, “ Mei-yeu-fa” — “ There is no help for it.” 
“ Sir Theophilus remained at Canton several days, during which time various 
questions were brought from the government, as, What number of ships 
were coming? What the Ambassador’s name was? What the presents 
were ? Whether the ships would come to Macao or not ? What nations of 
Europe had been at war ? What age the Prince Regent was ? When the 
reins of government were given to him ? &c. &c. 
“ In a day or two the government sent out to require that Capt. Clavell 
whom Puankhequa had untruly represented as the bearer of Earl Bucking- 
hamshire’s letter, should remain till an answer was received from court. A 
document was found on record, proving that the Hong merchants had, when 
Lord Macartney’s embassy was announced, given a bond to government, 
promising that the gentleman who brought the dispatches there would remain 
for a reply from court. Capt. Clavell would make no such promise, as the 
letter, in fact, was not brought by him, and he purposed to leave before an 
answer could arrive. Sir Theophilus gave a written paper, saying that he 
would remain ; but the government would not be satisfied with it, but re- 
quired the Hong merchants to promise in behalf of Capt. Clavell. The Hong 
merchants declined. They were taken to the Kwang-chow Foo’s office, and 
detained a day or two ; when finally, they came to an understanding, by 
giving the bond required, and obtaining an assurance from the government 
that the promise given in the bond, should not be exacted of them. 
“ This affair being arranged, Sir T. Metcalfe and the gentlemen who accom- 
panied him returned to Macao.” 
