444 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP. “We further bee you to inform us of her departure, that we may 
X^VT ^ 
with evidence before us report the same to government. 
A])rii, « y/Ye write on purpose about this matter alone, and send our com- 
pliments, wishing you well in every respect. 
“ To the chiefs : “We the merchants : 
Mr. Fraser, Wooshowchang, (Howqua’s son), 
Mr. Toone, and others.'’ 
Mr. Plowden.” 
The officers of the factory were aware of the ground upon which 
the Chinese founded their appeal, it being understood, I believe, that a 
vessel of war is not to enter the Chinese territory except for the pur- 
pose of protecting their own trading ships. At the same time they 
were sufficiently acquainted with the Chinese style of writing to know 
that this was only a common remonstrance, however strong the lan- 
guage used might appear, and they amicably arranged the business 
until near the time of our departure, when another letter arrived, to 
which they were able to give a satisfactory answer by our moving out 
of the Typa. 
As our object was to procure the stores we required, and to pro- 
ceed to sea as quickly as possible, our movements were not in any way 
influenced by this order of the Hoppo; and had it not been necessary 
to proceed to Canton to ascertain what was in the market there, we 
should have sailed before this despatch reached its destination. It ap- 
peared that we had arrived at an unfortunate period, as there were 
very few naval stores in the place, and the Chinese were either so 
dilatory, or so indifferent about delivering some that had been bargained 
for in Canton, that we were obliged to sail without them. We, however, 
procured sufficient supplies to enable us to prosecute the voyage, and 
on the 30th of April took our departure. 
During our stay at Macao we received the greatest attention from 
the officers of the Company’s establishment, who politely gave us apart- 
ments in their houses, and in every way forwarded our wishes ; and 
I am happy to join in the thanks expressed in my officers’ journals for 
the hospitality we all experienced. 
