TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
389 
ducted themselves with every possible respect 
towards him, and rendered him the same com¬ 
pliment as to their own sovereign. This as¬ 
surance, however, fell far short of their ex¬ 
pectations. I informed them, therefore, that 
the soldiers should not again be allowed to 
enter the town, to prevent the possibility of all 
misunderstanding on the subject. Indepen¬ 
dent of my assurance, however, they took effec¬ 
tual steps to prevent their doing so, by order¬ 
ing the gates of the town to be closed when¬ 
ever persons belonging to the Mission present¬ 
ed themselves. As an apology for this ungra¬ 
cious proceeding, the example of the Chinese 
embassy was quoted, no individual belonging 
to which, it was stated, and I believe correctly, 
was ever allowed to enter the walls of Ava. 
The King was described to us as being in a 
high state of irritation,—going about with a 
spear in his hand, as is his custom on such 
occasions, and vowing destruction to his recreant 
Ministers, whom he charged with all kinds of 
offences. If I am rightly informed, his irrita¬ 
tion arose from a different cause. Upon our 
first arrival, his Ministers appear to have de¬ 
ceived him with false hopes and expectations, 
by representing “ that the British Mission was 
sent by the Governor-General to make submis- 
