es of fleecing
them) without representing to themselves the pretences which a hungry
and tyrannical magistrate night possibly find, for censuring their
intermeddling in so unusual a transaction, in which he might pretend
the interest of the state was immediately concerned. However, be this
as it may, the commodore was satisfied that nothing was to be done by
the interposition of the merchants, as it was on his pressing them to
deliver a letter to the viceroy that they had declared they durst
not intermeddle, and had confessed, that, notwithstanding all their
pretences of serving him, they had not yet taken one step towards it.
Mr Anson therefore told them, that he would proceed to Batavia and
refit his ship there; but informed them, at the same time, that this
was impossible to be done, unless he was supplied with a stock of
provisions sufficient for his passage. The merchants on this undertook
to procure him provisions, but assured him that it was what they
durst not engage in openly, but proposed to manage it in a clandestine
manner, by putting a quantity of bread, flour, and other provision, on
board the English ships, which were now ready to sail, and these were
to stop at the mouth of the Typa, where the Centurion's boats were to
receive it. This article, which the merchants represented as a
matter of great favour, being settled, the commodore, on the 16th
of December, returned from Canton to the ship, seemingly resolved to
proceed to Batavia to refit, as soon as he should get his supplies of
provision on board.

But Mr Anson (who never intended going to Batavia) found, on his
return to the Centurion, that her main-mast was sprung in two places,
and that the leak was considerably increased; so that, upon the whole,
he was fully satisfied, that though he should lay in a sufficient
stock of provisions, yet it would be impossible for him to put to
sea without refitting: For, if he left the port with his ship in her
present condition, she would be in the utmost danger of foundering,
and therefore, notwithstanding the difficulties he had met with, he
resolved at all events to have her hove down before he left Macao. He
was fully convinced, by what he had observed at Canton, that his great
caution not to injure the East India Company's affairs, and the regard
he had shown to the advice of their officers, had occasioned all
his embarrassments. For he now saw clearly, that if he had at first
carried his ship into the rive