on which they instantly retired.

"The brig," says K. "had found her way to Whampoa without a pilot; and
the captain, with a guard of twelve men, proceeded to Canton to
demand the payment of the sum (L30,000.) This daring conduct threw the
viceroy into astonishment, and perhaps occasioned him some terror; for
nothing but the excessive cowardice of the Chinese could have deterred
him from noticing the affront. They, indeed, shewed a disposition
after the captain had quitted Canton of avenging themselves, but this
altogether in their customary manner; and I was assured, that the
viceroy, as indemnification for this insult of the English captain,
had imposed a heavy fine upon the Kohong (a company of merchants
possessing the monopoly of the European trade,) although the members
of this body could have no concern in the transaction." Capt. K. is
decidedly of opinion, that nothing but resolute conduct will overcome
the fickleness and knavery of the Chinese. He pays a high compliment
to our countrymen, especially Mr Drummond, president of the factory,
who interfered in his behalf when at Whampoa, and with effect, when
they could easily have thwarted his plan, and embroiled his government
with that of China. "That they pursued a very different line of
conduct," says he, "will appear by the above account of their
proceedings; nor can I sufficiently rejoice at the zeal and eagerness
manifested by them in this business. Had we been detained only
twenty-four-hours longer (he had applied for leave to depart, which
was granted with much difficulty, and actually revoked a day after
he had gone,) we must have fallen into the absolute power of these
savages, who have been emboldened by an useless moderation, not only
to call the polite nations of Europe barbarians, but also to treat
them as such."--E.]

When this weighty affair was thus in some degree regulated, the
commodore invited him and his two attendant mandarines to dinner,
telling them at the same time, that if his provisions, either in
kind or quantity, were not what they might expect, they must thank
themselves for having confined him to so hard an allowance. One of his
dishes was beef, which the Chinese all dislike, though Mr Anson
was not apprized of it; this seems to be derived from the India
superstition, which for some ages past has made a great progress
in China. However, his guests did not entirely fast; for the three
mandarines completely finished the white part of