the Chinese, that amongst
the nations of Europe, it was not customary to put to death those who
submitted; though they readily owned, that the commodore, from
the natural bias of his temper, had treated both them and their
countrymen, who had formerly been in his power, with very unusual
courtesy, much beyond what they could have expected, or than was
required by the customs established between nations at war with each
other. These replies fully satisfied the Chinese, and at the same time
wrought very powerfully in the commodore's favour.

On the 20th of July, in the morning, three mandarines, with a great
number of boats, and a vast retinue, came on board the Centurion, and
delivered to the commodore the viceroy of Canton's order for a daily
supply of provisions, and for pilots lo carry the ships up the river
as far as the second bar; and at the same time they delivered him a
message from the viceroy, in answer to the letter sent to Canton. The
substance of the message was, that the viceroy desired to be excused
from receiving the commodore's visit, during the then excessive hot
weather; because the assembling the mandarines and soldiers, necessary
to that ceremony, would prove extremely inconvenient and fatiguing;
but that in September, when the weather would be more temperate, he
should be glad to see both the commodore himself, and the English
captain of the other ship, that was with him. As Mr Anson knew that an
express had been dispatched to the court at Pekin, with an account of
the Centurion and her prize being arrived in the river of Canton, he
had no doubt, but the principal motive for putting off this visit was,
that the regency at Canton might gain time to receive the emperor's
instructions, about their behaviour on this unusual affair.

When the mandarines had delivered their message, they began to talk
to the commodore about the duties to be paid by his ships; but he
immediately told them, that he would never submit to any demand of
that kind; that as he neither brought any merchandise thither, nor
intended to carry any away, he could not be reasonably deemed to
be within the meaning of the emperor's orders, which were doubtless
calculated for trading vessels only, adding, that no duties were ever
demanded of men of war, by nations accustomed to their reception,
and that his master's orders expressly forbad him from paying any
acknowledgement for his ships anchoring in any port whatever.

The mandarines