nd
that every thing should be ordered on board the following day. And
finding that Mr Anson had nothing farther to insist on, the viceroy
continued the conversation for some time, acknowledging in very civil
terms how much the Chinese were obliged to him for his signal
services at the fire, and owning that he had saved the city from being
destroyed: And then observing that the Centurion had been a good while
on their coast, he closed his discourse, by wishing the commodore a
good voyage to Europe. After which, the commodore, thanking him for
his civility and assistance, took his leave.

As soon as the commodore was out of the hall of audience, he was
much pressed to go into a neighbouring apartment, where there was
an entertainment provided; but finding, on enquiry, that the viceroy
himself was not to be present, he declined the invitation, and
departed, attended in the same manner as at his arrival; only at his
leaving the city he was saluted by three guns, which are as many as
in that country are ever fired on any ceremony. Thus the commodore,
to his great joy, at last finished this troublesome affair, which, for
the preceding four months, had given him great disquietude. Indeed he
was highly pleased with procuring a licence for the shipping of his
stores and provisions; for thereby he was enabled to return to Great
Britain with the first of the monsoon, and to prevent all intelligence
of his being expected: But this, though a very important point, was
not the circumstance which gave him the greatest satisfaction; for he
was more particularly attentive to the authentic precedent established
on this occasion, by which his majesty's ships of war are for the
future exempted from all demands of duty in any of the ports of China.

In pursuance of the promises of the viceroy, the provisions were begun
to be sent on board the day after the audience; and, four days after,
the commodore embarked at Canton for the Centurion; and on the 7th
of December, the Centurion and her prize unmoored, and stood down
the river, passing through the Bocca Tigris on the 10th. And on this
occasion I must observe, that the Chinese had taken care to man the
two forts, on each side of that passage, with as many men as they
could well contain, the greatest part of them armed with pikes and
match-lock musquets. These garrisons affected to shew themselves as
much as possible to the ships, and were doubtless intended to induce
Mr Anson to think more