To this the Commodore added (though perhaps with a
less serious air) that if by the delay of supplying him with fresh
provisions his men should be reduced to the necessity of turning
cannibals, and preying upon their own species, it was easy to be foreseen
that, independent of their friendship to their comrades, they would in
point of luxury prefer the plump, well-fed Chinese to their own emaciated
shipmates. The first mandarin acquiesced in the justness of this
reasoning, and told the Commodore that he should that night proceed for
Canton; that on his arrival a council of mandarins would be summoned, of
which he himself was a member, and that all that was demanded would be
amply and speedily granted. And with regard to the Commodore's complaint
of the custom-house of Macao, he undertook to rectify that immediately by
his own authority; for, desiring a list to be given him of the quantity
of provision necessary for the expense of the ship for a day, he wrote a
permit under it, and delivered it to one of his attendants, directing him
to see that quantity sent on board early every morning; and this order
from that time forward was punctually complied with.
A DINNER PARTY.
When this weighty affair was thus in some degree regulated, the Commodore
invited him and his two attendant mandarins to dinner, telling them at
the same time that if his provision, either in kind or quantity, was not
what they might expect, they must thank themselves for having confined
him to so hard an allowance.
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