But if, by the time when all was in readiness to be shipped off (which it
was supposed would be in about forty days), the merchants should not have
procured the Viceroy's permission, then the Commodore proposed to apply
for it himself. These were the terms Mr. Anson thought proper to offer to
quiet the uneasiness of the supercargoes; and notwithstanding the
apparent equity of the conditions, many difficulties and objections were
urged, nor would the Chinese agree to them till the Commodore had
consented to pay for every article he bespoke before it was put in hand.
However, at last the contract being passed, it was some satisfaction to
the Commodore to be certain that his preparations were now going on, and
being himself on the spot, he took care to hasten them as much as
possible.
During this interval, in which the stores and provisions were getting
ready, the merchants continually entertained Mr. Anson with accounts of
their various endeavours to get a licence from the Viceroy, and their
frequent disappointments, which to him was now a matter of amusement, as
he was fully satisfied there was not one word of truth in anything they
said. But when all was completed, and wanted only to be shipped, which
was about the 24th of November, at which time, too, the north-east
monsoon was set in, he then resolved to apply himself to the Viceroy to
demand an audience, as he was persuaded that without this ceremony the
procuring a permission to send his stores on board would meet with great
difficulty.
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