and a cargo to the General Hewitt, before withheld on the plea of her being required to carry back the tribute which she had brought from England to the celestial empire: also by the publication of an edict[1], endeavouring to make the affair at the Bocca Tigris appear to the natives as a mere salute, or “ching-chinning” ceremony, although the report of their loss, promulgated previous to this official fabrication, stated it to be 47 killed, and many others “spoiled” (wounded), which probably was near the truth, as the Chinese warriors stood rather thick in the batteries, and the Alceste’s 32-pounder carronades were well loaded with grape. It likewise came to pass, that the viceroy thought proper to send down a high mandarin, attended by one of the hong, or security merchants, to wait upon Captain Maxwell, welcome him into the river, and compliment him with all possible politeness!
Lord Amherst having re-embarked, the Alceste sailed from Whampoa, on the 21st Jan. 1817; exchanged friendly salutes with the guardians of the Bocca Tigris; touched at Macao, and Manilla; rounded the numerous clusters of rocks and shoals lying to the westward of the Philippines, and to the N.W. of Borneo; and then shaped a course for the Straits of Caspar, which she entered soon after day-light on the 18th of February.
The morning was fine, the wind fresh and favourable, and the Alceste moving rapidly through the water; every appearance promised a rapid passage into the Java sea, for which Captain Maxwell, who had been on deck the whole of the preceding night, was steering the course laid down in the most approved charts, and recommended by the sailing directions in his possession, when the ship struck against a sunken rock, three miles distant from Pulo Leat, or Middle Island, and having grated over it for a few seconds, took a slight heel to starboard, and became immoveable. The rapidity of her motion at the instant of striking, rendered it highly probable that she had received serious injury; and every doubt on this subject was soon removed by the appearance of her
- ↑ The word “edict” appears to be applied by the Chinese to any piece of common information, whether it is from the Emperor, or has the force of a law, or not.
