Page 182 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

168.
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ment of men, or bad markets detained them.11 Within a few

months the vessels did return to Canton, and Cushing, charac­

terized by his usual understatement, announced that the ven­

tures had terminated "very fairly." The voyages, he wrote,

had resulted in "a benefit of 25 a 30 per C. [cen_!::./ which is

much more than we apprehend that can be calculated upon in any
29
other quarter." Perkins & Co. immediately despatched an-

other vessel to the West Coast of South America. Seeing

Cushing•s success, other American merchants at Canton joined

in such ventures.

1
1
Throughout the 1820 s and 1830 s American vessels from
Canton regularly sailed to the major ports of South America•s

West Coast. These ports included Valparaiso and Coquimbo

(Chile), Callao (Peru), Mazatlan and San Blas (Mexico).

Cargoes from Canton consisted primarily of silks and satins.

Returning to Canton, the same vessels brought the much-desired

silver dollars. By this branch of trade the American mer­

chants at Canton maintained their commercial position in spite

of the impact of the economic depression. Although Americans

had brought Spanish dollars to the Canton market since 1800,

Cushing made the procurement of specie part of the functions of

2P
In the same letter Cushing added that should the
South American voyages make "tolerable" returns, he would "be
strongly inclined" to repeat the adventure. Letter, Perkins
& Co. to J. & T.H. Perkins, Jun. 25, 18 21, Perkins & Co. MSS.
29
Letter, Perkins & Co. to J. & T.H. Perkins, Sep.
19, 1821, Perkins & Co. MSS.