Page 220 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

206.
"whether he shall embark on the frigate at 'Whampoa or Chuenpee."

The Americans had become impatient, since Napier apparently had

retreated: "L'.Yhe procrastination of a settlement is working
96
infinite mischief against all of us.11

By September 24 Lord Napier yielded to Chinese demands

and embarked for Macao. He had become ill with fever at Canton

and hoped to reach the Portugese settlement and his family

shortly. Although the English had sought American support for

Napier's policy by claiming that merchants of both nations had

similar interests, American residents were not sad to see Napier

leave. They were more interested in resuming trade, for their
97
vessels had begun to arrive in increasing numbers. American

merchants concluded that "the ill success of his L'.Napier•i]

attempted intimidation proves that the fears of the Chinese have

been calculated upon too much--" Houqua also interpreted the

affair in this manner. In writing to his old friend John P.

Cushing, he explained that Napier "knew nothing of our customs

96
Letter, J.C. Green to A. Heard, Sep. 14, 1834, Heard
MSS. The Americans had their own incident during the Napier
Affair. Joseph Coolidge, with A.A. Low and T. Handasyd Cabot,
rowed down to 'Whampoa to get Russell & Co.'s mail from a vessel.
On their way back they were fired on by Chinese who took the
Americans to be British. Letter, T.H. Cabot to E. Cabot, Oct.
28, 1834, Samuel Cabot MSS.
97
canton Register, Sep. 23, 1834. An editorial reported
the Americans' incident with the comment that the editor could
not understand why the Americans had not protested to the Chinese.
The editorial concluded: "It seems to show that any hostilities
between Great Britain and China will probably involve of necessity
all foreigners." Letter. J.C. Green to A. Heard, Sep. 25, 1834,
Heard MSS. Letter, W. Peele to N. Kinsman, Oct. 25, 1834, Kinsman
Family MSS.