Page 390 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

376.

the Squadron would not leave until matters at Canton were

settled for the American merchants. The Commodore, having

lain at anchor for over two months and kept out of events at

Canton, impatiently retorted: "I have become sick and tired

of lying here--Do, settle matters in some way or other to let

me set off. If you can do nothing better, try to make the

Chinese commit some act of hostility so as to give us some­

67
thing to do.11 By mid-July the merchants had resolved all
matters with the Chinese without Read's assistance, but they

once again requested,that the Navy stay in China. They pre­

sented a signed petition that Read at least leave the sloop

"John Adams" if the "Columbia" must depart. The Americans

claimed the threat of hostilities between China and England
68
might impinge on their own interests. Read felt he had ful­

filled his duties in China and must proceed on his cruise.

Subsequently, he announced his intention of an immediate depar­

ture. His last advice to the Americans included an admonition
69
1
E
1· h · interests.
t f
eir ra
o
t k eep th emse ves an d th . t d e separa e rom ng is
67
Letter, Com. G.C. Read to R.B. Forbes, Jul. 4, 1839,
Forbes Family MSS.
68
Apparently American merchants also anticipated a crisis
between the United States and England. They wrote to Read: 11We
are, daily, expecting important intelligence from England, bearing
upon the question of hostilities between the United States & that
11
power. . Letter, At1erican merchants to Com. G. C. Read, Jul.
15, 1839, in "Captains' Letters, 11 Com. G.C. Read, Jul. 23, 1839.
Signers of the letter were: Russell, Sturgis & Co., Russell & Co.,
John D. Sword, Gideon Nye, A.A. Ritchie, James Ryan, S.B. Rawle
and Joseph Hills�
69
Letter, Com. G.C. Read to American merchants, Jul. 28,
1839, in Captains' Letters, 11 Corn. G.C. Read, July 23, 1839.
11
Taylor, Voyage Round the World, pp. 189-90.