American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-10-08
From the UniOn.l
THE AMERICAN SQUADRON IN THE
CHINESE SEAS.


CHINESE SEAS.
Interesting letters have been received from
on board the United States ship VIncennes, as
late as the 9Th of May All were well on
board, and we are happy to find that the alarm
ing rumors of the raVages of disease on board
the squadron, are unfounded. The ship came
down from Whampoa TO Macao, about the goth
April and on the 2Sth one of her officers writes
that: owe are now ready for sea, and will get
under weigh so soon as the commodore comes
on board. We are bound for a cruise up the
coast of China to Japan, and probably to KAN
schatka. This will be doing what no other
man-of:war has ever done. We expect to be
absent from this place about SIX months, when
we will return, take in stores, remain, proba-
bly,, until after China new year Cat which
time great excitement prevails,) and then we
hope to set sail for our native land, by way of
the Cape of Good Hope. In the mean time,
you will continue to direct to me at Canton
until October, when | hope there will be no
further occasion.
''The excitement attending the claim of en-
tering the walls of Canton has died away
Some weeks since, Sir j. Davis had an inter-
view with Keyng at the Bogue, it is supposed
on this subject; but, as yet, nothing has trans
pred. think that Canton mob has very
strong voice in the cabinet, and it will be some
years yet before there is free ingress and egress
to foreigners. After all, curiosity is the only
thing to be gratlfed; all the shops, and all the
valuables that foreigners admire, are already
without the walls, and | cannot perceive any
political or commercial advantages which will
flow from a privilege to which the Chinese
seem to have an invncible repugnance. | have
spent ten days in Canton, and had the gratih-
cation ofbeing invited TO large Chinese dinner
and sing-song, which | attended. The sing
song is theatrical; men and women dressed in
the most splendid costumes, covered with sill
yer and gold, flourish about, brandishng sticks
and swords, singing songs that you cannot
comprehend, accompanied all the time by the
gong and dozens of other Instruments, little less
euphonous than the first, if that be possible
1t seems to resemble the opera, but | could not
form an idea of the plot. Upon the whole, it
is both ludicrous and ridiculous; and one might
be excited to laughter, were it not for a greater
sympathy for the sense of hearing than Of
sight. The dinner was given almost exclu-
sively to foreigners; and | am told that it is the
first thing of the kind that has ever come off;
and as it may not be undressing, | will en-
deavor to give you description. The invita-
ton, (Which enclose for your perusal, being
in Chinese,") informed the guests that boats
would be in waiting. So about o'clock Sc
veral officers Of the Yncennes found ourselves
at the foreign landing, embarked, and we've
soon rowed over the ferry. Ga entering the
hall, we were most deliberately 'chinchined,
with gongs, and other noise making instru-
ments. We assembled flight of steps, and
were received by the heads Of the family. The
tables were arranged about the room after the
fashion of the French-that is, each table ac-
commodated six persons. So soon as we were
seated, the host came up to US, carrying in his
hand a metal teapot, filled with warm arrack,
"a liquor having very much the taste Of rum,
and exclusively used by the higher classes Of
Chinese.) He filed our cups, holding about n
teaspoontu, which we were compelled to drink,
making at the same time a bow to our polite
host. This done, no was free, so far as we
were concerned, for the rest of the evening"
Now commenced the dinner. There was an
old resident merchant sitting by me, and he
gave me the names Of the dishes, or | am sure
| should have never made them out. | took
down the courses, and will give them to you as
they made their appearance. l, birds nest
soup; 9, pork fat, fried with potatoes; 8, hogs
hoofs; A, mushroom, stewed; 5, birds nest sa-
/ lad; G, gbet-soup; T, kitten hash; s, fried Irish
potatoes; 9j faL HdSDj w. YEA l, sudTR ms;
IL, fried ducks Is, dog stew; IA, stewed chick
en-; Is, ham stew; Is, pork stew; II, fried Gu
cumbers; is, pate of rats; 10, feline ragout; 20,
ham stewed with pork; 81, sucking pig; %,
snail pate; %, snail soup. | tasted the first
dish, and became so Disguised that | could not
proceed. They were brought on, one dish at
time, in exquisitely beautiful china bowls,
with top very much resembling a saucer,
which fitted into the lormer-all the time the la
bles were covered with a variety ofsweetmeats,
Of which watermelon seeds seemed to be the
greatest favorite. We sat until IL O'Clock
when we were ushered out with the same cere-
monies with which we were introduced The
performances of the sing-song continued dur
ing the whole dinner.
*One of the most unique things of the kind we
ever saw, Ii consists of two slips OF red Paper-One
appearing to envelope the other, and one OF then