Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-10-21
The American Squadron in the
Gfaiuese seas.

Interesting letters have been received from
ON board the United States snip. Nlncennes, as
late the 5ih May. All we're we'll on board,
and we are happy to ind that the alarming ru-
lnors vi the rasages OF disease on board the
s,iuadion are uniounded. The ship came down
from Wnaunpoa to Macao about the 2Oth April
ana On tne 2oth one OF her officers writes that:
"We now ready Tor sea, and Will get under
way as SOON as the Commodore cUuies On board.
We ale bounu Tor cruise up the coast OF Chi
Ma to Japan, and probably to kamschatkd.-
This viii lie doing what no other man-Oiwar
has ever done. We expect to be absent from
this place about SIX months, when We Will re-
turn take in stores, remain PROBABLY until after
China new-year,' lat which time great excite
ment pre,ails,) and then We hope to set sail Tor
our native land, by way OF the Cape OF Good
Hope.
.'The excitement attending the claim of en-
tering the walls vi Canton has died away. Sumo
weeks since, SIR J. Davis had an interview with
heying at the bogue, 1t is supposed, on this
subject: but as yet nothing has transpred. |
think that Canton mob has very strong
Voice in the Cabinet, and it will be sone years
yet before there is free ingress and egress to
foreigners. After all, curiosity Is the only thing
to be gratihed; all the shops, and all the valua-
pleS tudt iOISiSHcIs GUILTY., dlr al Cduy nituoub
the walls, ana cannot perceive any political
or commercial advantage which will flow from
privilege to which the Chinese seem to have
an invincible repugnance. l have spent ten
days in Canton, and had the qualification ofbe-
lag invited to large Chinese dinner and sing
song, which attended. The sing song Is the
atrical: men and women dressed in the most
splendid costumes, covered with silver and gold,
flourish about, brandishlDg sticks anu swords,
singing songs that you cannot aPprehend, ac-
companied all the time by the gong and dozens
of other instruments, little less euphonious than
the first, if that be possible. 1t seems to re-
sembe the opera, but could not form an Idea
of the plot. Upon the whole, it is both ludi-
crous and ridiculous; and one might be excited
to laughter, were it not for greater sympathy
for the sense of hearing than of sight. The
dinner was given almost exclusively to foreign
ers; and an, tald it is the first thing OF the
kim that has ever come OH; and, as 1t may not
be unlnteres,lng, will endeavor to give you
description. The invitation informed the guests
that beats would be IN waiting. So about sew
en- O'Clock several onicers Ut the Nincennes
founa ourselves at the foreign landing, enibar-
ked, ana were soOn rowed over the Terry. On
entering the hall, we were NEST eiaOorately
schnchInec, with gongs anu ott er Noise making
Instruments. we dSceudeu d uiSnI VI stets,
and were received by the heads of family. The
tables were arranged about the room after the
fashion vi the French-that is, each table ac-
Icomno,iateu six persons. So soon we were
seated, the host came up to US, carrying in his
hand d metal teapot, filled with warm arrack,
Ia liquor having very much the taste of rum,
and excessively used by the higher classes of
Chnese.) He filled our cups, holding about a
teaspooniul, which we were compelled to drink
making at the same time bow to our polite
host. This done, he 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
7 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. ], birds nest
soup; 2, pork fat, fried with potatoes; 8, hogs
hoofs; 4, mushroom, stewed; 5, birds nest
salad; 6, gibet soup, Z, kitten hash; 8, fried
Irish potatoes; 9, rat hash; 10, tea; IL. sharks
fins; IL, fried ducks; Is, dog stew; IA, stewed
chicken; Is, ham stew; Ii, pork stew; IL, fri
ed cucumbers; Is, pate Of rats; 10, felin ragout;
20, ham stewed with pork; n, sucking pigs
%, snail pate; %, snail soup. | tasted the
first dish, and became SO Disguised that lcould
not proceed, They were brought on, one dish
at Il me, in exquisitely beautiful china bowls,
with top very much resembling saucer,
which fitted into the former-all the time the
tables were covered with variety of sweet
meats, of which watermelon seeds seemed to
be the greatest fayorite- We sat until II o.