Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-10-10
THE AMERICAN SQUADRON IN THE CHINESE
SEAS.


Interesting letters have been received from board the
United States ship Vincennes late the 9Th May. All
well board and happy TO find that the alarm
ing OF the avages of disease board the squadron
unfounded. The ship down from Whamp 10 Macao
about the Goth April and the 2sth Of her officers writes
that We are ready for and will get under way
as the Commodore comes board. We are bound
for cruise up the of China Japan and probably
Kamschatka. This will be- doing what othr American
mn-o has done We expect TO be absent from this
place about MONTHS when will return, take in stores,
remain probably until after China year Cat which tine
great excitement prevails and then hope set sail for
native land by way of the Cape Of Good Hope.
"The excitement attending the claim of entering the walls
of Canton has died away Some weeks SINCE Sir ]. Davis
had interview with Keyng the Bogue, supposed,
this subject; but yet nothing has trdnsprd think
that Canton mob has very strong voice il the Cabinet,
and will be years yet before there is fee gr,ss and
egress foreigners After all curiosity is the oily thing
be graed all the shops, and all the vauahs a foreign
admire already without the wallis and not per-
Any political commercial advantage VIII will flow
from privilege 10 which the Chinese seem q have invn-
chile repugnance have spent days IL CGno and had
the qualification of being invited to large Chimes dinner
sing-song, which | attended The sing song is lhearcI
and dressed in the most splendid costumes,
cred with silver and gold, flourish abiu hrandshng SIT, IS
and swords singing songs that you cannot comprehend
panied all the time by the gong and dozens Of other ms
ments little less euphonious than the first If that be positive.
seems resemble the OPERA hut could form IDA
ofthc plot Upon the WHOLE il is both ludicIOus and rid
lous and might be excited laughter, not for
greater sympathy for the hearing than of sight Tie
dinner given almost exclusively 10 foreigHes and
told that il the first thing Of the kind that has off,
and be undressing, will endeayor to give
you description. The invitation informed the guests that
boats would be in waiting So about o'clock several
officers Vincennes found ourselves the foreign land
ing embarked, and rowed the ferry. On
tering the hail. most elaboraey 'chnchned, with
gongs and other noisemakng instruments We assembled
flight of steps, and received by the heads of the family
The tables arranged about the after the fashion Of
the French-tha is each table accommodated six persons.
So seated, the host up us carrying
in his hand metal teapot filled with mrack, Ca liquor
having very much the taste of rum and exclusively used by
the higher classes of Chnese He filled cups, holding
about teaspoonfu, which compelled drink max
ing the time bow TO polite host This done,
he Free far concerned for the rest Of tie
evening. Now commenced the dinner. There il
resident merchant sitting by me, and he gave the
Of the Dishes should have made Il cl
out. took down the courses and will give them to yo
they made their appearance !, BIRDS nest soup; z,
fat fried with potators g. hogs hoofs A. MUSHROOM Il
ed s. birds nest salad; 6, ghet soup; r kitten hash >,
fried Irish potatoes; g. rat hash 10, tea IL, sharks Fl
IL, fred ducks; b. dog stew H. cwed chickens Is, -
stew l6 pork II, fried cucumters Is, pate OF rat
10, feline aCou; 20 ham sewed with pork II, suck
pig D. snail pate; 30, snail soup tasted the first ds,
and became disguised that could not proceed They
brought on dish a time, in exqustey beautiful china
bowls. with top very much resembling saucer which fitted
the ormeal the time the tables were covered with
variety Of sweemca Of which watermelon seeds seemed
I've the greatest favoric We until IL O'Clock, when
were ushered out with the ceremonies with which we
were introduced The performances Of the sngsong
tinued during the whole dinner. Union.