The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-03-03
From the Boston ssTo- Day."
4 CHINESE STATE DINNER.

~ 1IlNE9I O1 "A II DA'i'~As'
We are permitted to publish the follow
ing extract from letter, containing a
spirited description of an entertainment
given in China to an official agent of our
Government, in high capacity, by the
governor Keying, a few years since.
"The Governor led the way down stairs
into a large room on the ground floor,
where table was arranged for dinner
The room, which was the principal one in
the house, was sort of hall, divided into
two parts by row Of pillars running across
it, and of great height. The division, in
which we dined, was rather narrow and
about large enough to hold The table, with
reasonable latitude for attendance around
lit. The other division was much larger.
contained good deal of furniture, and had
several elegant lanterns suspended from
the ceiling. The table was paralelo
gram, With rounded ends, and large enough
to hold about twenty persons, which was
think, the number Of the party. On one
side were two rather long arm chairs, with
seats ofred cloth, large enough TO hold two
persons. The Governor placed ne on ono
of these, and then seated himself on the
other, at my right hand; thus giving me
the left which is here the seat of honor
We sat side by side, each Of US having a
vacant seat between him and the next
guest. The rest Of the company sat on
common chairs. The party consisted on
our side, Of the ten persons mentioned
above:
"Among the Chinese, were Puntlng
| Kwa. the owner OF the house; Jung Lean
Chou Gang Ling, a member of,he HamIin
College, or Privy Council at Peking, and
one of the Governors principal assistants
here; She, the mandarin who met us on the
way; and three or four others, whose names
| did not learn. The space round the Ia
BILE was crowded with attendants. Two
Chinese linguists stood behind the Gov
ernor and myself for the purpose Of inter
preting between US; but as they understood
only the Canton English, they made but
buneling work it. and | was obliged to
RELY mainly upon Dr. Parker.
"The table had no ornaments in the way
of flowers or plateau. Ii was laid with
porcelain plates, and knife, fork, and n
pair of ivory chop sticks at each. Upon
irving these, | found that could use them
with more convenience than should have
supposed, in conveying 10 my mouth the
c c1pients Of the Chinese dishes, which are
all either soups, stews, or meats minced
into small pieces. The middle of the table
was occupied by course of fruits, con
tanned in twenty or thirty small Dishes
1t is usual 10 begin with these; and the
first thing the Governor did, after we were
seated, was to place upon my plate a pear
and carambolo. This is large fruit, ol
the size of the pear, much liked by the Chi
nese, and which has something Of the fresh
ness and flavor ola juicy apple.
safer the frni, was removed, series
1 of di, hes came on, to the number, shou q
thipk, Of at least fifty, all served in pogce
lain bowls, holding about pint each, one
Of which was placed before each person.
II was, of course, impossible TO taste q
tenth part of fthese; and, unfortunately,
had but too good an excuse for not eating
and drinking in the state Of my health
1 Soon after we took our seats explained Il
the Governor through Dr. Parker, that
was under medicaltreatment, and was no
permitted to eat much, or drink anything
4 but water. The Governor received tn;
suggestion very kindly, and gave me n
trouble. He had had occasion to max,
lthe same excuse himself, when he me
Commodore Biddle. He was then quit,
fIin with apulmonnrg complaint brought on
as DR.. Parker, who treated him, thinks, b,
anxiety about the evacuation Of Chan.an
I,l retention of which by the British woul'
IprobabIy have cos. him his head
"The dish mos, valued is the birds nest
of which we had large supply in two o
three different forms. The best sort is th'
inner coat of the nest, carefully cleansed o
al exlraneous matter. As it comes to tn
able, it appears like semi-;ransparen'
. whi,sh jelly, or the white part Of an oys