Eastern times., 1853-01-27
For the Eastern Times.
Personal Recollections.

passed through, will often crowd upon the
memory and yet to speak of them often brings
home the charge of garruity and egotism.
During the last war with England, it was
my misfortune 20 be blockaded with some doz-
en- other vessels in the Canton river, in China,
oy the then somewhat celebrated frigate Doras,
Capt. oBrien of His Majesty's Navy. AS ar
rivals OF vessels from different parts Of the Pa
clhc ocean were frequently looked for, and
sometimes known to be on their way to Can
ton, 1t became important, and matter Of some
moment that they should be apprized of the
existing state of things, and of the whereabouts
OF the enemy. China boats, with some Amer
leans on board were frequently sent out to
cruise among the numerous islands lying off
the coast of China, and 10 the eastward of the
Grand Lama passage, for the purpose of falling
in with such vessels, and giving them such in
formation and directions as were necessary to
insure their safety. On one of these excur-
sions, had the good or evil fortune to have
been sent, tor the purpose OF intercepting the
Pennsylvania Packet, from the northwest
coast OF America, via the Sandwich Islands,
laden with furs and sandal wood. In cruising
along the coast as far eastward as White Rock
we frequently landed at different Chinese towns
and villages, where always experienced every
possible kindness and civiltty from the inhabi-
tants, many of whom had never seen Fan
Qui or white stranger. Strange to say, my
boatnen, some dozen in number, could not
llv, s,l, lo;-
only mode of communication was through the
medium of their written characters, which
seem to present the idea expressed, rather to
the eye than the ear. The pronunciation and
intonatiOns Of the language vary SO much in
each PROVINCE, and you may say in every city
of any magnitude, that the inhabitants can
with difficulty converse together; vet the lam
guage as written, is more universally compre-
hended by the mass of the people, than any
European language. But off from my
story. Having been cruising about quite a
month, we came to anchor under the sheltered
nook of an island. The rext morning, pre-
vious to getting underweigh for the days
cruise, it was thought advisable, as it was
quite foggy, to ascend the highland, to ascer-
tain if anything could be seen at sea over the
fog, when The masts Of large ship were dis
covered, apparently standing in for the land
this place being near the rendezvous eff the ex-
pcctcd ship. Our boat was Immediately got
under~eigh, and we stood out to sea, in the
direction of the approaching ship. When
about eight miles from the land, the fog cleared
up, and to our surprise and discomfort, we
found ourselves about half mile distant, and
little to windward Of the frigate Doras, and
within the range of her guns. Here was fix
However, we continued our course seaward.
hoping that We might escape particular notice,
and pass as fishermen. But the build of the
boat was too well known, and strange to that
part ofthe coast, for us to get off in this man.
ner. Wewere signalized from the frigate, of
which we took no notice, each Of us continu-
ing our course, until we we're some three miles
apart; then the frigate backed off shore, being
in our wake. Our only chance for escape was
to ruin the direction of group Of islands to
the westward, lying off an inlet of the coast -
We bore up before the wind, which was blow
ing fresh from the eastward; the frigate quiet
ly standing out upon the wind, until we were
dead to leeward of her, when she put her helm
hard up, and placed herself before the wind,
and, as if by magic, spread q cloud of canvas
to the breeze, both below, aloft, and on both
sides, which made her walk like thing of life
at once giving US premoniton of our fate.
We soon saw fash and the curling smoke
from one Of her chase guns, and soon heard the
Kissing shot over our heads-an admonition
that we did rot care to heed-having other af-
fairs to attend to. few days previous had
boarded the schooner Cintra from New Yerk.
bound for Canton, and had taken from her
large mail and and an officer, with the inten-
ton of sending him by some conveyance to
Canton the schooner in the mean time to be
plying of and on the coast, for orders from the
Engineer. This mail it was necessary to de-
stroy-and that in detail. BY this time the
boatmen were urging the speed Of the boat with
the aid of ten oars, which at every stroke made
her jump from swell to swell while Mr.. Cope
land and myself were busy ballasting and sink
ing the letters and papers, with all DESPATCH
We were every few minutes reminded Of the
nearer approach Of the frigate, by the more
near dropping of the round and grape shot,
which in one or two instances was heard
crushing our bamboo spars and mat sails. In
little more than an hour-having distributed
our mail, and peceiving body of marines
upon the frigate's forecastle, preparing to give
us volley of musketry. we thought best to put
down the helm and bring the boat to the wind.
In few minutes. we were along side of the
ships gangway, around which were clustered
the Captain. surgeon and officers. The first
enquiry was the humane one, ''Is there any
one hurt in the boat :' "No," was responded
by Mr. Copeland, sand, sir, before your men
can hit boat like this you must bring them
oftener to the batteries r addressing himself
10 Capt. O'Brien. "Perhaps so, answered the
Captain, "but be assured that the ranging of
twelve pound shot through such boat, would
make rude work." To the credit Of the China
men, they were not consenting to the surren-
der, and ifthere was any bIanching upon any
countenance it was not upon theirs. Being
safely aboard the frigate, we were kindly re-
ceived by the officers, and during our continu-
ance for two months had every attention paid
us tina, we had any right to expect. had had
Hotel acquaintance with some of the officers
in Canton. Some events that occurred while
on board, may give you in some future COM
l1u nc nj