[Sidenote: Sept. 16.] Regatta of country ships’ boats. Bad finish. Tiller broke in a mate’s hands; he fell backwards overboard, and was drowned before any one could get near. Hundreds of spectators. In the midst of life we are in death. [Sidenote: Sept. 24.] F. Horton, who had been invalided, took his parting dinner with me. Sorry indeed to lose him. With use of launch and pinnace was enabled to make visits to Canton, Macao, and Hong Kong, to say nothing of the cheery Blenheim Reach. I was anxious for a change, having been doing magistrate at Whampoa over two months. [Sidenote: Sept. 26.] Made visit in launch to Plenipo and friends at Hong Kong; next day to Macao. While riding one of Gray’s best horses near the boundary lines, was charged by a buffalo cow, causing a cut nearly a foot in length, and drawing blood on near flank. [Sidenote: Sept. 30.] On returning, anchored to save tide off the Chinese fort. Was run down by a light merchant brig; she carried away our foremast, giving me a violent blow on left heel. [Sidenote: Oct. 3.] Admiral arrived in _Spitfire_. With him to Canton. Old round of curio-shops. Heel very painful. Blue at the fore hoisted on board _Dido_. [Sidenote: Oct. 5.] Visited the place where our troops landed and captured Canton before _Dido_ arrived on the station. Large dinner at Livingstone’s. [Sidenote: Oct. 7.] _Dido_ resigned flag to _Spiteful_. Tied by leg, or, more properly, by the heel. [Sidenote: Oct. 11.] Gray and Hogg to dinner; also new Master, Allen. [Sidenote: Oct. 21.] Tiffined with Doctor Marjoribanks. He informed me that a Mandarin in Canton was seriously ill, and he had been sent for. He told me if I would care to dress in plain clothes, and come as his assistant, I should see many things forbidden to “Foreign Devils.” Curiously enough, a hundred years ago, my grand-uncle, Admiral Lord Keppel, then a Mid, wrote in his Log-Book:-- “Fryday, _14th October, 1743_.--Commodore Anson, Captain Saumarez, and myself, put off from the _Centurion_ in ye barge for Canton.” Before his visit in the _Centurion_, no foreigner was known to have entered the Celestial City, and for a century its gates were closed to foreigners. [Sidenote: Oct. 24.] Was about to dine with McKeans, when a fire broke out in Canton. Went to the top of Livingstone’s house, and found the sight too grand to leave; had dinner sent up there. Rice birds in perfection. Sent for _Dido_. Passed night in the American _hong_,[6] which soon became too hot. Our marines protected property, which became easier after a Lascar had been shot. [6] Business House. [Sidenote: Oct. 26.] All business was stopped for a few days. Dent’s _hong_ took a flower-boat to live in. I gave them a corporal’s guard of seven marines. [Sidenote: Oct. 28.] Ordered to Hong Kong. With Jardine and Miss Hogg to Whampoa in a dollar boat. [Sidenote: Nov. 11.] [Sidenote: Nov. 15.]