The store-ships, _Supply_ and _Lexington_, were ordered homeward by way of the Cape of Good Hope and the _Susquehanna_ and _Mississippi_ for New York by way of Shimoda, Honolulu and Rio [de] Janeiro. The _Mississippi_ was to tow the _Southampton_, which contained coal for the two steamers. The Commodore awaited only the arrival of the _Macedonian_ from Manilla, whither she had gone to return the waifs picked up at sea, to turn over his command to Captain Abbot. Before permitting Perry to leave for home, the American commercial residents in China gave the Commodore an expression of their estimate of his character as a man, and their appreciation of his services as a diplomatist to their country. This took the form of a banquet, with an address of unusual merit by Gideon Nye, and the presentation of an elaborate candelabrum made by Chinese jewelers in crystal and sycee silver. In return, Perry presented to Mr. Nye a cane made of gun carriages from San Juan d’Ulloa. Owing to war and the local troubles, the work of art did not reach New York until December 1858.[39] On the morning of September 11th, at Hong Kong, the _Mississippi_ and _Macedonian_ fired parting salutes. The yards and rigging were manned by the sailors who gave three hearty cheers, and the British mail steamer, _Hindostan_, moved off bearing the diplomatist and his flag-lieutenant homeward. From England Perry crossed to the continent, and at Hague, spent several delightful days at the house of his son-in-law, the American Minister, the Hon. August Belmont. With Mrs. Belmont, the Commodore’s daughter Caroline, were then visiting Mrs. Perry and Miss Perry, the Commodore’s wife and youngest daughter. Thence returning to Liverpool on Christmas day, he paid a visit to the American consul at Liverpool, one Nathaniel Hawthorne, who has thus recorded his impression of his visitor:—[40] “Commodore P—— called to see me this morning—a brisk, gentlemanly, off-hand, but not rough, unaffected and sensible man, looking not so elderly as he might, on account of a very well made wig.