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7. The visit of the Centurion
- Hong Kong University Press, HKU
- Chapter
- Additional Information
83 InNovember1742,withmerelyfourEICvesselsinCanton,theHMCenturion,1 under the command of Commodore George Anson, was the first Royal Navy warship to arrive in Macau for the purpose of re-provisioning. It had sailed from Southampton in 1740, within the context of the War of Jenkin’s Ear against Spain, with the aim of upsetting Spanish interests in South America. Anson participated in what is viewed as the first war waged by Great Britain for colonial reasons, at a time when Britain was fighting to assert its naval and colonial power, an aim achieved, above all, after the defeat of France in 1815.2 One of the crew of the Centurion described the arrival of the vessel in Taipa, as well as the (increasingly nominal) power of the Portuguese in Macau: Macau is a large handsome town situated at the entrance of the great River Canton on a narrow point of land, and has several large forts which command the town and all the adjacent country. It belongs to the Portuguese, and is the only settlement any Europeans have on the whole coast of China, but the Chinese have lately so crept into the town and introduced their own laws and government that the power of the Portuguese is now become little more than a name. Mr. Anson on his arrival here sent one of his officers to wait on the Portuguese Governor, who soon returned the compliment, and after the little points of ceremony were settled they mutually saluted each other.3 The city operated as a familiar and safe post during the long voyages of European ships, and Boyle Somerville states, with regard to Anson’s voyage: “at last, after more than two years of an incessant sea-journey, or of camping on uninhabited islands, [...] we find the small but still indomitable remnant of Anson’s 7 The visit of the Centurion The British Presence in Macau, 1635–1793 84 Expedition in friendly waters once more, and amid the amenities of civilised life. And here at last were letters from home.”4 The author further affirms that, to understand the episodes which took place during the Centurion’s sojourn in China, it is necessary to describe beforehand the geographical position and the joint administration of Macau, laying emphasis on the importance of the enclave and of Portuguese assistance to European vessels which needed to re-provision or undergo repairs, as was the case of the Centurion. The ship’s visit is cited in Chinese sources in the context of British naval might, as are the cunning of Anson, the battles with Spain (1743), and British thieving and their cannons, which had struck fear in the Far East since the arrival of Weddell’s fleet.5 The captain of the EIC ship Augusta informed Anson of the customary procedures undertaken by foreigners on arriving in Macau, notably the request for the Chinese authorities to authorise entry into the Canton river and the customs taxes to be paid, and advised the commodore to seek the governor of Macau’s counsel.6 Fearing Chinese reprisals such as those suffered in the past by the city when receiving British vessels, the governor persuaded Anson to put in discreetly at Taipa and not to enter the river, for if he did, he would have to pay customs taxes to the Mandarinate.7 Once again, foreigners profited from the Portuguese know-how/why. On the second day of his stay, Anson landed in Macau to enquire of the governor as to the possibility of acquiring supplies and repairing the vessel.8 The governor replied that Anson would have to request authorisation from the Mandarin authorities, and the commodore, realising that only the viceroy of Canton could authorise the re-provisioning of and repairs to the Centurion,9 chartered a small junk and sailed to Canton, where, after consulting the supercargoes, he tried in vain to speak to the Mandarin through the co-hong before returning to Taipa. In Macau, Anson handed to the hopu a letter addressed to the viceroy of Canton, and threatened the Macau customs house official that he would sail up the river should the letter not be delivered to the destinee, showing how determined he was to obtain the assistance he had requested of the Chinese authorities. Shortly afterwards, a fleet of eighteen junks sailed down to the Taipa Canal carrying envoys from the viceroy of Canton to meet Anson, who intimidated the Chinese authorities and, indirectly, Macau with his warship. [44.212...