SECTION I.

Introduction—The Earl of Macartney appointed Governor of the Cape of Good Hope—Embark with his Lordship as his Private Secretary.

On our passage home from China, Sir George Staunton, always kind and considerate as to what concerned me personally, said that he expected I would make his house my home; and that Lord Macartney and himself would find me ample scope for employment. I thanked Sir George for this mark of his favourable opinion, and for the many acts of kindness bestowed by him, and only hoped he could spare me a fortnight or three weeks to run down to Ulverstone, to see my parents and friends; and after that I should be proud to devote my whole time and best services to himself and to Lord Macartney. “Go,” he said, “by all means, and come to us on your return, when my son will be as glad to see you as I shall.”

I therefore availed myself of this first opportunity of taking a run down to Ulverstone to see my parents, whom I found quite well, and delighted at my safe return. It may be supposed that, in this obscure corner of our island, a traveller who had been at Pekin, and had seen the Emperor of China, would be looked upon as a great curiosity; which I certainly seemed to be.