The tea consisted of 1000 chests of Congou and Bohea, and the damage had resulted from the starboard quarter gallery being washed away and the deadlights to the inner windows taking in the seas, and leaking badly for the remainder of the voyage. The Latham, incidentally, while awaiting her cargo at Whallpoa in December 1784, recorded the sailing thence of American ships Empress of China, Captain Green, and Pallas, Captain O'Donnel-the former vessel on her epoch-llaking voyage, being the first ship to carry the Stars and Stripes to China and carrying a letter from President Washington for the Chinese government officials.

   Earlier in the 18th century, as the trade grew steadily, the British government had irpposed a heavy tax on tea, against which the American colonists had protested, and although the tea tax was belatedly withdrawn for the colony, a heavy import duty was substituted with the all too well known consequence of the Boston Tea Party-and a temporary dislike for tea. The general tea tax in Britain was reduced in 1784, by which time America was instituting her own trade in prized oriental goods in exchange for furs, ginseng roots and silver, the latter chiefly in the nature of   Mexican dollars which were the predominant form of exchange with the Chinese for centuries.

   The Chinese government was originally reluctant to open up its ports to foreigners who, they claimed, could not offer anything of value to them which they did not already possess. They considered that they were bestowing a great favour in permitting trade at all-an opinion not shared by the local Hong merchants who were anxious to join in a profitable venture. The port of Canton during the 18th century was the only one opened officially to the foreigners, who had to moor their ships in picturesque rows lower down the river at the Whallpoa anchorage. They were allowed to  establish 'factories' or warehouses for their resident representatives in a 4 small colony stretching along the waterfront outside Canton.