In the meantime he assisted Cobden in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League in 1838.

Having suffered great monetary losses in the interval, he applied for the appointment of Consul at Canton, of which place he afterwards became Governor, being knighted in 1854.

At one period of his career at Hong Kong his conduct was made the subject of a vote of censure in Parliament, Lord Palmerston, however, warmly defending him.

Finally returning to England in 1862, he continued his literary work with unfailing zest.

He died at Exeter, in a house very near that in which he was born, in 1872.