The Express.
London, England, 1847-06-26 00:00:00

THE BATTLE BRTIVIISi THE 'BENCH

SQUADRON AND THE COCHIN-CHINESE.
Account of late occurrences in Cochin-China, taken
from the narrative of the Bishop of Loo Cboo, who was pm
sent, and is now on board the steamer Lady Mary Wood, ea
route to France with the news
CHINA Seas, MAY I.—Several missionaries, natives of
France, having been put to death or cruelly punished within
the last twelve years in Cochin-China, without any crime
being imputed to them but that of teaching the Christian
religion, Admiral Cecille, commanding the French squadron
in these sea*, presented to the Cochin-Chinese government
* remonstrance against this treatment of his countrymen,
whereof no notice was taken.
SI. La Pierre, who succeeded to the cow mand of the
French squadron in the China Seas, resolved to follow
up the intentions of his predecessor, and for this purpose
addressed a letter with a similar remonstrance to Om
King of Cochin-Chins, which he despatched, on the 19th of
March last, from Memo to the port of Touron (situate about
50 miles to the south-east of the capital city, Hue), by the
corvette La Victorieuae, Capt. Reeault de Genouilly, who
had orders to deliver it only into the hands of the prefect of
the province. M. La Prerre, m the frigate La Glorie, followed
the Victorieuse on the 23rd March, and, arriving in the bay
of Touron, was surprised and indignant to find that the cap-
tain
of the Victorieuse had been unable to obtain any com-
munication but with the inferior mandarins, and that all
cjpert unity of fulfilling his commission had been denied him.
Endeavours were now renewed to obtain en interview with
the prefect, either by his coming sr giving permission to do-
liver hint the letter. These endeavours were met only with
subterfuge and mockery, which, for the hoe our of the French
flag, M. La Pierre deemed it necessary to resent.
There were anchored in the bay five corvettes, built on
the European model, fully equipped, on which M. La Pierre
laid an embargo, vowing to retain them till his letter was
received and replied to. Anxious to avoid hostile measures,
he caused all their sails to be removed to two small war
junks, which were made to anchor between the French ships.
This proceeding seemed to have effect, for the following day,
March 31, the prefect appeared at Touron, received M. R.
de Genouilly politely, and after some hesitation took the
letter, promising an answer in ten or twelve days.
This period passed without incident. It was, however,
observed, that in the forts on shore, and in the corvettes,
preparations were going en, by increasing very greatly their
force in men and otherwise, for hostilities. On the morning
of the 12th of April, an inferior officer came on board,
announcing the arrival from Hui (the capital) of a superior
mandarin, bearing the reply, and invi.ing Commodore La
Pierre to land and receive it the following day.
To this imitation he replied, that having sent his second
in command as the bearer of his letter, a corresponding civi-
lity required that the bearer of the answer should deliver it
to him on board his ship, at the same time giving assurance
that he would be received with the honours due to his rank
and station.

Thea;ciiia-Chinese evaded this prop 3Sitinn, and continued
to request the commodore's presence on shore. Whilst the
correspondence on this point was proceeding, several of the
officen of the French ships took walks on the shore. In
these strolls a man seemed desirous to impart some matter to
them unseen by his countrymen, whereon one of the French
officers furnished him with paper and pencil ; be wrote four
or five characters, the meaning whereof, on translation, was
found to be, " during the entertainment they will surprise
and murder you en masse."
On this hint the commodore became more fully resolved
not to accept the invitation of the mandarin to go on shore
to receive th- alleged answer, neither did the mandarin go
on board the French frigate.
The movement of troops and armament was being carried
on with much activity. Arms in considerable quantities
were secretly being conveyed on board the two small junks.
The commodore, hopeful to avoid the shedding of blood,
sent a party, who took the junks by surprise, and made •
discovery of the omit consequence at that moment.
Whilst disarming the people on board one of the junky, •
midshipman noticed one of them trying to secrete • paper,
which he sprung at and seized. This was given to the nem-
modore, who had it translated. This paper, bearing the red
seal of a mandarin in three different places, was • plan of a
conspiracy against the French.
It was intended to murder the commodore and suite at the
conference, if he was not found sufficiently respectful and
submissive, and by a concerted signal to attack at the same
time the French ships, which were to be reduced to atoms,
striking Europeans with such terror that they would not
venture to re-appear. The mode of attack, &c., was given
in detail.

Tiiiciacovery was made on Tuesday, 13th April. The
next day, the 14th, the commodore sent a copy to the man-
darin, demanding an explanation. In the evening the man-
darin sent an inferior officer on board La Gloiro with a letter,
wherein he sought in vain to justify his conduct.
To the French officers it appeared evident that, discon-
certed in his plan by diacomry of the paper referred to, he
was prevented from acting directly, and only sought to gain
time.

On Thursday, 15th, an attack from the Cochin-Chinos
appeared to be approaching. The five corvettes were filled
with men, and formed in line towards the French ships at
the mouth of a river which falls into the bay. A number of
war-junks were seen prepared for action ; four othen were
seen working into the mouth of the bay, probably from the
capital, evidently, as the French thought, with a view to at-
tack them on all sides. _ _ _

Thus menaced, thi commodore had no time to lose ere
the enemy should close upon him. Still unwilling to resort
to extreme measures, he made another attempt tn accom-
modation. He sent an officer on shore to warn the man-
darins that unless an order was immediately sent to stop
the junks from approaching he would forthwith destroy the
five corvettes.

After this notice he waited fully two hours, when, seeing
that the junks continued to approach, and that no counter-
manding vessel was despatched, La (lore opened her fire,
seconded by the Vietorieuse. This was instantly responded
to by the corvettes, the junks, and the forts on shore. The
junky were too far off to take effat, but the corvettes and
one of the forts were sufficiently near. The crews of the
corvettes had no means of escape, and exerted their ut.
most in vain. In the space of 70 minutes they were utterly
destroyed. One blew up, one was burnt, another sunk, and
the other two, being captured, were set on fire, after the
wounded were removed. _ _ _

From their own report, and according to actual observa-
tion, the number of Cochin-Chinese killed is estimated at
upwards of 1,000.
On the destruction of the corvettes, the junks and forts
ceased their fire. Neither was taken possession of, which
would have been sufficiently easy. It was, however, no
part of H. La Pierre's plan, either to make war on
the Cochin-Chinese, or to plant the French flag on
their territory. His object, in protecting his ships
and crews against a conspiracy, and maintaining the
honour of his nation, be considered as effected by the utter
destruction of the corvettes. On the day following he took
his departure, no attempt at further communication on either
part having been made. The fire of the Cochin-Chinese, for
the most part, fell short, or was directed too high. La Gloire
had neither killed nor wounded, end only suffered a little in
her ringing. La Victorieuae, being more exposed, had only
one killed and one wounded by the loss of his right hand.
The damage to her hull and rigging inconsiderable, and im-
mediately repaired. The Victorieuse reached Hong Kong
on the 21st of April, having on board the French Bishop of
Loo Choo, who was present.