The Express.
London, England, 1857-08-01 00:00:00

CHINA.

The C74ina Mail, of June 4, give% the follouing
summary of the attacks upon the Mandarin fleets in
the Canton river :

The long-expected attacks by our Mosquito squad-
ron on tho junks anchored in the creeks on the river
hare at last come off ; for the rumours current among
the Chinese last week of the destruction of the man-
darin fleets below Whampoa, were confirmo4 the day
after our last publication ; and accounts of the ex-
ploits of our t Ira and jollies at Fat,han reached us
by the Hongkong on fucsday. With so many con-
flicting ateouut bafore us, we must content ourselves
with a mete outline of the operations ; but authorised
versions willj no doubt be soon supplied by the pub-
lication of the despatches.
Thc;first expedition consisted of the ateam-tenders.
Hong Kong and Sir Charles Forbes, and gunboats
Staunch, Starling, and Bastard, with boats from the
Sybille, Hornet. Fury, Raleigh, Tribune, and In-
flexible—the whole under command of Commodore
Elliot. The fleet of junks, some five miles up
Escape Creek, numbered about 40, anchored in lino
across the passage. Tho expedition entered the
Creek at daylight on Monday the 25th, and the fire
from the Hong Kong, Starling, and Bustard, soon
drove the junks from their anchorage. The boats
then pushed on in pursuit, and kept up the chase,
making captures of junks as they passed, for ten or
twelve miles, to Tscyn-teen, where they found and
destroyed the loreha Anonyma. Altogether 27 junks
were taken—large vessels pulling 40 oars, and armed
each with a 32-pounder and Nome lighter pieces—ten
of which were made prizes of, and thereat destroyed.
The second expedition of 20 boats took place on
Wednesday, the 27th, up the Saw-shee Creek, and
found the junks at Tung-kun, about ten miles up
the creek. The Chinese were quite taken by sur-
prise, and at first offered very little resistance,
though supported by a small fort on the bank. But
the creek was lined with houses on both aides,
whence a close and deadly fire was opened by the
braves. These were speedily, however, driven from
the houses and forts by the marines, but not until
many of our poor fellows had fallen. The junks
taken on this occasion, including the Chinese com-
mander's, were all destroyed.
The third expedition was against the Fatshan
fleet, on Monday, the let June. The approach from
Blenheim Passage towards the nearest detachment
of junks visible was commanded by an old fort,
which has been recently armed and repaired. This
was stormed about daybreak by a party under Com-
modore Elliot, accompanied by Sir Michael Sey-
mour himself, at whom the defenders are stated to
have pitched cold shot as he came under the walls.
Different divisions of boats, in the meantime, under
Commodore Keppcl and other officers, pushed
up the strea.n at a number of junks lying
about the confluence of the Fatshan branch,
with a creek to the south, or on the left
hand, so to speak, in rear of the fort. B
this branch subsequently advanced Commodore El-
liot upon some junks, the crews of which stood with
unusual coolness till he was within short range.
They then fired and fled, attacked awl pursued by
the mariner, who had descended from the fort taken
in the first instance. Commodore Koppel meanwhile
had pushed ahead with his bonne, dashing at a fleet
which, it would almost seem, had escaped the atten-
tion of the rest of our forty. A tremendous
fire was opened on him, at the sound of which the
Hong Kong, and, ut an interval of some distance, the
Starting gunboat, moved up to support him. Before
they could reach him—indeed we believe the Hong
kong ran aground—the commodore's gallant little
boat squadron had buffeted severely. On approach-
ing the outer and lesser of two islands below Fat-
shun, he found the passage to the southward barred,
and attempting to pass by the northward, received
the fire of some twenty junks in position. He had
fallen back on the Hong Kong when the alarm was
given that the junks were in motion, that is to say
retiring ; and being now reinforced by the arrival
of some more boats, Commodore Keppel chased the
enemy not only up to, but into, Fataltan, capturing
four or five of the junks that were attempting to
escape by a creek or channel which divides Fatshan.
The Fatshan braves turned out waving flags, &c.,
and met with a warm reception from our seamen
and marines.

Some papers seized show the junk fleet to have
been that commanded by Su lloi, but a few years
ago a police-runner in Canton. In the rebel naing
of 1854,15 he came into notice as a brave, or head of
braves, was transferred to the regular force, and has
been ye y recently ptomotcd to be a should, equal in
rank to a lieutenant of our navy. It is now some
months since we first heard of his projecting a joint
operation against our men-of-war with Wong Hoi-
kwong, the senior naval officer of the alai-nan
station, who had come up uy Yeh's desire, with all
' the junks he could collect along the West Coast.
The following is the list of the casualties which
occurred on the first and second expeditions
Dangerously wounded.—Tribune : F. M. Norman, Lieu-
tenant; W.Ham Lanpidge,A.B.; William Nelson Ord; Bern:
held Hose, marine; Edward Strickland, marine; Robert
Groves, sailniaker's mute; Thomas Clack, marine; Henry
Halfyer, marine. Raleigh: William Trewin, A,ll, Stbille:
Henry Mathew, marine.
Severely Wounded.—Raleigh: A Dupries, midshiipnrin ;
James Marshall. ord.; Edward Pepper. A. B. ; Williani
Divw, ord. ; Luke Sharp math*, Sybille • TI onus Mac-
donald, A.B. Hornet Richard Warren, A.B. Inflexible
William Yeo, boatswain's taste; Colin Gnui., A.B. Fury:
George oaten, earparal, R.M. ; Charles Oil iunnel, marine;
Wiliam Kneehee, A.ll ; Janice ord.
Slightly Wounded—Syhille, 11 ichard liaanahyd, marine.
Raleigh A. Pilkingion,mliblopman; Wihi.ma Fogwell, A. 8.,
Inflexible: E. Bacon, lieut.; M. M. Mamie? sssielantisu.r.
geon ; Thomas Farmer, A.B. Hornet Edweni 11rhe,
A.B. Fury: James Carry, gunner's mete. Tata
woun. • 1, 31.
The next list is of the killed and wounded in the
third expedition, on June 30th :

Killod.—Fury : 'Kearney, Esq., major. Bielflyer E. C.
Ryan, Esq.. inasteia mote. Tribune: R. Harper, A.B.
Niger: T. Christian, sergeant, R.M. Raleigh: P. Telt-
buret, A.B. Hornet.: T. Cronie, ord.
Mortally WoundetE.(llied in HoneKcing.)—Tribune . H. L.
Barker, NielT : 0. °rift, A.B.
Kenichi : J. Switb,marine.

Very Dangerously Wounded.—Tribune: B. Mogen,
A.B. ; B. Eiheldrekt,
. _

Hansoms,ly—Horset : E. Buchman), gunner's niftte; J.
IleVele], AB. Plover: C. Mead, A.B. Raleigh: M.
ltideout, A. 8.; W. Seymour, A. 8.; J. Hatherly, captain
of fan:top; J. Broughton. A. 8.; W. Spinier, enptain'e
eoxiinain ; O. Sackett, A. 8.; T. Coleman, A.B.
Soserely.—Tribune : W. Nelson, A. 8.; M. Patterson,
ord. Bernet: T. Anderson. A.B. • S. 011eff., onl. Cal-
cutta 1). Tonney, A.B. • W. Caine,. marine. Raleigh:
J. Gadding, A.B. ; B. tis'imphire, marine; A. Jerking, A.B.
Slightly.—Calamtts: J. MeKellister, A.B. Raleigh • E
Kows, ord. Sybille: J. Smith. ord.
Alistrue of Killed (Toni 9).—Assistant Qivirtermiater
General, Hong Kong. in the Fury'n boat—Major Kearney.
Ilightlyer: Mr. Ryan. Tribune: Mr. Barka. and one sea-
man. Niger: Sergeant Christian, 11M., and tee woman.
Nankin : A marine. Hornet : One seaman. Italeigh • One
seaman._