Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-04 00:00:00

DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT AT RAPE AND MURDER

HEIR CBE3TER.

Yesterday, at the Chester Town Hall, a man, named
John Woolley, was placed before the magistrates on a
charge of committing a murderous outrage on the person
of a young woman, named Mrs. Williams, whose husband
is in the employ of Mr. Woods, of the Saltney Foundry.
The prisoner was also charged with stabbing a girl,
named Jane Wainwright, who was in company with Mrs.
Williams at the time. The particulars of the case will
best be gathered from the evidence which was given in
support of the charge against the prisoner. Mrs. Williams,
who appeared in a very weak state from loss of blood, in
coaseqnence of the wounds she had received, was the first
witness examined. The poor woman was unable to walk,
aid was supported on her entrance to, and departure from,
the court. She said that on Saturday afternoon, about
halc-past four o'clock, she was returning from Chester
market to Saltney, in company with the girl, Wainwright.
They had passed through Curzon-park, and when getting
over a style in a footpath leading into an adjoining field, the
prisoner canoe up, and s-ruck at the girl, who ran
away. He then seized hold of witnes3, and threw
her down. She thought, he wanted to rob or murder
her, and she cried out to him, "Have mercy on me for the
sake of my child, and I will give you all I have got—l
will give you my pocket." He then attempted to take
improper 1 bertias with her, and she resisted. A struggle
took place between them, and when she refused to allow
him to take liberties with her, he pulled out a large
pocket-knife and stabbed her several times about the
breast and neck. In the struggle, she managed to get
hold of the knife. She screamed as loud as she could,
when a man came to her ass'stance, and then the prisoner
ran away. Jane Wainwright said that on Saturday
afternoon the was in company with the, last witness,
when they were going across the footpath beyond
Curzon-park, on their way to Saltney. As they were
gluing over a style they met the prisoner, who made a stab
at witness. She was very much alarmed and ran away,
screaming, towards Saltney. Some time afterwards she
returned, and met Nlrs. Williams, who had been stabbed in
s,veral places, and was bleeding about the neck and breast;
her clothes were all over blood. William Rowlands,
clerk to Mr. Williams, tobacconist, of Chester, said, that
between four and five o'clock on Saturday afternoon, he
was going along the footpath towards Saltney, near Curzon
Park, when he heard the screams of a female. He ran
towards the spot from whence the screams proceeded, and
meson r n • • - ev'Ts gcreatiel ng and
struggling very much, and bleeding about the
neck. Witness got hold of the prisoner aid pulled
him off the woman. He then ran away pursued
by witness. Witness overtook him, and the prisoner then
jumped into a ditch, aed attempted to hide himself.
Witness then said to him, "It's of no use you stopping
there, because I will follow you up until you are taken."
In a few minutes afterwards Police constable No. 10
came up, and witness reeve the prisoner into custody. Mr.
Weaver, surgeon, of Chester, deposed to having examined
the wounds which had been inflicted en Mrs. Williams.
Teey were six in number, one above each breast, one on
the breast, and three in the neck. They were of a dan-
gerous character, bat he was in hopes that she would
recover. Police•constable No. 10, produced the knife with
vshich the prisoner inflicted the wounds. The blade
was covered with blood. The clothes which the poor woman
had on at the time were produced, and were saturated with
blond. Mr. Massy, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the
prisoner, and, acting upon his advice, he declined to say
anything. The Mayor then stated that the bench had
decided to commit him to the assizes, on two separate
indictments—one on a charge of attempt to murder, and
the other charging him with an attempt to commit a rape.

SATURDAY.
BEFORE MR. lIAYWOOD.
CURIOUS CONDUCT.—In elderly person of respectable
appearance, who gave her name as Ann Copeland, the wife
of a master tailor who resides at Kensington-terrace, was
charged by Mr. Henry Francis, a cabinet maker, of 118,
Scotland-road, with having annoyed him.
M. Bluck de-
fended Mrs. Copeland. Tae complainant said that for the
last three weeks the defendant was in the habit of calling
.at his shop and private house, and annoying him in every
way. She came to the slop the previous day, with a crowd
of drunken people, and created a great disturbance, so much
so that he was obliged to give her into custody. Mr. Black :
What did she annoy you for ? I don't
.know, as I don't
know her at all. Mr Bluck : Nor anything about he: ?
Nothing whatever. Mr. Bluck : Very strange ; but was
sue-. -MACK : %vas sae in the shop ? No. le:t at the she
door, and she came to my private house also and annoyed
me there. Mr. Black called two witnesses, who gave a
different version of the case, by showing that the dispute
arose in consequence of the complainant going up a passage
adjoining the house of complainant. This, however, was
denied by complainant. The defendant was cautioned not
to ge near Mr. Francis in future, which she promised to co,
and was then discharged.
ALLEGED STREET ROBBERY.—TWO ill-looking fellows,
named Thomas Jones and Patrick Geehan, described as
carters, were charged with having knocked down and
robbed Jame3;Henry Johnston, the mate of a ship, of £2
5s se the top of Preston-street. It appeared that after
twelve o'clock the previous night the prisoners attacked
complainant, knocked him down, and took £2 5s out of
his pocket. It was, however, stated teat the prosecutor, 1
as well as the prisoners, were " blind" drunk, and did not
well know what fhey were doing. The prisoners were
fined 5s for being drunk.
ALLEGED ROBBERY OF £362.—John Murphy, a well-
dressed man, described as a bta ding-house keeper, at 29,
Denison-street, was charged with having stolen £362,
belonging to an Irish butcher and cattle dealer, named
William Doughney, of Dublin. Inspector Kehoe opened
the case, and said the prosecutor was an Irish cattle
dealer and butcher, raiding in Dublin. He had disposed
of a quantity of cattle, and was on his way to Dahlia,
when he went to the house of the prisoner, where he was
in the habit of lodging. Ile gave the prisoner's wife £362
to keep safe for him. The prisoner found out where the
woman had put it, and it appeared that he
had took it and went to Birkanhead the same
(Monday) evening. He was reported to the police,
and an officer frcm Neston went in search of him, and at
Amlwcb, in Wale=, the prisoner was arrested with 4329
of he money in his possession. Police-sergeant Steen,
of Neston, said he went in pursuit of the prisoner, and
arrested him in an hotel in Amlwch, when the prisoner ADMIRALTY AUGUST, 1 185 . 7 —The Lords Corn
said to him, " It's all right; don't expose me hare in the missioners of the Admiralty, at a late hour last
coffee room of the hotel, as I have the money. and am night received despatches from Rear-Admiral Sir
g ling home (to Liverpool) with it." He got £329 is with
th, prisoner. William Doughney, the prosecutor (who, Michael Seymour, of which the following arc
alteongh a butcher, looked vary "sheepish" on the occa- copies :
sion,) said-1 am an Irish butcher, and being cattle to
OPERATIONS IN CANTON RIVER.
th's market. On noneley evedng, I had notes. gold, &c.,
a together amounting to £362 le, and I went to the house CALCUTTA, AT HONG KONG, JUNE 10, 1857,—Sia : I have
of John Murphy, the prisoner, 29, Denison-street, to lodge the honour to report proceedings in the Canton River since
I gave all the money to Mrs. Murphy, to keep safe for me. my letter by the packet of 25th May.
I wentout with the prisoner and two other persons, lana 2 The arrival of the Tribune and Amethyst having en-
finding I had no money in my pocket, I said to the pri- abled me to reinforce Commodore Honourable C. G. J. B.
sone-, "Go ail her (his wife), and bring me out a Elliot, the senior offiter in the river, that officar at once
sovereign. lie went to the plate where she had hid the commenced offensive operations against the junk forces;
money, and took it all, and ran away with it. I did not and on the 25 and 27th ultimo, hs took the gun-boats of
give the money to him, but to Mrs. Murphy, but I think her Majesty's ships under his orders, up the Escape Creak,
he knew about it. She was the first to make an alarm about against the fleet which has been so long stationed in its
it when he want away. Cross-examined by Mr. Bluck. inner waters, where he had the good fortune to capture or
I know him for many years, aed was always a good friend destroy about forty Mandarin war junks, in a manner which
to hint ; I considered he was an honest man, bat of latter has called forth my entire approval. I bag to invite the
days I think she was ho'tester than he was. I did not attention of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to
hear from her that she gave him the money to keep, Commodore Elliot's enclosed report of the proceedings, and
because, when she m'ssed it, she was the first to give the to the officers he has named for their conduct in the affair.,
alarm. Did the prisoner know you gave her the money 3. In my letter, No. 119, I signified Ty intention of
to keep ? I think he did. Ido not wish to press the proceeding up the Canton River. I accordingly embarked
charge if I get the money, that is all I want. You sent in the Coromandel steam tender, Lieutenant Sholto Doug-
him tit a soveseien to her ? Yes, out of the money that I las commanding, on the 29th May, and with the remaining
gave her. . Here Mre Murphy, who appeared to be many gan-bOate, and the boats of her Majesty's ship Calcutta,
year, jam n. to her husband, and might be called hand- under the command of Commander H. R. Rolland, arrived
some, rushed 13... hind the witness in ihe box and exclaimed the same day at the second bar.
in a load v ece, " It's a lie, he gave the money to my 4. I was reluctantly under the necessity of depriving
husband to keep, and not to me." Mr. Ruck contended myself of the urgently proffered services of my flag captain,
hat th to fitt that c told be made out of the case was a W. K. Hall, whose presence at Hong Kong has long, un-
breach of tru-t. The greater portion of the money was der trying circumstances, proved most beneficial to the
receversd, an :1 tee prosecutor said he did not wi-h to press colony.
H
the cese. e- Worshto took a different view of the case, 5. Having now an adequee force at my disposal, I lost
ant sent the prisoner for trial. no time in taking the necessary steps for an attack on the
" Coeicisio 'yxt•sittiset. —A rather remarkable looking war junks, which had been visible up the Fatshan Creek
man, who gate his naral as George Cowan, bat who, ac- since the 4th of January last, when they made so deter-
cording to a rep t of the police, had an alias numbering mined and well arranged an attempt to recapture the
as many as ,re in the was cea-ged under the follow- M'tcao Fort and block up the channel. The enclosed
ing cit cum taros. Mr. Goodere defeuded. The copy of a general memorandum to the squadron, and
prisoner was said to helo na to the most extensive gang abstract statement (numbered 2 and 3) will show my ar.
of thieves in Fe g'and, and to he a sort of fiell-marshal ringenients and the disposition and nature of the force
comienn,nder in-chief of black lags, pickpocket?, btrglare, selected for the purpose, which proceeded on the 31st of
coiner,', and •‘ ine4 mei) " Inspector Kehoa stated the May to the upper part of the river.
case, and it •pi easca that on the 10th June, a young 6. Just before daybreak on the Ist of June I advanced
man named John Th-iniss, a native of Wales, along with up the Fatshan Creek in the Coromandel, the Haughty
his wife, arrived in Liverpool on their way to America. following, having in both vetsels detachments of seamen,
Thomas bad abut £25 in gold, and whilst engaged about under the command of Commodore the Honourable Chas.
the ship that was to convey him to New York, the pri- Elliot, and of Royal Marines in charge of Captain Robert
sorer picked him up, saying he was going to America in Boyle, R M., and the other officers and boats attached
the wee vessel. He won considerably on the poor Welsh- to the Ist division, in order to capture a fort with out
man's confidecce and after " wheedling" him about the works, mounting nineteen guns, on an advanced elevated
town for twoor three days, he contrived to wheedle" point, which commanded the approach to the position
him out of his money, by an ingenious device, thus:— occupied by the junk forces. The fl'ght of several
He gave Thomas particular directions to be cautious signal rockets showed that the Chinese were fully alive to
about his money, as Liverpool was a place of great danger, our proceedings. When within about 1,500 yards of the fort
—full of all sorts of thieves, and so expert, that (according the Coromandel grounded on a barrier of sunken junks

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES

FROM THE

CHINESE WATERS.

THE LONDON GAZETTE EX CRAORDINARY,

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1857.

filled with stones, and the enemy opened fire. The land-
ing party of seamen and marines were immediately put in
the boats, and sent ahead, and under a very heavy fire of
round and grape, in which the junk fleet joined, the fort
was almost immediately in our possession, Commodore
Elliot se•ting the good example of being one of the first
in it. The landing was partially covered by the fire from
the Haughty. One or two of the guns in the fort were
immediately turned on the war junks. Happily this im-
portant service was effected without lose. The position
was a remarkably strong one, and, defended by a body of
resolute troops, might have bid defiance to any attack. The
Haughty, having landed her party, went on with Commo-
dore Elliot and the boats of the Ist Division, to co ope-
rate with Commodore Keppel. I ordered a portion of the
Royal Marines, under Lieutenant and Adjutant Burton,
to remain as a garrison in the fort, and sent Captain
Boyle, with the remainde-, about 150 in number, to the
scene of operations by land, to cut off the enemy retreat-
ing from the junks, and to prevent the advancing boats
being annoyed by gingalls or matchlocks from a large vil-
lage adjoining —a favourite tactic with the Chinese. One
half of this force was ultimately sent back to the fort, and
the remainder joined the squadron up the creek.
7. As soon as Commodore the Hon. H. Keppel perceived
the men of the lsr division ascending the heights, he ad-
vanced up the channel on the east side of Hyacinth Island,
with the gun and other boats of the 2nd, 3rd, and .I'h divi-
sions, in the or ler st ited in the programme. With the
exception of the Haughty and Plover, the gun-boats soon
grounded, but agreeably w:th my instructions, the boats
were pushed ahead. The junks which were admirably
moored in position to enfilade the whole of the attacking
force, soon opened a vary heavy fire, keeping it up with
great spirit until our boats were close alongside, when the
crews commenced to abandon their vessels, and to effect
their escape across the paddy fields. The blowing up of
one or two junks hastened this m )vemont. In about
twenty minutes we had possession of fifty junks.
8. Leaving the 3rd and 4th divisi ma to secure the prizes,
Commodore Keppel then proceeded about three miles fur-
ther up the creek, where more mast-heals were visible, and
found twenty junks moored aercss the stream in a very
strong position, which opened such a well directed and
destructive fire, that he was obliged to retire and wait fur
reinforcements. The launch of the Calcutta was sunk by a
round shot, the commodore's galley had three round shot
through her, and several other boats were much injured.
On additional boats coming up, the commodore shifted to
the Calcutta's black barge, and again advanced, and, after
a severe action, the enemy gave way. They were pursued
as far as Fatshan, a distance of seven miles, and seventeen
of them captured and burnt. In consequence of my orders
not to molest this large and important city, the three junks
which passed through the creek oa which it is built effected
their escape.
9. The result of the expedition was the capture of between
seventy and eighry heavily-armed junks, mounting, on an
average, from ten to fourteen guns (many of them long 32-
pounders), nearly all of European manufacture. As no
object would have been gainei by removing the prizes, I
caused them, with a few exceptions, to be burnt ; and the
flames and numerous heavy explosions must have been
seen and heard far and wide.

yv
10. This engagement opens a new era in Chinese naval
warfare. Great judgment was shown in selecting the
position for the fleet, and the Chinese, particularly the last
division attacked by Commodore Keppel, defended their
ships with ekill, courage, and effect. I enclose a list of
casualties, which I regret to state is large, amounting to
three officers and ten seamen and marines killed, and f rar
officers and forty seaman and marines wounded ; but it is
to me a ma ter of surprise that, undef the circumstances
of the case, the loss was not greater.
11. I deeply regret to 'wart the death of Major Kearney,
Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster-General to the China
Expeditionary force. This officer was on duty in the
Canton river, and gallantly volunteered his services in the
boats. Ha was killed by a round shot in the Fury's gig in
the attack upon the upper division of junks.
12. I had the wotinded collected as soon as possible,
and sent them to Hong Kong the same evening, in charge
of Dr. Anderson, Staff Surgeon of the Calcutta.
13. The force remained at anchor on the night of the Ist
of June, in the position occupied by the junk fleet, and on
the following morning dropped down to the main river,
towing five of the csptured vessels, which were the only
ones saved from the general conflagration.
14. In the execution of these imp3rtsnt services I need
hardly state that every captain, officer, and man did his
duty; and where all have so distinguished themselves I
refrain from making individual selections. - Should their
lordships, therefore, consider the two engagements as
worthy of special marks of their approval, I would beg to
suggest that due regard should ba paid to seniority and
services.

15. I must not, however, omit to bring to their lord
ships' notice the gallant and effteient assistance affjrded
in charge of the several divisions. Commodore Koppel
led the attack on the junke, and the fact of his galley
haying bad three round shat through it, and five men,
out of her crew of six, killed or wounded, is the best proof
of the manner in which he maintained his position.
Commodore Ksppel's report of his proceedings is here-
with enclosed, and I beg to add a tracing of the Fatshan
Creek, showing the position of the forts and of the junk
forces, before the commencement of the attack

I left the river on the afternoon of the 3rd, for the pur-
pose of receiving the mails from England, and of waiting
the arrival of Lord Elgin.

All is perfectly quiet to the northward. The squadron
continues generally healthy, but latterly there has been a
slight increase of fever and dysentery, which may be ex-
pected at this season of the year. have, &c.,
M. Strym OUR,
_ Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
_ _

I big to add that Mr. George Raymond, Mister of the
Encounter, at Macao, volunteered his services as a pilot,
and took the Hong Kong up the FAtshan Creek—a service
of danger. M. S.
The tzlecretary of the Admiralty.

master, with the Starling's and Hong Kong's boats. Lieut.
Dent brought to my notice the c •nduct of that officer.
9. In all, 27 heavily-armed snake boats (belonging to
the Admiral 8u Hoy) were captured or destroyed. Their
a-mament consist of one heavy gun in the bow, generally
a long thirty-two or thirty-four-paunder, with from four to
six lighter gnus ; each vessel pulls about forty oars. This
service was fortunately accomplished with the loss of two
.man only wounded The day was excessively hot, and
I cannot speak too highly of the spirit with which the
men stuck to their oars, through a harder day's work than
I have ever before witnessed under a tropical sun. One
or twa cases (but not severe) of sun-stroke occurred in the
gunboats.
10. At daylight, next morning the steamers proceeded
down the creeks with the boats and ten prizes in tow, and
attached with the Sybille, at the second bar.
11. Further arrangements ware now made to follow uP
the war-boats that had got away. I had already, the pre-
vious day, stationed the Trib me off Sawshee Channel,
and I now moored the Inflexible abreast of the Second
Bar Creek, down which her guns mid then range. From
the knowledge I now possessed respecting the various
creeks, from Escape Creek downward?, I considered it
possiola to guard all the outlets to the river, and with s
force of boats to scour the Inland Creek and compel any'
junks there either to meet that force or retire towards
the main river. Commander Forsyth wilt his division
took up his station in Escape Creek in the evening.
12. At daylight on the 27th I • proceeded up Sawshee
Channel, as previously arranged, the boats being towed
by the steamers for ten or twelve miles. I then sent the
Bustard to strengthen Commander Forsvth's division, and
desired Lieutenant Dent, in the Hong Kong, to take with
him the Inflexible's pinnace, and go a short distance uP
the Second Bar Creek. He succeeded in passing com-
pletely through into Escape Creek, and met Commander
Forsyth. Clod/ g oaf from the steamers, the boats pulled
up the Sawshes Channel, and we soon lizard from the
natives (who showed us every good feeling) that four of
Su Hoy's retreating squadron had on the 251 gone up to
Lung-Konan, and that there were other mandarin junks
there. (I beg here to mention the very great assistance
I have received from the Rev. Samuel Beal, chaplain of
this ship, who was good enough, at my request, to accom-
pany me each (by as Chinese interpreter ; to his aid the'
surceases of the expedition are in a great degree due, ae I
had failed to obtain an interpreter from Hong Kong.)
13. About ten miles from where the steamers were left,we
opened the city of Toung Ronan, and observed the mast-
heads of the war junks. The boats now gave way with it
will, and succeeded in taking them by surprise ; the
boats, as they dashed in, firing into a small battery which
commanded the river, and into the war junks caused then'
to be immediately abandoned: The junks lay scattered
along the whole length of the town through which the
river runs, and preparations were now made to destroy'
them, with the exception of one, the finest and heaviest
armed war junk I have seen in China, which I hope to be
able to take away:
14. It soon became apparent that the Chinese troops
were not going quietly to submit to this proceeding with-
out further resistance, and the creek being narrow, with
houses on either side, they had every facility to pick of
our men. As we first passel up, only a few gingalls and
matchlocks opened; these increasing in number, presently
gave considerable annoyance, and it was necessary to keep
up a continued fire with some of the beats' guns, from
musketry, and from the Tribune's rocket-boat, which did
goof service, while other parties were employed destroy-
ing the junks, which occupied some time, and it WO
necessary to burn those at the upper end of the town first,
and so on in succession, to enable our boats to get back.
15. The chief attacks from the shore took place to-
wards our rear battery at the lower end of the town, where
most of the casualties occurred. Commander Tumour
was active and useful, and on two occasions landed in s
very gallant manner with small parties of marines, under
Lieut. G. L. Blake, R. M., charged some two hundred well-
armed men, and drove them beyond the embankments.
16. An attempt was made to tow down the fire arse
junk already noticed, but she accidentally caught fire, and
she was therefore destroyed with the others. That being
accomplished the boats returned down the creek.
17. This again was :a severe day's work ; officers and
men behaved admirably, and with the greatest spirit. I
beg to report to you the able assistance I received from
Captain Edgell, and from Commanders Forsyth, Corbett.
and Tumour, during the two days' operations. Their zag
and activity the last day (as before) was emulated by the
officers of all ranks under them, from Lieutenant Narest
the senior lieutenant, to the junior cadet.
18. Captain Edgell brings to my notice the active
share taken by Lieutenant Staniforth in the Tribune's
ba,ge; and the services of Mr. Hudson, acting mate of the
ship, I beg particularly to notice.
Lieutenant Richard Cox,l of. the 38th Regimens
al
Madras Rifles accompanied the expedition each day as a
and mane =sett very xi-berm.
(Signed) C. ELLI9T, Commodore.

OPERATIONS AGAINST MANDARIN JUNKS UP
THE ESCAPE CREEK.
Sybille, tad Bar, Canton River, May 29, 1837.
1. I bad the honour to report to you yesterday that her
Majesty's gunboats, tenders, and ships' boats captured or
destroyed about forty mandarin junk (snake boats) on the
23th and 27th inst. I beg now to report the nature of
the operations more in dated.
2 The fleet ofjunk3 which formerly remained near the
main branch of the river had moved to a position about
five or six miles up the creek. As it was very doubtful
whether our small steamers could get up to them, it was
necessary to have a sufficient bat force to follow up the
creek independent of gunboat support.
3. At daylight on the 25th, our force was in the creak,
and soon afterwards a mandarin fleet of about forty junks
was moored in good order across the stream. The tide
was a strong ebb, which rendered it less easy for the
junks to escape, and although it made our progress slow,
it enabled us the better to thread the way among the
sho3ls.

4. A heavy fire from the junks opened upon the leading
steamers as they approached, but at too great a distance
to toll with effect. Shortly afterwards, as the Hong Kong
got within good range, she opened fire, and was soon sup-
ported by the Bustard and Starling, the others being at
distant range. The fire from the junks then blackened,
and they got under weigh. Some were soon afterwards
abandoned and the rest plying their oars endeavoured to
escape up the creek.
5. The steamers followed, though very slowly on account
of the shoal water ; the Sir Charles Forbes and Stanch
grounded early, then the Starling, and eventually the
Hong Kong ran ashore. The signal was imme Hately
made for the boats to go ahead, and a general chase
took place. The junk force dividA, the main body of
about fifteen continuing up the main channel were fol-
lowed by the boats, led by Captain Edgell, who detached
bur pinnaces up a creek to the left to follow the smaller
division ; Commander Forsyth accompanied these pinnaces,
which succeeded in capturing them all (ten in number.)
Commander Forsyth speaks highly of the gallant way the
Hornet's pinnace, under Mr. R A. Brow, acting mate,
dashed in, unsupported by the other boats, which she had
distanced, against three of these heavy armed junks,
which stuck to her.
6. The main body, followed by Captain Edgell, were soon
beyond range of all, except the Hornet's rocket-boat, and
Sybille's pinnace, which kept within reach of them for a
long time ; and Captain Edgell brings to my notice the
behaviour and most accurate fire kept up by Lieutenant
Brock in the former boat, and by Mr. Hudson, acting
mate, in the latter. The chase was continued by this
division, which I accompanied fer about twelve or fourteen
miles above the place where the steamers hid grounded,
when the work for the men at the oars having been
excessive, I decided to tern back, but with the view of
getting at the junks, which we still had in sight, at a
future time, by another passage.
7. Near the point at which we turned, at the village
of Teean Twe, we found the Icreha Anonyma, which was
captured last December, while in tow of the steamer
Thistle. I burnt her.
8. On getting back to the gun-boats at night, I found
that Commander Corbett, who had very properly remained
with the Stanch on her grounding—the other commanders
having gone on—had sent the Inflexible's paddle-box boat
after a junk that tried to escape down a creek to the right,
and captured her. Commander Forsyth had returned
with his party, and Lieutenant Dent, assisted by the
officers of the other gun-boats, had secured or destroyed
all the prizes. The Chinese having returned to one of the
juke below, also was recaptured by Mr, Molloy, second

CAPTURE OF JUNK FORCES IN THE FATSHAN
CREEK.

The Raleigh's Tender Sir Charles Forbes,
Canton River, June 2, 1837.
Sir,—ln accordance with your excellency's previous
arrangements for the capture and destruction of the Man-
darin junks at anchor in the Fatshan and adjacent branches
of the Canton River, I have the honour to inform you that
yesterday mornirg as soon as I perceived the first devision
ascending the heights for tho Capture fort commanding
the approaches to the enemy's position, I advanced in the
Hong Kong steamer with the second, third, and fourth
divisions which you were pleased to place under my com-
mand.

2. The Hong Kong having grounded shortly afterwards,
we advanced with the boats, reserving our fire until within
600 yards of the enemy, when a sharp and spirited en-
gagement ensued, the enemy contintfng their fire until 04
men were close alongside.
3. Leaving the Third and Fourth Divisions to secure
the pr'zes, we pushed forward un the Fatshan Branch, in
which direction I shortly afterwards observed the mast
heads of other war junks.
4. On approaching a bend of the river near the village
of Foutchin, about three miles in advance of the position
in which the enemy were first attacked, we came to a
small flat island off the southern side of which several
of the boomboats grounded. The deeper but more
circuitous and confined channel we found was to the
northward,

5. There were now in advance, Calcutta's barge, the
Raleigh's 2nd cutter and pinnace, Fury's Ist gig, Hornet's
rocket cutter, Sybille's launch, and Calcutta's black pin-
nace, with others close at hand, the tide was flowing, and
before the boats mounting guns could be brought to the
front, we were carried to within 800 yards of the enemy,
who were found to consist of twenty vessels anchored in
close and compact line, presenting a front of heavy guns.
that could not have boon more regularly placed had they
formed the broadside of one long frigate, and their fire was
so well directed that I found it neces-ary to retire, and en-
deavour to re form with the additional assistance of the
steam gunboats, at that time trying to get up, but detained
by the shoaluess of the water.
6. The Hong Kong having floated shortly after my
reaching her, and she being within range of the enemy, I
would have proceeded in her, but on her again grounding
and my observing the near approach of the locrease to our
force, which your Excellency had hurried on to the front
from less important service, we again advanced with the
boats, and after a second sharp engagement of a quarter of
an hour's duration, the enemy slipped from their anchors
and proceeded up the river, making use of their oars, and
when the course of the river alloWed them to do so, of
their sails likewise.
7. A running engagement and exciting chase for about
seven miles, led by Capt. the Hon. A Cochrane, now took
place, the enemy quitting their vessels as they became
disabled or leaky from the effects of our shot. Twelve of
them were come up with in this manner ; eight reached
the extenive and populous town of Fatshan, three of
which got in and escaped, as we could not follow and
capture them without damaging the town (which is not
fortified), or by otherwise annoying the peaceable inhabi-
tants, contrary to your Excellency's tro4tructioris.
8. The other five junks we secured at the entrance to
Fatehan, and have brought them d iwn as prizes; the
twelve taken on the way up have been burnt. Each of
these vessels mounted from ten to fourteen guns, the bow
and stern being long 32-pounder
9. With so large a force, I have not rommented on the
individual zeal or gallantry of any particular officer ; there
was plenty to do for the whole of them and your excellency
is the best judge of how they perf *heir duty. I
have contentei msself with enclosing a list f.f the steam,
gun, boom, and other bests, with the of he officers
who commanded or served in them ; and I night venture
to remark that, with such material, failure would almost
appear to be impossible.
10. I hive not had an opportunity of ascertaining the
amount of injury sustained by all the steam, gun, and
other boats of my divisons, but the Hong Kong was
hulled eleven or twelve times, the P1..-iver, Marling, and
Haughty gunboats were struck, the Calcutta's launch was
swamped, and several others much damaged.
11. I have the honour to enclose a list of casualties,
which, fortunately, is not so large as mig'at have been
expected from the nature of the service.

.12. I have also endeavoured by a rough sketch to
explain the position of the second division of the enemy
at the time we met with our temporary check.--I have, &c.,
(Signed) HENRY KEPPEL, Commodore.
To His Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour,
&c., &c., Commander-in-Chief,

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Lieut.

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