The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-17 00:00:00

DESPATCHES FROM CHINA

( Front the London Gazette of last Evening.)
ADMIRALTY, JUNE 14.
Despatches, of which the following are copies, have been
received from Rear-Admiral Sir James Stirling, Com-
mander of her Majesty's ships and vessels on the East In-
dian and Chiha station :
No. 23.

Barracouta, Singapore,
April 26, 1854.
Sir,-1. I transmit herewith, for the information of my
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the accompanying
communications as per schedule from Captain O'Callaghan,
of her Majesty's ship Encounter.
These communications contain the particulars of a very
serious conflict between considerable numbers of the Chi-
nese Imperialist soldiers, employed in the siege of -lhanghae,
and the naval force commanded by Captain O'Callaghan,
in conjunction with the commander of the United States '
sloop of war, Plymouth, and assisted by a body of volun-
teers from the factories in that vicinity.
2. The operations reported by Captain O'Callaghan ap-
pear to have originated in the necessity for taking vigor-
ous measures for the defence of the British and other fac-
tories, and to have led eventually to the seizure of the
Chinese war-junks, and to the expulsion of the Chinese
soldiers from the camps they occupied contiguous to the
borders of the settlement.
3. I regret that it is not in my power to afford their
lordships any further official information on this subject,
beyond that which is contained in Captain O'Callaghan's
reports herewith transmitted.
4. In bringing this subject to their lordships' notice, I
beg to point attention to the very gallant conduct evinced
by Captain O'Callaghan and by all the officers, seamen,
and marines engaged. The conduct of Commander the
Hon. G. D. Keane, and of Lie'ttonants Dew and Majendie,
and of a party of 10 mat ines, who resolutely withstood the
attack of an enormously superior force, is particularly
commended by Captain O'Callaghan, and I trust it may be
considered such as to merit some mark of their lordships'
favour and approval.—l have, &c.,
JAMES STIRLING.
Rear-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief.
The Secretary to the Admiralty.
Enclosure No. 1 in No. 23.
Her Majesty's steam-sloop Encounter,
Shanghae, April 4, 1851.
Sir,—l have the honour to inform you, that a collision
has taken place between the Imperialist forces before the
city of Shanghae and ourselves, under the following cir-
cumstances.
2. At about 4 p.m. on the 3rd instant I observed the
signal (previously arranged) for the small arm men of her
Majesty's ships to land, which was promptly obeyed.
3. I shortly received a message from Commander the
Honourable G. D. Keane (who happened to be on the spot
. at the time) that the Imperial troops Woo Arius a our

6. Commander Kelly, of the U.S. ship Plymouth, also
landed his crew, and having .arranged with him for the
protection of the settlement during the night by means of
strong patrols, the rest of the crews were re-eibarked.
7. Her Majesty's Consul deeming it advisable to take
further steps for the security of the settlement I suggested
the taking possession of the Chinese Fleet, ail holding it
until a camp (which most unnecessarily has been pitched
close to the boundary, and from which- naosti wanton at-
tacks have frequently been made) was removed, and in this
he concurred.

8. In accordance with the above„ I sent thelloats of the
Grecian, with the pinnace of theEncounter4ooinmanded by
Lieut. Dew) under the command of Commander the Hon.
G. D. Keane, to take possession of the junks, and bring
them down under the Encounter's guns, which he effected
most judiciously; and 1 take this opportunity of stating
that from him I received every assistance that adroitness
and promptitude could afford.
9. I think it my duty to call your attentionto the con-
duct of Lieutenant Majendie, of her Majesty's sloop
Grecian ; he was officer of the guard at * time the
aggression took place, and on being sent fon' repaired to
the spot with 10 marines, and there kept a aconsiderable
body of men at bay until reinforced ; and I bid it due to
Lieutenant R. Dew, Ist Lieutenant of this ship to men-
tion the promptitude and smartness with whits the crew
of the Encounter were landed.
Advanced Post, Shanghae, X 1 5, 1851.
10. Since the above was written I have the honour fur-
ther briefly to inform you, that at the reque&of her Ma-
jesty's Consul, in awe: dance with the other Consuls, we
have found it requisite to attack the Imperial camps near
our boundary, which have been most gallantly taken. I
have not time to enter into details, as I am writing this
on the field. _

-11. The Imperialists have retired in considerable force
(4 to 5,000 men) to the main camp. My object will now
be to defend the settlement, but the force at my disposal is
small, and I urgently request a reinforcement, if possible
some troops ; indeed so critical do I deem our position
that I have resolved on ordering the Styx up, if the senior
officer at Amoy can spare her.
12. I cannot too strongly praise the conduct of Com-
manderstormed
tKeane,he vu r y andstr
strong
worksuten a ntth
rDew,uwn who most gallantly
13. I am anxious this should reach as soon as possible,
and
to-morrowf or this m
purposeurui
n . the Nymph clipper will sail to-night
or
14. Our available force is about 300 men with the Ame-
ricans. Captain Kelly with his gallant crew has operated
with me in a most effective and cordial manner. lam
much indebted to the-gallant and steady conduct of him-
self, officers, and men, and to all under my command.
(Enclosed is a list of the killed and wounded). Her Ma-
jesty's Consul and Vice-Consul—the latter with 40 gentle-
men of the settlement—have been with me in the field,
and afforded me much assistance.
15. I will take the earliest opportunity of afford-
ing you a more detailed account ; but of this you may rest
assured, that the extreme measures taken were positively
requisite for the safety of the community.
List of Officers engaged in t& destruction of the Chinese
Imperialist Camps off Shanghae, on the 3d, 4th, and sth
days of April, 1851.
Captain G. W. D. O'Callaghan.
Lieutenant R. Dew.
Lieutenant L. E. Montgomery.
Dr. J. T. Jenkins, surgeon.
Mr. Hardy, mate.
Mr. Butler, mate.
Mr. Ducket, assistant-surgeon.
Mr. Turner, passel clerk (acting as aid-de-camp to the
senior officer.)
Mr. Hardinge, midshipman.
Mr. Tupman, naval cadet.
Mr. Pardon, gunner.
Her Majesty's Ship Grecian.
Commander the Hon. G. D. Keane.
Lieutenant Majendie.
Dr. Layton, surgeon.
Dr. Little, assistant-surgeon
Mr. Jardine; mate.
Mr. Rusden, acting second-master.
Mr. Williams, midshipman.
Mr. Thursby, midshipman.
Mr. Kelly, passed clerk.
Mr. Mulkey, gunner.
I have, Sze.,.
(Signed) G. O'CALLAGHAN,
Captain and Senior Officer.
Sub-Enclosure in Enclosure No. 1, in No. 23.

List of killed and wounded in an attack on the Imperialist
Camp, off Shanghae, April 4, 1854.
Her Majesty's Ship Encounter.
Lieutenant R. Drew, slightly.
Mr. Tupman, naval cadet, slightly.
Wm Blackman, carpenter's crew, killed:
Wm. Stevens, ordinary, slightly.
Her Majesty's Ship Grecian. r
Jno. Badge, A. 8., severely.
Henry Wilcox, quartermaster, severely.
Henry Nichol, marine, severely (amputated).
Geo. Bailey, captain foretop, severely.
Shanghao Volunteers.
Mr. Brine, mortally.
Mr. Grey, very severely (thigh amputated).
United States' Ship Plymouth.
I killed ; 4 wounded.
Total.—Killed, 2 ; wounded 13. _

(Signed) JNO. T. JENKINS, Senior Surgeon,
H.M.S. Encounter.
Approved. (Signed) G. O'CALLAGHAN,
Captain and Senior Officer.

Enclosure No. 8, of No. 26.

Barracouta, Singapore, April 28,1854.
Sir,—l received on the 22nd your reports, dated on the
4th and sth instant, written from the scene of action, de-
scribing the operations and arrangements in which you
had been engaged up to the latest of those dates, and con-
taining explanations of some of the circumstances which
led to the very serious collisions you describe with the
forces of an Empire at peace with her Majesty.
On a full review of those communications, it is my duty
to point out that it belongs to the Crown alone to declare
war; and that the orders and instructions of the Admi-
ralty prohibit the commission of acts of hostility towards
the subjects of foreign countries, and that naval officers
will be held most strictly responsible for any departure
from the line of duty thus marked out.
In the particular case comprised in your reports itis clear
the seizure of the Chinese camps and junks wereacts of hosti-
lity against the public forces of a State not only at peace with
the Crown, but towards whom we are enjoined to show the
utmost consideration. No.. such acts can be justified on
the ground that they were recommended or called for by
any consular officer. They can only be justified by the im-
mediate and unavoidable necessities of your position at
the time, and it is by the proof you adduce of the existence
of such necessities, that the Admiralty will judge of the
propriety of such a departure from its positive injunctions.
I have considered, as it is my duty to do, the circum-
stances you relate, and I am bound to acknowledge that
they appear to have been such as to have left you no al, er-
native, consistent with the safety of the interests you had
been ordered to protect, but to pursue the course you took
upon the 3d and 4th inst. ; but I must apprise you, that
in cases of this nature, it is not for me to pronounce a con-
clusive judgment.
With respect to the measures you took for effecting the
objects you had in view, supposing these to have been jus-
tifiable, I am at liberty to form a more decided opinion ;
and 1 have, therefore, to inform you that your personal
conduct, and that of the gallant captain, officers, and men
who co-operated with you from the United States' ship
Plymouth, and the conduct of Commander Keane, and of
Lieutenants Dew, Hemsted, Majendie, and Montgomery,
and of the seamen and marines, and gentlemen-volunteers
engaged on the occasions referred to, has elicited my
warmest admiration ; and I shall take an opportunity to
bring to the notice of the Admiralty the names of the
10 marines who so resolutely withstood the attacks of a
very superior force upon the 3d of the month.—l am, &c.
(Signed) J. STIRLING,
Rear-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief.
Captain G. W. D. O'Callaghan, H.M.S. Encounter.