The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-12 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY,. J UNE

DESPATCHES FROM CHINA.

(From the London Gazette of last Night.)
ADMIRALTY, Juice 9, 1841.
Despatches were yesterday received at this office from Commodore
Sir J J. G. Bremer, C. 8., addresied to R. More O'Fcrrall, Esq., of
which the following are copies or extracts :
(No. 13.)
Wel esley, off Lintin, Feb. 24, 1841.
Sir—My letter (No. 4) of the 9th of January, wilt have made
their Lordships acquainted with the progress pf operations of this
expedition up to this date, when a suspension of hostilities was
agreed to by her Majesty's Plenipotentiary; this was followed by
negotiations which proceeded until the 20th, when the prelirnina.
ries of a treaty were agreed upon, under seal of the Chinese Cora.
missioncr, one of the conditions of which was the cession of the
island of Hong Kong to her Majesty, and the restoration of
Chuenpee and Tycocktew to the Chinese, together with the eve-
' cuution of Chusan at the earliest possible period. His Excellency
in consequence requested me to move the force from the immediate
neighbourhood of the Bocca Tigris, and, having made the neces-
sary arrangements with the Chinese Admiral commanding in chief,
the forts were delivered to his officers, under the usual salutes, on
the 2lst, and the fleet proceeded to the anchorage off the west end
of Lantao Island.
Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and the Imperial Commissioner
having arranged to have a formal meeting at the Second Bar in the
River, on the 26th, I detached the Calliope and Larne, and Made.
g mar and Nemesis steamers, to the Bocca Tigris, under the im-
mediate command of Captain Hetbert, of the Calliope ; a guard of
honour, composed of one hundred picked men of the Royal Ma-
rines, under Captain Ellis, R.M., of the Wellesley, and the band
of that ship, were embarked. As lam not a joint Plenipotentiary,
and consequently could have taken no part in the negotiations, I
considered that it would not be consistent with my rank as Com-
mander.in.Chief to appear, and I therefore sent Captain Maitland,
my Flag Captain, to convey my compliments to the Imperial Corn.
missioner ; he was accompanied by Captain the Hon. R. S. Dun.
des, of her Mjesty's ship Melville, and as many officers of the
fleet as could be spared ; the party was received with every possible
mark of distinction and respect, the troops were drawn up on the
ramparts of the forts, and salutes fired from all ; a sumptueue en.
tertaininent had been prepared, to which the officers were invited,
atter having beep presented to the High Com:nissioner, and the ne.
gotiatidris proceeded in- a satisfactorysmanner; the particulars have
been stated by the Plenipotentiary to lift Majesty's Government.
On the same day I proceeded to Hong Kong, and took formal
possersion of the island, and hoisted the colours on it, with the
usual salutes and ceremonies. By the teems of the treaty, the port
of Canton was to be opened to the trade of all nations, on the 2d
February and as a proof ofthe sincere desire on the part of the Bri.
tish functionary to evince good faith, I had, at his request, sent
the Columbine to Chusan, and an overland despatch, by the hands
of a Chinese special messenger, directing Brigadier Burrell, and
Captain Bourchier, of the Blonde, to use every effort to embark
the stores, troops, &c., and restore the island to the Chinese
authorities.
The proclamation for the opening of the port on the 2d did not
appear, and on the 11th the two Ministers again met at the Bocca
Tigris, and, after a discussion of several hours, on this day and the
❑ext, her Majesty's Plenipotentiary acceded to a further delay (not
to exceed ten days), in order that the definitive treaty might be
fairly prepared. I must confess that from this moment my faith in
the sincerity of the Chinese Commissioner was completely destroyed,
my doubts was also strengtheneclby the reports of the officers I sent
up to the place of meeting, who stated that military works on a great
s ale were in progress, troops collected on the heights, and camps,
protected by entrenchments, arising on both sides of the river, and
that the island of North Wangtong had become a mass of cannon.
These indications being decidedly warlike, I determined to move
the Light Division at once to Macao Roads, and proceeded thither
myself on the 13th, to confer with his Excellency the Plenipoten-
tiary, and await events. I found that the treaty, as agreed upon
by the Commissioner and her Majesty's Minister, had been sent lip
to the Bocca Tigris, for transmission to Canton, by the Nemesis,
with orders to await an answer until the night of the 18th, the pe-
riod the confidential prison employed by the Chinese Commissioner
had named for the purpose.
The accounts daily received by merchants and others at Macao from
Canton were of the most hostile character, and an edict, purport.
ing to be from the Emperor, calling on all his officers and people to
exterminate us, was published, together with a proclamation
(the authenticity of which I have, however, been unable to esta-
blish), offering 50,000 dollars for my head, and a like suns for
that of the Plenipotentiary. On the morning of the 19th the
Nemesis arrived from the Bocca Tigris without ally reply, and all
doubt was at an end, a shot hating been fired at her boat from
North Wangtong; I instantly detached the Light Division, con.
sisting of the ships named in the margin,* under Captain Herbert
(who was accompanied by his Excellency the Plenipotentiary), with
directions not to run any unnecessary hazard until the body of the
force came up, but to prevent, as much as possible, any further de-
fensive preparations on the part of the enemy. I proceeded at the
same time to Hong Kong, and weighed with the ships of the line,
the Queen and Madagascar steamers, leaving the Druid, Jupiter,
and transports, to follow.
Captain Herbert took up his former position in the western
channel, off Wangtong, on the 20th, and on the 22d lie proceeded
in the Nemesis, with some boats of the squadron, to the chan-
nel, at the back of Anunghoy; his letter, a copy of which I in-
close.t will afford their Lordships every information ; and it only
remains for me to express my hope, that the gallant manner in
which this service was performed by a handful of men, will be
honoured by their approbation. I am now on my passage up
the river, and hope to be off the Rocca Tigris to-morrow, when
shall have the honour of making a further report.
I have the honour to be, &c.
J. J. GORDON BREMER,
Commodore, First Class, and Commander-In.Chicf.
R. Moore ()Terra, Esq. M.P., &c., Admiralty.

Her Majesty's ship Calliope;'South Wangtong,
Bocca Tigris, Feb. 23, 1841.
Sir,—His Excellency, her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, having repre-
sented to me that the Chinese Imperial Minister, and High Com.
missioner, had failed to conclude the treaty of peace agreed upon
in the late conferences, within the period formally allowed to him,
that is to say, within the current Chinese month, of which the
20th was the last day, that I was, therefore, to consider myself at
liberty, and requested to prevent continued defensive prepatations
upon the part of the Chinese, and further to harass the enemy by
all possible means.

Combining this representation with the knowledge elicited from
a linguist taken in a boat yesterday morning by Lieutenant Wat.
son, and recognised as an active agent of the Chinese authorities
in the late affhir at Chuenpee, that he was en route with orders
from Kwang, Admiral and Governor of Anunghoy, to hasten the
stopping of the back passage of that island, at a place called Sam.
monhow, by driving stakes and sinking stones; I deemed it highly
essential to ascertain the true position and nature of the pass whieh
they were so solicitous to protect, and proceeded in the steam vessel
Nemesis, accompanied by his Excellency, with the boats of her
Majesty's ships named in the margin,t under their respective
officers and mates, as enumerated for this purpose. No obstruction
was offered to our forward movement until we came unexpectedly
upon a masked battery, at the place they were staking across,
which immediately opened a heavy fire upon the Nemesis and
boats, their small junks and boats, to the number of thirty, making
off in the greatest confusion ; our return fire was rapid and
so energetically followed up by landing and pushing on to
the attack, that the fort (of twenty guns in battery) was
immediately in our possession, the guns were disabled by
breaking off the trunnions and throwing them aside as useless,
completely destroying their preparations and also other guns, not
mounted, to the number of 4ixty. The parties defending this post
fled after a slight resistance, the magaziines, a few junks, and some
other boats ofno note were burned ; but a joss.house, in which were
two women and some children, was preserved. Lieut. Bower §
in following up his success came upon the rear guard of the Chi-
nese and took their colours. What loss the enemy sustained it is
impossible to say, from the short time the tide allo,v ed for opera.
tions ; but there were from twenty to thirty dead, left on the
ground. The zeal and coolness of all employed gave complete
success to this partial affair.
Lieutenant Watson, whom I have mentioned on former occasions,
Lieutenant Bower, and Acting Lieutenant G. B. Dewes, together
with the mates tinder their orders, I beg leave to recommend to
your particular notice. My attention was particularly attracted by
the activity and steady conduct of Mr. Belfield Woolcombe, of the
Alligator, and to Mr. Hall, Master in command of the Nemesis,
his cfficers and crew; I am 'ouch indebted for the quick and effec.
t ual manner in which they performed the duty of hauling up the
stakes and partially clearing the passage.
I have the honour to be, &c., &c., &c.,
(Signed) T. HERBERT, Captain.
P.S. The boats of the Wellesley, with Captain Belcher, met us
on returning from the attack.

(Signed)

T. H.

(No. 15.)

Her Majesty's ship Wellesley, off Wangtong,
Feb. 27, 1841.

Sir,—ln continuation of my detail, I beg you will inform their
Lordships, that from the prevalence of light winds, the line of
battle ships and Druid were not collected until the 24th. On the
25th I arranged a plan of attack on the formidable batteries in our
front, and of which it may perhaps be necessary to give some de-
scription. Partly surrounding the old fort of Anunghoy and :n
advance of it to high water mark, was a new and well-built bat-
tery of granite, forming a segment of about two-thirds of a circle;
on it were mounted forty-two guns, some of them of immense
weight and large calibre, Several strong intrenchments extended
to the southward of this battery, and the ridges of the hills were
crowned with guns, up to a camp calculated for about twelve hun.
dred men.

On the north side, was a straight work of modern erection
mounting sixty heavy guns; about one hundred and fifty yards of
rocky beach intervenes between the end of this battery and the
northern circular battery, on which forty guns were mounted. All

these works were protected in rear by a high wall extendingup the
hill, on which were steps or platforms for firing musquetry, and in
the interior were the magazines, barracks, fa.
On the east end of the north island of Wangtong is a battery
with a double tier of guns defending the passage on that side, and
also partly flanking a number of rafts constructed of large masses
of timber moored across the river (about twelve feet apart), with
two anchors each, connected by and supporting four parts of a chain
cable, the ends of which were secured under masonry work, one on
South Wangtong, the other on Anunghoy. On the western end of
Wangtong is a strong battery of forty guns, flanked by a field
work of seventeen ; indeed, the whole island is one continued bat-
tery. On the extreme western side of the channel was a battery
of twenty-two heavy guns, and a field work of seventeen, protect-
ing an entrenched camp, containing about fifteen hundred or two
thousand men. South Wangtong was not occupied by the enemy,
it was an excellent position, and I therefore caused a work to be
thrown up on it during the night of the 25th, and mounted two
eight-inch iron, and one twenty-four pounder brass howitzer. At
daylight on the 26th Captain Knowles, of the Royal Artillery,
opened this battery with admirable eff'eut, throwing shells and
rockets into North Wangtong, and occasionally into Anunghoy.
At eleven o'clock, the breeze springing up, the signal was made,
and the fleet stood in. The attack on Anunghoy I entrusted to
Captain Sir H. C. F. SenhotiFe, of her Majesty's ship Blenheim,
havinglle . with him the Melville, Queen, and four rocket boats; the
Welle
sley, Druid, Callope, Samarang, Herald, Alligator, and Mo.
we
deste were opposed to the batteries on the south, south-west, and
north.west of Wangtong, and the forts on the western side of the
channel.

In less than an hour the batteries on Wangtong were silenced,
and the troops under the command of Major Prat', of the 26th
Regiment, which had presiously been embarked in the Madagascar
and Nemesis steamers, consisting of the detachments of her Ma.
jestv's 26th and 49th Regiments, 37th Madras Native Infantry
and Bengal Volunteers, together with the Royal Marines under
Captain Ellis, were landed, and in a few minutes masters of the
island without any loss; thirteen hundred Chinese troops sur-
rendered.

e Blenheim, Melville and Queen
The Anunghoy batteries had been silenced by the beautiful pre-
cision
h„.d t)re%ri•ith directed;wliieh h
that the enemy were shaken,
Sir reming Senhouse, at the head of the marines and small arm
t aen fire
d of
perceivingt h

143deste, and
* Calliope, Samatang, Herald, Alligator,
Feb. 23, 1841. Sulphur.
_

Calliope, Lieutenant Watson, Mr. Le Vesconte. Mate;
Mr. Egerton, Mate; Sannarang, Lieutenant Bower ; Heald,
Lieutenant G. B. Dowes ; Alligator, Mr. B. Woolcombe, Mate.
§ This officer was wounded at Tyeucktow, and had been but a
few days out of the sick list.

men, landed on the southern battery, and above them in succession
f -om that and the two others, and at one o'clock the British colours
whole squadron was carried into action.
iv, re flying on the whole chain of these ee'ebrated works.
It now became my pleasing duty to express my-admiration of the
manner in which the
Captain Sir IL F. Senhouse, and the Hon. R. S. Dundas, in the
Blenheim and Melville, took up their positions in the most gallant
style, and were ably supported by their respective Commanders,
Pritchard and Puget. Sir Le Fleming speak, in high terms of the
conduct of Mr. Warden, commanding the Hon. Company's steamer
Queen. The rocket boats were under Lieutenant Pearse, of the
Blenheim. They were admirably placed and served; and I beg to
recommend this old and gallant officer to their Lordships' notice.
To Captain Herbert, who had the light division, and to Captains
Scott, Smith, Nies, and Kuper, of the Calliope, Samarang, Druid,
Herald, and Alligator, and Commander Eyres of the Modeste, toge,
ther with their officers and ships' companies, my best thanks are
due, as also to Commander Belcher, of the Sulphur, and Lieutenant
Kellett, of the Starling, for their gallant and zealous se:vices on all
occasions. From Captain Maitland, of this shin, I have ever re-
ceived the most cordial and valuable assistance, on every point of
service. Commander Fletcher had the superintendence of the
landing, and I recommend him, and every other officer of this ship,
to their Lordships.
A copy of Major Pratt's report I enclose, and I have the greatest
satisfaction in recording my thanks to that officer, and to Major
Johnstone of the 26th, Captains Knowles, Royal Artillery,Duff and
Mee, commanding the detachments of native troops, and to every
officer, non-commissioned officer, and soldier; Captain Ellis, at the
head of the Royal Marines was, as usual, cons; . uous ; indeed, the
animated gallantry displayed by every individual in the Whole forxe,
convinces me that almost any number of men the Chlnete can col.
Let, will not be able to stand before them for a moment. •
I subjoin a list of casualties and ordnance captured.' Tlteemain...
topmast and forcyard of the Blenheim Isere shot through, one
thirty-two pounder rendered unserviceable, several Shot in the
hull, and the rigging much cut tro. The Melville's Tainmast and
mainyard wounded, and rigging considerably injured. Thd Cal.
Hope was struck in several places, and the other ships had. merely a
few ropes cut.
The loss of the enemy was severe, but not so heasif as at Chuen.
pee, 1,300 having, as before stared, thrown away their arms. I
should estimate their killed and drowned at two hun,trestand fifty
in Waugtong, 'probably as many at Anunghoy, at Alen place the
Admiral Kwang, and several other mandarins of rank, fell. The
body of the Admiral was recognised by his family, and taken away
yesterday, under a fire of minute guns from the Blenheim.
North lVangtong being the key to this position, I shall place a'
garrison in it ; the batteries on either side of the river are in course
of destruction, in order that our communications with Hong-K9ng
may he uninterrupted. Tiger Island is abandoned, the guns ivbre
withdrawn to strengthen the e defences. I shall also destroy this
fort, and scud forward the light division to Whampoa immediately.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) J. J. GORDON BREMER,
Commodore First Class, and Commander inChief.
R. More O`Ferrall, Esq., M.P. &c. &c., Admiralty.

Bocca Tigris, Feb. 27, 1,941.
Sir—lt having been determined to attack the forts a'. the Bocca
Tigris on the 26th instant, and the part allotted to the troopseder
my orders being to land on the island of North Wantong, On We
evening previous, two eight.inch howitzers, and a I ocket tube; tvere
placed on South Wanton, with a covering party of Royal Marines,
and 37th Madras Native li.f.ntry. A breast,' ork wan thrown up
during the night, and the guns placed, the Chinese keeping t'it a
noisy but ineffectual fire during this operation, nearly the whole
night. At day-light these guns opened their fire, and threw in
shells and rockets into the forts and field-works on North Wang_
tong, with the greatest cff•ct, setting fire to some of the houses. The
Chinese returned the fire with spirit for some time from a battery
of eighteen guns opposite, but slackened the fire, and latterly ceased
firing.

About eight o'clock the troops were embarked in boats, ready to
land, when the batteries the south-west end of the island had
been dealt with by her Majesty's ships. At Twelve o'clock, on the
ships giving their fire, the enemy were seen flying across the island
and Vie larga fort at the south.east end, the signal was made for
the troops to land, which they did just in the rear of the
south-west fort. The statute of the ground rendered much re.
gularity o: formation impossible ; the troops moved on as they
landed, accompanied by the seamen with the scaling tatters, drove
the Chinese, who made scarcely any resistance, from the field bat-
teries, which from this point were ail taken in the reverse, and en-
tering the gate along with the flying enemies, in a few minutes the
British flag was hoisted on the north. east fort, which, with the two
forts on the Anunghoy side, commands the river, and we soon had
the proud satisfaction of seeing that these forts bad yielded to the
ships attacking on that line.

The fort at the north-east end of Wangtong has a formidable
battery of forty heavy guns, above which there is another tier of
fifteen guns, and a large high walled enclosure all around it con-
taining barracks. The furt at the southwest end has a similar
battery, excepting the upper tier and enclosure; the Chinese had
lately nearly encircled the island with field works, mounting sixty-
three guns, besides jingalls, and in the centre is a circular tower
with a few guns ; in al: we found on the island one hundred and
sixty-seven guns. I am very happy to say, this service was ref_
formed without a single casualty on our side, the enemy suffered
more severely, they had about two thousand, of these we took thir-
teen hundred prisoners, including the wounded, the remainder were
killed or drowned in attempting to escape ; a few were observed
escaping in boats in the morning.

.
The detail of the troops employed is annexed and it is now nay
' duty to bring to your notice the praise-worthy conduct of the whole
force and especially to mention Major Johnstone, 26th Regiment,
commanding the column directed to escalade; Captain Ellis, R.M.,
in command of column directed to force the gate ; Captain Duff,
commanding the 37th Native Infantry; and Captain Ince the two
companies of Bengal Volunteers. I must earnestly point out the
services rendered by Captain Knowles, Royal Artillery, having
under him Lieutenants !lon. C. Spenser, R. A., and Cadell, Mad.
ras Artillery, lit Charge of howitzers ori South Wangtong Lieute.
nant Burdwood, Madras Engineers, who superintended the eree.
tions of the breastwork, whilst Lieutenants Rundell and Jackson,
Madras Engineers, accompanied sue to lead the respective columns
of attack. As before, I received essential services from Lieu-
tenant Stransham, R.M., acting as Brigade. Major, and from Lieu-
tenant Stewart M`Kenzie, 90th Light Infantry, your Military
Secretary, who acted as my Aide-de-Camp. I take the liberty of
naming to you the admirable style in which Commander Fletcher,
her Majesty's ship Wellesley, headed the seamen bearing the lad-
ders, and arranged the landing. I inclose a list of the ordnance
captured at the various points of attack by the fleet and troops un.
der your orders, showing a total of three hundred and thirty-nine
guns.—l have the honour to be, Ac.
(Signed) E. L. PRATT,
Major, 26th Cameronia•rs, Commanding the Force.
His Excellency Commodore Sir J. J. Bremer.

K. C. 13., K. C. H., Commander-in Chief, &c.

Detail of the Troops employed, on the 26th February, at the Cap.
ture of the Island of North Wangtong, Bocca Tigris.
Royal Artillery.-1 captain, 1 subaltern, 1 serjeant, 33 rank
and file.
Madras Artillery.-1 subaltern, 9 rank and file.
18th, Royal Irish.-2 subalterns.
Detachment 26th and 49th Regts.-2 flag officers, 2 subalterns, 6
serjeants, 61 rank and file.
Royal Marines.-1 captain, 7 subalterns, 13 serjeants, 8 drummers,
224 rank and file.
37th Madras N. 1.-4 captains, 8 subalterns, 8 native officers, 25
havildars, 8 drummers, 427 rank and file, natives.
Bengal Volunteers.-2 captains, 3 native officers, 10 havildars, 151
rank and file, natives.
Total.-2 field officers, 8 captains, 21 subalterns, 11 native
officers, 44 serjeants and havildars, 16 drummers, 935 rank
and file, Europeans and natives.
General Total.-1,037.
Return of Casualties in the Force at the Taking of the Forts at
the Bocca Tigris, on the 26th of February, 1841.
Calliope.—Lieut. E. C. T. D'Eyncourt, slightly wounded, 2 sea.
men slightly wounded.
Blenheim.-1 scrjeant.major, 1 seaman, slightly wounded.
Total wounded, 5.
Return '.tf Ordnance mounted on the Anunghoy Forts when cap.
Lured on the 26th February, 1841.
South Anunghoy Fort.
Brass Guns.
2 10'75 Inch, 11 feet, 3 inches long; 2 8'75 inch, 10 feet 2 inches
long.—Portuguese date, 1627.
Iron Guns.
1 sixty pounder, 1 forty-two pounder, 14 thirty-two pounders, 17
twenty-four pounders, 11 eighteen-pounders, 22 twelve-pounders,
27 nine-pounders, 4 six-pounders, 1 four-pounder.
Total-98.
A number of the guns in the circular battery wera very large,
with great thickness of metal throughout. All the guns were of
Chinese manufacture, except three English and one Portuguese.
North Anunghoy Fort.
8 forty-two pounders, 5 thirty-two pounders, 3 twenty-four
pounders, 2 eighteen pounders, 4 twelve pounders, 18 nine
pounders.
Total.-40.
All the guns were of Chinese manufacture, and most of them,
except the twelve and nine pounders, were very large, with great
thickness of metal.
Sand Bag Battery, at the East Side of South Anunghoy Fort.
4 nine pounders, 4 six pounders, 7 four pounders.
Total.-15.
All the guns were of Chinese manufacture.
Sard Bag Battery, N. E. of South Anunghoy Fort.
1 twelve pounder, 6 nine pounders, 1 six pounder, 2 three
pounders, 3 four pounders, 2 less than threepounders.
Total.-15.
All the guns of Chinese manufacture, except ore English.
Re urn of Ordnance on the Island nt Wangtong, when captured
on the 26th February, 1841.
Iron Guns.
1 sixty. eight pounder, 1 forty-two pounder, 18 from twenty.four
to thirty-two pounders (including both calibres), r 11 from
eighteen to twenty-four pounders (the former calibre in-
cluded), 16 from twelve to eighteen pounders (ditto), 24 from
nine to 12 pounders (ditto), 35 from six to nine pounders
(ditto), 52 from three to six pounders (ditto), 6 less than three
pounders, 3 destroyed by shot.
Total.-167.
Twelve of thew were very large guns, with great thickness of
metal throughout, with Chinese characters inscribed on the chase.
General Abstract.
South Anunghoy Fort.-102 guns.
North Anunghoy Fort.-40 guns.
Sand Bag Battery, East Side of South Anunghoy Fort.-15 guns.
Sand Bag Battery, North East Side of South Anunghoy Battery.-
15 guns.
Island of Wangtong.-167 guns.
Total,-339 guns.
(Signed)

Commodore Sir J. J. Gordon Bremer, Knt.
C.B. K.C.H. Commander.in.Chief, &c.