The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-04 00:00:00

EVENING EDIT.

a number of Chinese troupe corning ,;own towar
Othtisol:llrf to tire two or Mier ten,
midst of the body, scattered ant dispersed tisem in
six, p.m , the junk And fort were tired, and the s'
into a narrow ~hallow channel, scarcely more than -
a canal, when she anchored head and stern for the tt* Vtr,c;m:i At on the morning of the 14th, they weighed anvi.
pry ceeded ito the river in the stearrier's draught of water, an not
broader than her own length, grounding occasionally od both
at arrivad at the large village of llong-how, with a fort of thie
saute name at the tipper part, winch flanked a strong and broad -
line of stakes twenty feet wine, completely across the river, tilled up
in the centre by large suaketi junks laden with itonts; on (lit.
covering the fort the Nemesis opened fire, which was instantly re.
turned by the enemy; as in all thepreceding actions they ded them°.
meld the boats landed to attack them ; they had evidently expected
to be assailed on the opposite side to that by which the Nemesis app
proached, the walls being piled up with sandbags outside in that
direction ; nine guns were destroyed here, and the fort blown up,
After the Nemesis had made good her passage through the stakes,
which was effected after fear hours' incessant labour, assisted by the
natives, why flocked on board and around in great numbers after
the tiring had ceased, all apparently anxious to aid in destroying
the stakes.
At four P.m. they art iced off a military station ; a shot was tired
into the principal building, aLi h drove out the garrison who had
screened themselves in it; the boats were then sent en shore, and
the whole establishment, together with a mandolin boat, mounting
one nine pounder and two ginjalls, were destroyed, and at six the
steamer anchored for the night.

At daylight, ou the 15th, the Nemesis continued her course up.
wards, and at 7'30 arrived off the large village Zamchow, under the
banks of which a number of soldiers with matchlocks were delcriod
endeavouring to conceal themselves, upon whom a tire of mus.
ketry was opened, which tripe:led all those who were unhurt in ielse
than a minute.

On moving up to Tegnel, a large town or. the left bank of thg
river, three forts were patscd, all dismantled and abandoned, ti(
Custom-house of the latter place was destroyed as writ as a wet
junk mounting seven guns, which the crew had quitted on the lip;
proach of the steamer. On proceeding up to Watopoi, thrOlt
more dismantled forts were observed, and at four P.M. the Nemetli
bame to in that anchorage, having (in conjunction with the bua(i)
destroyed five forts, one battery, two military stations, and mho
war junks, in which were one hundred and fifteen guns and eight
ginjalls, thus proving to the enemy that the British flag can tssi
displayed throughout their inner waters wherever and whenever
it is thought proper by us, against any defence or tit d titey
adopt to prevent it. This service has been perfumed will glJb. the
loss of a single man on our side, and only three seaine,' sightly
wounded belonging to her Majesty's ship Satnarang. The greatest
praise it due to Mr. W. H. Hall, RN., prof the Nemesia,
for the cool, unwearied, and zealotta Nifortnance of his duties
(under circumstances of frequent danger and difficulty) at all time,
more especially in thus traversing a navigation never before passed
by a European boat or vessel,
On the 11/th I was gratified by receiving a report from Captain
Herbert, of her Majesty's ship Calliope, commanding the advanced
squadron, detailing the various operations of that force in the at.
tack and capture of the forts, defences, and flotilla off Cauteu,
and the hoisting of the Union Jack on the walls of the British fac-
tory ; the guns of the squadron commanding all the approaches to
the city from the western and southern branches of the river, thus
placing in our power the great provincial capital.
This was brought about by the Chinese having fired upon a !Ise
of truce sent with a chop to the Imperial Commissioner at the de-
sire of his Excellency, the Plenii.tentiary. The flotilla of boats .
of the squadron formed into four divisions under the command of
Captains Bourchler and Bethune, of Blonde and Conway;
every arrangement having been completed, the force, as per mar-
gin,* moved in advance about noon, and engaged the batteries
for about an hour, when the flotilla, with the marines under
the command of Captain Bourchier, was brought up in admirable
order, and upon tho signal being given, stormed and completed
the capture of the enemy's works, notwithstanding a most deter.
mined resistance on the part of the Tatter troops, ; one hundred
and twent-threc guns were mounted in the different forts; the
loss of the enemy has been vety conskierable (upwards of four
hundred men) ; our casualties, I am happy to say, do not exceed,
six wounded.
This blow was followed by an agreement on the part of the 'High
Commissioner to a suspension of hostilities, aid afterwards by the
publication of an edict, declaring the trade to be opened, and that
all Brunch and other merchants proceeding to the provincial city
shall receive due and perfect protection.
I endeavoured to push forward to the scene of ection
the flyac iith's gig, but only arrived towards elo.e, in sufficietsL
time, however, to be gratified by the hoisting of the British co.
lours. Thus, for the first time in the hittory of China, have ships
been brought under the very walls of Canton, and by channels
stud
branches on which a foreign ship never before floated. I believe
the Chinese were not acquainted with the capabilities of their splen-
did river ; assuredly they hail no idea that the second tity in the
empire could be assailed by ships of war on its waters s I trust that
the fact will have its due influence on the authotir.es, and I have
no doubt that the forbearance displayed towards city so cumplettly
at our mercy as this is, will be appreciated Ny the better classes of
the community who have everything to Ire,e, and the benevolence
of the Bri'ish character more fully UOerstood than it ever yet has
been in this country.
The gratifying spectacle of our ships in this position Is solely at-
tributable to the unwearied exin.ions of the captains, officers, and
men belonging to them, ie. sounding the various inlets through
which they passed, not, ti single Chinesepilot having been employed
throughout.
In courlu,lo", We may on this, as ou former,occasions, emigre.
tulate ourselves err this service having been performed without auy
loss of life on or, side, and only seven wounded (severely), amongst
whom is that gallant officer Lieuteuant Stransham, Royal Musing.
of her Maje.ty's ship Calliope, Acting Brigade Major.
1 have the honour to be, my Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,
J. J. GORDON BRENIER,
Commodore of the Ist Class, Commander-in-Chief,
The report from Captain Herbert, of her Majesty's ship Calliope,
to his Excellency Sir Gordon Bremer, referred to in the preceding
despatch, is annexed :

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