The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-11 00:00:00

lunteers. The difference is ascribed to the men of the for-
mer corps being of a low caste, and consequently partaking
largely of animal food.
" Exclusive of these severe losses, more than 200 tave
been invalided from the service, and upwards of 400 con-
valescents are embarked in the Rattlesnake and some trans-
ports, and have proceeded for change of air to Manilla.
The 26th regiment exists but in name. They muster only
100 men for duty and 500 are still in the hospital ; the
cases of many, too many, are quite hopeless. All the
troops are now quartered in houses in the city and suburbs.
The 18th have always been under roof, the 26th, 49tb,
and Artillery until recently under canvass. I should
think from the whole force only about 500 or 600 men
could be collected for service, and this must be of a mo-
derate and not of a severe description. The capital of Chu-
san is entirely surrounded by paddy fields or swamps,
the miasma from which is always destructive to
European constitutions. The ships have all been un-
healthy with diarrhea, but few deaths have followed.
We lost off the Peiho river one midshipman, and two
seamen have since died. In the south-west monsoon the
whole of the Chinese coast to the southward of Canton
is pestilential. We proceeded to the mouth of the Peiho,
about 90 miles from Pekin, and two months slipped away
in what I yet fear may prove useless negot;atsus. The
Chinese were remarkably civil, and we were liberally sup-
plied by them with bullocks, sheep, poultry, flour, and
fruit. Our anchorage was in about 38 deg. 55m, N.
lat. ; long. 118 deg. E. ; weather generally fiae and cool.
" Oa Friday the Queen steamer proceeded to the
entrance of the Bogue with Captain Pleaipo E liot,
on some matter connected with the pending negotiations
and bearing a diplomatic chop fsr the Emperor's High
Commissioner. The battery fired at the steamer, and
at a boat bearing a flag of truce. One shot struck
the Queen amidships, but fortunately hurt no one. The
steamer immediately returned the fire, and Captain El-
liot rejoined the Admiral. Since this a mandarin has
had an interview with Captain Elliot at Macao, ex-
pressing the greatest regret at the circumstance. He re-
turned to Canton with the letter alluded to, but the Admi-
ral will not accept a verbal apology for the great insult
perpetrated on the flag, and has signified to the Chinese
authorities at Canton, than unless an ample written apo-
logy be promptly conveyed to him for the outrage com-
mitted, he shall immediately adopt severe measures against
them, which means, I imagine, an attack on the Bogue
forts, aud, if such should be the result, what six precious
months have been wasted and lost 1 I have always been of
opinion that we began at the wrong end; we should have
well cudgelled the long-tails at first, and reasoned (treat-
ed) with them afterwards. Tlae,Columbine is now wait-
ing at the mouth of the Bogue for a reply to the Admiral's
demand. Peace or war may hang on it.
" P. S. Nov. 24.—Great and early bustle this morning.
The Calliope, the Larne, the Hyacinth, and the Queen,
steamers, are gone to the Bogue. It is in vain to conjec-
ture the cause, but it looks feverish, and prompt remedies
are always the most efficacious.
The following are the ships comprising the squadron at
Tongkoo :—the Melville, the Wellesley, the Blenheim, the
Herald, the Semarang, the Druid, the Modeste, and the
Jupiter, troop-ship."
GENERAL MEMORANDUM.
MELVILLE, CIII3iAN, NOV, 6, 1840.
The Commander-in-Chief has now to give notice to the
expedition that a truce has been agreed to between the
Imperial High Commissioner and himself, pending the net
gotiations between the two countries.
The terms of this are generally—neither party are to ad-
vance beyond the boundary assigned to him, and that native
intercourse is not to be interrupted.
The English boundary has been defined as taking in the
island of Chusan, and the small islands immediately adja-
cent, including all within a line round the Elephant,
Towerhill, Blackwall, Fisher's Island, Poototoayinshin,
forming one side of the south-east passage of Dalrymple's
chart, and Deer island.
The Commander-in-Chief has, therefore, to call upon
all persons connected with the expedition, on visiting these
islands, not to go beyond these boundaries, or in any way
to interfere with the Chinese, so as to give just cause of
complaint that the truce is not strictly maintained,
The Commander-in-Chief is also glad to avail himself
of this opportunity of recording the satisfaction he has felt
at finding that a nearer friendly intercourse is opening with
the Chinese, and, considering how very much the comforts
and conveniences of the expedition depend on the exten-
sion of such intercourse, he calls with confidence upon
every officer and gentleman in the expedition to aid him in
cultivating a good understanding with the people.
GEORGE ELLIOT,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.

CANTON.
(From the Calcutta Courier.)
MACAO, Dec. 3, 1840.
We regret to inform you, that in consequence of the
sudden and severe return of an old complaint---palpitation
of the beart—Admiral Elliot on the 29th ult. resigned the
command of the expedition to the next in seniority, Sir J. J.
Gordon Bremer, and intends proceeding borne in her Ma-
jesty's ship Volage, Capt. George Elliot, immediately ex-
pected back from Manilla. The powers plenipotentiary
of the Admiral devolve singly on his colleague, Captain
Charles Elliot, Chief Superintendent.
On the 24th ult. her Majesty's ship Blenheim proceeded
to the Bogue, and has since been followed by nearly all
the squadron and about 400 Madras Sepoys, to be ready
on his arrival to take the forts, in case of any undue delay
on the part of the Chinese in going on with the promised
negotiations ; there having been reason to suppose that
their plenipotentiary Kishen end purposely delaying his
arrival. But on the 29th, having previously sent officers
to congratulate the Admiral on his arrival, he made his
public entry at Canton, whence, it is supposed he will im-
mediately proceed to the Bogus, and perhaps come on to
Macao, where Commodore Bremer and Captain Elliot
DOW are.
Some of our neighbours having addressed the Admiral to
inquire about the state of affairs, we forward extracts of
their letter with his reply, the only important point of which
is, that he declares the truce at Chusan as entirely local,
and no way interfering with the blockade of this river,
which for the present is not to be raised.
Several Americans have proceeded to Canton to prepare
for the resumption of business ; but the opinion we have
always expressed that this cannot take place without some
previous fighting is becoming every day more firmly fixed
in the minds of the foreign community, more especially
since the Admiral's resignation, which the Chinese will
doubtless c3nsider a special interposition of Providence in
their favour, as in the case of Lord Napier.
The conciliatory disposition which Kishen is said to have
evinced at the Peiho is by no means concurred in by the
local functionaries and people of Canton, who are muc's
exasperated to find that in the public documents that had
been issued, the Chinese and English nations are fur the
first time mentioned in terms denoting equality. This pre-
posterous arroganee must he subdued before any good re-
sults can be al riled at.
The following is the cmmunication of Admiral Elliot,
from a Canton Register, of the Ist of December, making
known his resignation • as also the correspondence which
has passed between the Admiral and the merchants.
" Her Majesty's Ship Melville, off Lintin,
" Nov. 29, 1840.

" Gentlemen,—lt is my painful task to announce to the
merchant., and her Majesty's subjects in general, that sud.
den and severe illness has this day led the Hon. the Rear-
Admiral to resign the command of the expedition into the
hands of Commodore Sir J. J. Gordon Bremer.
" It would be intrusive to dwell for one moment upon
my own feelings of deep private &Arose on this occasion;
and I hope I need not trouble you with excuses for these
few observations on the subject of my honoured relative's
retirement.

It remains to say, that I have been trained in too long
a course of anxiety and trial in this country, I repose too
steady a confidence in the assistance of every kind by
which I am surrounded, to lose heart under the weight
of this serious aggravation of responsibility and this heavy
personal blow. My firm reliance on the plain good sense
of ail classes of her Majesty's subjects, and their manly
cc-operation for tha security of the public honour and in-
terests, are an additional support to me.
" May I request you, Gentlemen, to cause this letter to
to be circulated and published. I have, &c.,
" CHARLES ELLIOT,
One of her Majesty's Plenipotentiaries and Chief
Superintendent of British Trade in China."
" To Messrs Jardine Matheson and Co., Dent and Co.,
and the British Merchants and her Majesty's subjects
in general."

"TO HIS EXCELLENCY REAR-ADMIRAL THE HON. GEORGE
ELLIOT, COMM ANDER-IN.CHIEF, &C.

" Sir,—We, the undersigned British merchants, re-
siding in Macao, beg leaver to address your Excellency on
the subject of the present state of our relations with the
Chinese.
" Convinced as we are that the welfare of the British
trade with China must have your Excellency's most anxious
attention, and that the interests of those concerned in that
trade, both on the spot and at a distance, receive every
consideration, we should most reluctantly appear prema-
turely to se,k for information which your Excellency might
deem it inexpedient at this moment to communicate.
di But we may be allowed to point out to your Excel-
.bellency that the complete uncertainty which existed for
several months past, both as regards the actual proceed-
ings in China, and the views and intentions of the Brltith
Government with regardto the trade, has occasioned a
heavy accumulation of
afloat nnessarily incurs heavy charges
British property, partly in ships
afloat at the outer anchorage, and partly at Macao, the
ultimate disposal of which is involved at present in the
demurrage of the ships
duty to the Portuguese Government
; and the property at
e of warehouse rent, independent of the charges
to which it must be subject before it can enter for con-
fgamrnrueda,
at,
ca
etaTexot thptieeesdn olsivabb tl doubt.
propertyt o
Excellency since the notice of
con-
sumption in China. . _
" Your Excellency will, we feel assured, allow that the
egitish community in China, having received no official
communication of the intentions of the British Govern-
mentblockade,
20th of June, 1840, are only discharging
as agents to parties at a distance, in now uthnediunder
r dutyo
date
o f
tyhoeu r
soli-
citing such information as may enable them to dispose of
the property under their charge in the best possible manner.
" We hope, therefor!, we shall not be deemed to exceed
the bounds of our legitimate duties in submitting to your
Excellency the following inquiries:—
I. Whether it is contemplated to remove the blockade
of the pert of Canton until definitive arrangements be made
outside wi with
of
h the
the Chineseßritish trade, or whether the truce reported
Government for the direct resump-
tion
in a public notice issued at Chucan applies solely to that
..
Whetheritehuanstebrneapniadtecdtertmhaint,eduntdheart
any
ye Britishaltered
state of circumstances,
2
trade shall be carried
on
Tigris, or if itrngilnihfu_tute
ships
may again then proceed
Bocce
ed
is
within the Bogue, and whether, p
as a temorary a--
rangement, the British trade may be carried on through
Macao.
xcellenc y
cannot at present reply
And in case your E
directly to the inquiries whether, in the opinion of your
Excellency, it is expedient that the British merchants
should for the precept keep their goods on board ship