The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-07 00:00:00

MORNING EDITION

CHINA, INDIA, AND

TURKEY.

The following details of tie news brought by
the Overland Mail from India, form an interest-
ing. supplement to the accounts published in our
paper of yesterday :

CHINA.
There is little news from China this month, and that
little is not of a favourable description. An unexpected
delay has taken place in carrying into effect the prelimi-
nary arrangements concluded between her Majesty's Ple-
nipotentiary and the Chinese Imperial Commissioner; the
blockade is not raised, and trade continues suspended.
Our ilittlligenee reaches to the 12th of February. The
reason most generally assigned for the delay is, that it is
;.eiti,,necessary to await the Emperor's approval and confir-
,tee „mation of the arrangements of Ke=hen before tie same
,(1,, ears be acted upon. It is doubtful uhcther his Ma-
, . jest 's reply has strived, but there arc rumours ti.at
such is the case, and that he is very much enraged at the
presumptuous proceedings of the British, and 0-,e yi gilding
disposition of his Commissioner, and posittvely declares
that Hong_ Kong shall not be given up. It is added that
L he does not object to padng the compensation stipu-
lated. This information can, however, only be regarded
as a mere report; and though some difficulty may possibly
be experienced before everything is finally arranged, it
does not seem by any means likely that the Emperor has
already been so foolhardy as to reject terms which. to say
the least, were as fsvouranle as he could in reason have
expected to obtain. There is a further rumour that a new
Commissioner is on his way to supersede Keshen, and
that warlike preparations are making at Canton.
.The fullussing circular was pubi,hed by Captain Elliot,
after a conference held on the 29th January :
" CIRCULAR TO HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS.
" Macao, Jan. 30, 1841.
" The Plenipotentiary acquaints her Britannic Majesty's
subjects that the ia egotiation with the Imperial Commis-
sioner proceeds satisfactorily,
" Learning, however, that some of her Majesty's sub-
jects are preparing zo go to Canton, he feels it his duty to
declare that persons pursuing that course, before he pub-
lishes a declaration that he considers it safe and suitable,
must be pleased to understand thst they are acting con-
trary to his sense of what it ridit for the public interests,
and must incur the whole risk and responsibility of their
own proceedings. _

" CHARLES ELLIOT,
" Her Aljesty's Reniporentiary."
The subjoined proclamations have also been issuel relo_
tive to the government, for the time, of our new poves-
sion, H,ng-Kot g:
" PROCLAMATION BY CHARLES ELLIOT, ESQUIRE, A CAP-
TAIN IN THE ROYAL NAVY, CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT OF
THE TRADE OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN CHINA, AND
HOLDING FULL POWERS UNDER THE GREAT SEAL OF
THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRE
LAND TO EXECUTE 'ME OFFICE OF HER MAJESTY'S
COMMISSIONER, PROCURATOR, AND PLENIPOTENTIARY, IN
CHINA.

" The Island of Hung-Kong having been ceded to the
British Crown under the seal cf the Imperial Minister and
High Commissioner Keshen, it has become neussary to
provide for the government thereof, pending her Majesty's
further pseasure.
" Ity virtue of the authority therefore in me vested, all
her Majesty's rights, royalties, and privileges of all kinds
whatever, in and over the said itland of Hong-Kong, whe-
ther to or over lande, harbours, property, or personal ser-
vice, are hereby prepared, proclaimed, and to her Ma-
'esty fully reserved. _

"- Andl do hereby declare and proclaim that, pending
her Majesty's further pleasure, the Government of the
said island shall devolve upon, and be exercised by, the
person filling the office of Chief Superintendent of the
trade of Butish subjects in China for the time being.;
" And I do hereby declare and proclaim that, pending
her Majesty's further pleasure, the natives of the said is-
land of Hong-Kong, and all natives of China thereto
resorting, shall be governed according to the laws and
customs of China, every description of torture excepted.
" And I do further declare and proclaim that, pending
her Ma'esty's farther pleasure, all offences committed lit
Hoeg-Kong by her Majesty's subjects, or other persons
than natives of the island or of China thereto resorting,
shall f .11 under the cognisance cf the criminal and Admi-
ralty jurisdiction presently existing in China.
•' And Ido further declare and proclaim, that pending
ter Majesty's further pleasure, such rules and regulatious
as may be necessary from time to time for the government
of Hong-Kong, shall be issued unner the hand and seal of
the person filing the office of Chief Superintendent of tlfC
trade of British subjects in China for the time being.
" And I do further declare and proclaim that, pending
her Majesty's further pleasure, all British subjects and
foreigners residing in, or resorting to the island of Houg-
Kong, shall enjoy full security and protection according to
the principles and practice of British law, so long as they
shill continue to conform to the authority of her Majesty's
Government in and over the i land of Hong-Kong, hereby
duly censtitnted and proclaimed.
" G:ven under my hand and seal of office, on board of
her Majesty's ship Wellesley, at anchor in Hong-Kong
Bay, this twenty-ainth day of January, in the year one
thou'and eight hundred and forty-one.
L. S. ( Signed) " CHARLES ELLIOT.
" God save the Queen.
( True copy) " EDWARD ELMSLIE,
" Secretary and Treasurer to the Superintendent
of British Trade in China,"
" PROCLAMATION.
" Bremer, Commander-in-Chief, and Elliot, Plenipo-
tentiary, &c. Ste , by this proclamation make known to the
inhabitants of the Island of Hong-Kong, that that island
baa now become part of the dominions of the Queen of
England, by clear public agreement between the high
officers of the Celestial and British Courts; and all native
persons residing therein must undt rstand, that they are
now subjects of the Queen of England, to whom and to
whose officera they must pay duty and obedience.
" The inhabitants are hereby promised protection, in her
Majesty's gracious name, against all enemies whatever;
and they are further secured in the free exercise of their
religions rites, ceremonies, and social customs ; and in the
enjoyment of their lawful private property and interests.
They will be governed, pending her Majesty's further
pleasure, according to the laws, customs, and usages of the
Chinese (every description of torture excepted), by the
elders of villages, subject to the control of a British Ma-
gistrate; and any person having complaint to prefer of
ill-usage or Notice against any Englishman or fore'gner,
will quietly make report to the nearest officers, to the end
that full justice may be done.
" Chinese ships and merchants resorting to the port of
Hong. Kong, for the purposes of trade, are hereby ex-
empted, in the name of the Queen of England, from dis-
charge of duty of any Lind to the British Government.
The pleasure of the Government will be declared from
time to time by further proclamation; and hereupon vil-
lages are held responsible that the commands are duly re-
spected and observed.—Given under seal of office, this Ist
day of February. 1841."

OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE ACTION IN

CANTON RIVER.
GENERAL ORDERS.

Fort Will:am, Secret Department, Feb. 24.
The Right Hon. the Governor-General of India, hav-
ing received an official communication of the destruction
Oh the 7th of January of Chuenpee and Ty-coek.tovv, in
an attack made upon those fortifications by the sea and
land forces under the personal command of his Excellency
Commodore Sir J. J. G. Bremer, C. B. and K. C. H
Naval Commander•in-Chief on the coast c.f China, is
pleated to order the publication of the following official
account of the action.
By order of the Right Hon. the Governor-General of
India, T. H. MADDOCK,
Secretary to the Government of India.
" At eight o'clock this morning the Royal Marines of
ttbe squadron, the detachments of the 26th and 49th Regi-
Relents, and the 37th Madras Naive Infantry and Bengal
Volunteers, were landed, accompanied by the detachment
.of Rut al Artillery, with one twenty-feur-pound howitzer
and two siz-pound field guns, together vii h a divi-ion of
seamen belonging to the Wellesley, Blenheim, and Met-
-vide, in al about 1,400 men ; the land forces under the
command of M.jor Pratt, of the 26th Cameronians, copy
of -whore report will explain the details of military opera-
tic.ns, which were a imirably executed.
" The Queen and Nemesis vearners were placed in po-
sition for throwing shells into the upper fort by Commander
Belcher, of the Sulphur, and soon made an impression. A
division of ships, consisting of the Calliope, Hyacinth, and
Larne, under Capt. Herbert, attacked tlte lower fort e,ff
the sea face, and in less than an hour silenced the gtes,
although a number of troops remained within the walls.
.IBy ten o'clock the troops had adva aced and carried tie en-
trenchments with their field batteries. Major Pratt himself
and two or three marines were in posses-ion of the upper
tort, and the British colours hoisted. The lower fort was
speedily surrounded, and stormed by the entrance, as well
as the wal , by a party of Royal Marines, and the union
jack displayed on the ramparts.
" The management of Ty-cock-tovv was entrusted to
'Capt. Scott, of her Majesty's ship Semarang, accompanied
`by the Druid, Modeste, and Columbine, and in one hour it
was silenced; but the Chinese remained in it until it was
stormed by the boats, in which operations Lieut. Bowers,
senior of the Semarang, was severely wounded. The pies
in all ihe forts have been destroyed, the magazines blow„ up, and the barracks and houses burst. Eleven large war_
junks were anchored in the shoal water to the caetward of
the position ; the Nemesis, under Commander Belcher,
rte..
companied by Li .ut. Killett, of the Starling, attacked them
in admirable style, asststed by the beats of the Callioi.e,
under Leto. Watson, senior of that ship ; they were all set
o rocketn fire
le i arid blown up ; one with all her crew on beard, a
ing gone into her magazine. This ended the ope.
Tations of the day.
His Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief ex-
pres•ei his high admiration s.f the gallantry and zeal
which ai,ima,ed eery officer and man in the force, re-
turns bit thanks to Carains Sir Le Ftenling Senbouse
of the Blenheim, and the Hon. R. Duridas, of the Mel-
'elite, and Captain Miitland of the Wellesley. Captains
Ilierl,ert and Scott carried their divisions into action w
ith
itheir aecusternel gallantry, and they were ably st d
by Captains Smith and Blake. and Come enders Warrcu
Eyres, and Clarke, under their immediate orders. The
Commanders Pritchard, Ng; t, and Fletcher, of the
Blenheim, Mt lville, and Wellesley, the commanders of
the steam vessel,, and every officer and man employed,
deserved the highest praise for their aealeus excl.. ions on
every point. Major Pratt, of the 26th, conducted the
operations on shore in the most able and gallant manner.
He speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of every
officer and man employed.
" This service has been performed with trifling loss on
the part of her Majesty's forces, although it is but justice
to the Chinese to say that they defended thernselvea, Pes e-
eially in the batteries, with the greatest credit and.devc-
tion. They have suffered severely; their loss, including
that on board the war junks, cannot be estimat .d at less
than from five to six hundeed. out of a force calculated at
two thousand men. The slaughter in the lower fort, when
carried by storm, Was considerable."