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

(Copy.)

Fort, two miles above Canton, near the entrance to the Macao
Passage, March 13, 1841.

Sir,—lii conformity with your orders of the 12th instant, and
having waited twenty-four In urs after the arrival of the last chop
delivered, and seeing nothing of a pacific nature on the part of the
Chinese, I proceeded with the force under the officers named in the
margin,* to the fort and rafts mounting twenty-two guns, wit's
eight small ones laid in a sand bank, planking the rafts, strongly
posted and well constructed near the Canton entrance of the Macao
Passage; at about five r.m. commenced the attack, and carried the
whole of the enemy's works in about half an hour, the Chinese
keeping up a well-directed and animated fire till our forces were
under the walls, and in the act of storming, when they gave way
and fled in all directions, thus leaving us now the only remaining
protection of their city in our hands, giving her Majesty's forces
the command of the river above and below it, and to depend upon
its mercy for its daily existence,

The boats I placed under the direction of Captain Bethune, to
whom I am much indebted for the steady manner in which they
were brought to the attack; and also to Captain Kuper; Coro.
manders Barlow, Giffard, Anson, and Clark, who volunteered
their services, and the assistance they gave throughout the affair ;
much credit is due to Commander Belcher, for his zeal in trying
to get the Sulphur up this intricate channel ; and to Commander
Eyrcs, whose ship was brought to an excellent and effective posi-
tion, within about six hundred yards of the fort, towed by the Ma-
dagaicar, piloted by that very skilful and highly meritorious
officer, Lieut. Collinson ; Mr. Dicey, the Commander of the Ma-
dagascar, also calla for my highest commendation; as well as
Lieut. Foulis, Madras Artillery, for the manner in which he ma-
naged his guns. The Royal Marines, under the orders of Lieut.
Stransham, assisted by Lieuts. Hewitt, Marriott, and Palkinghorne,
who acquitted themselves on the occasion as that gallant corps is
always in the habit of doing. The loss to the Chinese I have not yet
been able to ascertain ; several were found dead in and near the
fort. Our own casualties, as far as I can learn, do not exceed
three wounded. I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) T. HERBERT, Captain.
Commodore Sir. J. Bremer, K.C.8., K.C.H.

Commander in Chief.
P.S. By the next conveyance, I shall send you the plan, Sze.

Calliope.—Lieutenants Watson, Tindall, and D'Eyncourt ; Messrs.
Daley, Rivers, St. Leger, Le Vescount, and Egerton, Mates ;
Mr. Meynel, Midshipman ; Mr. R. Butler, Assistant-Surgeon.
Conway.—Lieutenants Beadon and Coryton ; Mr. Johnson, Mae-
ter ; Messrs. Charles Reed and Tournour, Mates ; Captain Moore
and Mr. Gabbett, Madras Artillery, Volunteers.

Alligator.—Lieutenants Stewart and Bremer (Acting) ; Mr. Wool-
-- combo, Mate; Mr. Swinburne, Midshipman.

Herald.—Lieutenants Dewes and Strattell (both Acting) ; Mr-
Cater, Mate ; Mr. Comber, Midshipman.

- .
Hyacinth.—Lieutenant Morshead ; Mr. Drake, Mate.
Nimrod.—Lieutenant Williams ; Messrs. Walter Kendall And
Thomas Pam's, Mates; Mr. Charles Scott, Volunteer.
. _

Xodeste.—Lieutenant Henry Shute; Messrs. Fitzgerald and W. A.
R. Pearse, Mates; Mr. Edward F. Dent, Midshipman ; Mr. H.
C. Crofton, Volunteer.

Pylades.---Lieutenant Hay; Mr. Nosworthy, Master; Mr. Jef-

feries, Mate.
Cruizer.—Lieutenant Haskoll; Mr. B. L. Bryan, Mate.

Starling.—Lieutenant Kellett.

Madagasgsr, S. V.—Mr. Oliver, Ist Officer.

Blonde.—Lieutenants Colson and Ingram ; Messrs, Christopher,
Walker, and Anderson, Mates ; the Hon. H. Coke, and Mr.
Purvis, Volunteers.

(Copy.)
Modesto, off the British Factory, Canton, March 19, 1541

Sir—lt is with feelings of peculiar satisfaction that I enclose, for
the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty,
copies of letters from Captain Herbert, of her Majesty's ship Cal.
Hope, commanding the advanced scptadron of the fleet, detailing
the 'various operations of the force, the result of which has been the
capture and destruction of the remaining forts and floating defences
of the city of Canton, the hoisting her Majesty's colours on the
walls of the British Factory, an agreement to a suspension of hos_
tiliVes, and, lastly, the publication of an edict, under seal of the
Imperial Commissioner and the Governor of the Province, declaring
the trade to be opened, and that all British and other merchants
proceeding to the provincial city shall receive due 'nd perfect pro.
tection.

I earnestly and confidently hope that this will lead to a satis-
factory and honourable peace; but on this point her Majesty's
Plenipotentiary will of course communicate with her Majesty's
Government. It remains for me to solicit their Lordships' atten.
lion to the admirable arrangements made for this combined attack,
and the gallantry which ensured their complete success; indeed,
it was not possible they could fail in such bands as those of the ex-
cellent officers, Captains Herbert, Bourchier, and Bethune, sup-
ported by the commanders, lieutenants, mates, and midshipm,u
mentioned by the senior officer; and I would beg leave most ear-
nestly to recommend them to the notice of their Lordships. To
Captain Kuper, of the Alligator, commanding the investing force
on the cast side of the city, assisted by Commanders Gifford and
Anson of the Cruizer and Pylades, my best thanks are also due ;
their unremittin;; attention effectually guarded the approaches in
that quarter.
I endeavoured to push forward to the scene of action in the
Hyacinth's gig, but only arrived towards its close, in sufficient
time hewever to be gratified by the hoisting of the British colours.
Thus, for the first time its the history of China, have ships been
brought under the very walls of Canton, and by channels and
branches on which a foreign ship never- before floated. I believe
the Chinese were not acquainted with the capabilities of their
splendid river ; assuredly they had no idea that the second city in
the empire could be assailed by ships of war on its waters. I
trust that the fact will have its due influence on the authorities,
and I have no doubt that the forbearance di,played towards a city
so completely at our mercy as this is, will be appreciated by the
better part of the community, who have everything to lose, and
the benevolence of the British character more fully understood
than it has ever yet beets in this country.
The gratifying spectacle of our ships in this position, is to be as-
cribed to the unwearied zeal of the captains, officers, and men be-
longing to them. Commander Belcher and Lieutenant Kellett, of
the Sulphur and Starling, Mr. Brown, Master of the Calliope, and
Mr. Bean, Master of the Herald, have beets indefatigable its their
laborious duties of sounding the various inlets through which the
ships were carried.
I am sure these officers will receive evei mark of their Lord •
ships' approbation. I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) J. J. GORDON BREMER,
Commodore of the first Class, Commander.in-Chief.
T 3 R. Moore O'Ferrall, Esq., &c. &c , M.P.

(Copy.)

British Factory, Canton, March IS, 1841.

Sir,—This eay the force enumerated belowt under my orders,
carried and destroyed in succession all the forts in the advance and
before Canton, taking, sinking, burning, or dispersing the enemy's
flotilla, and hoisting the Union on the walls of the British factory,
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, containing up-
wards of one million of inhabitants.

I found myself forced to make this attack without your instruc-
tions for the reasons so strongly expressed in her Majesty's Pleni-
potentiary's note, hereih enclosed (!ith March, 18.11), considering
it my duty to resent, with all the promptitude in my power, the
insult offered the day before to the flag of truce sent with a chop
to the Imperial Commissioner, at the desire of his Excellency.
I forward the accompanying sketch, placing you i•n snore im-
mediate possession of the line of concentration which led to such
en immediate result. In detailing the operattons of the day, I feel
myself inadequate to do justice to the gallant officers and men em.
ployed on this occasion.

The flotilla of boats, formed into four division:, was under the
command of Captain Bourchier of the Blonde, Captain Bethune of
the Conway assisting. Three divisions, under the immediate
charge of Commanders Barlow and Clarke, and Lieutenant Coul-
son of the Blonde. Her Majesty's ship Hyacinth (to whom too
much praise cannot be given for the exertion displayed by Com-
mander Warren, his officers and crew, in getting her through the
intricate and difficult passes of the river, piloted by Commander_
Belcher, to be in readiness for operation); and a division of boats,
under the command of these officers, were placed at the southern
entrance of the river, recommunicating with the main
stream at Fatee, to meet any retrogade movement of the
numerous flotilla that had taken part in the aggression on the 16th
instant.

Every arrangement having been completed and understood, the
whole force moved in advance about noon, the vessels, marines, and
three divisions of boats from the Northward of the Macao fort,
and within gun-shot of the enemy's advance batteries, engaging
them for about two hours and a half, when all opposition ceased,
and the factory within the defences were taken possession of.
The Modeste was placed within three hundred yards in front of
the principal battery, and shortly gave proofs of her well-directed
fire, flanked by the powerful guns of the Madagascar, Captain
Dicey, with artillerymen under the direction of Lieut. Foulis,
Madras Artillery, and Nemesis, Mr. W. H. Hall, R.N., command.
ing, with artillerymen under the direction of Captain Moore, and
Lieutenant Gabbett, Madras Artillery, who handsomely volun-
teered their services upon the occasion. The Algerine (Lieut. Ma-
son), and Starling (Lieut. Kellett), passing a-head, cutting through
the rafts on the right bank and engaging a part of the war junks,
the lithe and Louisa tenders, taking part, at the same time, under
cover of the shins' guns, the flotilla with the marines was brought
up in admirable order by Captain Bourchier, and, upon the signal
given, stormed and completed the capture of this part of the ene-
my's works, notwithstanCing a most determined resistance on the
part of the Tartar troops. From this battery the vessels and flotilla
moved forward, and carried the other defences in succession,
amounting in the whole to 123 guns.
By the great care of Captain Nias, his officers, and ship's com-
pany, the Herald was brought over the flats, and entered the
reach during the engagement, which must have had considrable
effect upon the enemy, by dividing their attention, not knowing
what other force might be in reserve.
01 Captain Bourchier, whose high character is so well known to
you, Sir, and the service, 1 cannot speak sufficiently strong for
the manner in which he conducted the forces under his immediate
command, not only leading them into action in admirabl corder, but
keeping them together in readiness for any outbreak of the im-
mense population of such a crowded city, and I cannot refrain
mentioning his conspicuous and energetic exertions in towing off
the burning junks, which were drifting upon the suburbs of Can-
ton, and soon would have evldently set fire to that part of thy
city, and involved the destruction of the whole, in which he re.
ports he was ably assisted by the officers under his directions. My
- . .

By the subjoined libts.
t Vide 6ubjoined list.