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

11-
EVENING ED ITI ON. -)

thanks are also due to that excellent dficer, Captain Bethune, an,l
to Commanders Belcher, Warren, Barlow, and Clark; for their
great zeal. The Royal Marines under Lieut. Stran,hate, of the
Calliope, assisted by Lieutenants Daniel, Hewitt, Marriot and
Polkingborne, were as usual conspicuous for their gallant, stead',
►o'dierly bearing. I have, however, to regret that Lieutenant
Stransham, in exerting himself to destroy the works, was suddenly
expo,ect to a heavy explosion, by which he has been considerably
burned, but continues at his pcst ; to Lieutenants Kellett and Col_
linson and Mr. Brown, Master of the Calliope, every favourable
consideration is duc, for haring made themselves particularly
useful in sounding, and afterwards conducting several men er
war safely to an anchorage off the city of Canton ; indeed my sift
cere gratitude is due to every officer, seaman, and marine employed
on this service, for their real and spirited conduct, from whichit
is to b' hoped the most beneficial results will ensue.
His Excellency, her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, ever on the alert,
has done me the honour to be with me throughout these operations,
and to,p horn my best thanks are due for his support and assistance
on all occasions.

By Lieutenant Paul, whom you kindly attached to me, I inclose
a return of casualties, which, I am happy to say, arc incousidcr.
able, and bring before you the officers employed in the flotilla en
this service, with a return of ordnance destroyed in the defence,
near Canton.

Your presence at the close of the action releases me frern gain
further into detail.

From the various reports brought in, we have been able to ascer.
tain, that the enemy's logs has been about tour hundred men.
I have the honour, to be, &c.,
(Signed) T. HERBERT, Captain
Commodore Sir J. J. Gordon Brerner, Kt., C. 8., K.C.H.,
Commander-in-Chief, &c. &c.

List of Ships, Steamers, Boats, &c., employed at the Cldure of
Canton on the 16th instant.
Her Majesty's ship Herald, Captain Dias; her Majesty's sloop
Modeste, Commander Ems ; her Majesty's sloop Hyacinth,
Commander Warren; her Majesty's brig Algerine, lieutenant
Mason.
Tenders.—Her Majesty's schooner Starling, Lieutenant Kellett ;
her Majesty's schooner Hobe, Mr. Quin, Mate; her Majesty':
cutter Louisa, Mr. Carmichael, Mate.
Steamers.—}ton. Coindany's steamer Madagascar, Captain Dicey
Hon. Company's steamer Nemesis, Captain Hall.
Boats.—First Division.—Commander Barlow; Lieutenants Wil.
hams, Stewart, and Drury ; Lieutenant Dewes, Acting ; Messrs.
Walter Kendall, Purves, Woalcombe, Baker, and Kator, Mate, ;
Mr. Comber, Midshipman ; Mr. Scott, Volunteer first class.
Second Division, Commander Clark.—Ljeutenants Hamilton, Bea.
don, and Shute; Mr. King, Master Acting; Messrs. Mille,,
Fitzgerald, Pearse, Read, and Tumour, Mates; Mr. Crofter„
Midshipman.
Third Division.—Lieutenants Coulson and Ingram ; Messrs. Chris-
topher, Walker, and Anderson, Mates ; Messrs. Purvis, Coke,
and Lyons, Volunteers first class; Mr. Stanley, Assistant-
Surgeon.
Western Division.--Conananders Warren and Belcher; Lieute-
nants Haskoll, Watson, Hay, Morshead, D'Eyncourt, Wood,
and Hayes; Mr. Airey, Master; Messrs. Daly, Rivers, Jeffe.
ries, Le Vesconte, Egerton, Drake, St. Leger, and Bryon,
Mates; Mr. Brown, Master-Assistant; Mr. Butl:r, M.D., and
Mr. Tweeddale, Assistant-Surgeons.
Volunteers.—Lieutenant Mackenzie, her Majesty's 90th Reel.
ment, Acting Military Secretary to the Naval Commander-in.
Chief; Mr. Johnson, Master, her Majesty's ship Conway; Mr.
G. Ramsden, Clerk, her Majesty's ship Calliope; Lieutenant
Gifttrd, Hon. Company's 12th Regiment.

Return of Ordnance destroyed i■ the Defences scar Canton.
Lower Battery, left Bank, Macao Passage-22 guns.
Upper Battery-9 guns.
Sand Bag Battery on Wharf-9 guns.
Western Fort, Canton Suburbs (Shaween)-10 guns.
Red Fort, opposite Canton Factories-2(1 guns.
Dutch Folly-25 guns,
Sand Bag Battery above Arsenal-13 guns.
Two Junks moored off Admiral's House-15 guns.

Total-123.
Becidas those destroyed in Lin's and the Mandarin war bo,ts.
(Signed) THOS. HERBERT, Captain.

A List of Casualties in the Force employed in the Attack and On_
cupation of the Defences of the City of Canton, on the 18th day
of March, 1841.
Lieutenant Stransham, Royal Marines, severely.
Calliope-2 wounded slightly.
Hyacinth-2 wounded, 1 slightly, 1 severely.
Madeste-2 wounded slightly.
(Signed) THOS. HERBERT, Captain.

Calliope, 'Whampoa Reach, March 17, 1941.

Sir,—Your own presence an board the Nemesis, yesterd
afternoon, when she was fired upon from the work above the for:<,
in the Macao Passage, notwithstanding the flag of truce, mks.s
me from the necessity of detailing kthe circumstances of the case.
I may add, however, that the Chinese authorities perfectly un-
derstand the intention of, and respect due to , that signal, and hate
frequently taken advantage of its protection for purposes of sate
commun,cation with our own forces.

Under nil these circumstances, therefore, I need not press upan
you, Sir, the necessity of resenting this aggression, with all the
promptitude which may be compatible with considerations of a mi.
litary nature Having regard, however, to its close neighbourhood
to the city of Canton, I will earnestly request you to confine your
movement to the destruction of guns or material at the work frori
which the shot was fired, and if that object cannot be aecompbsht.d
by big, without exposing the buildings in the vicinity to the risi:
of confi:gration, I would suggest that it should be otherwise
effected.
' " "

____
I take the liberty to add, for your general guidance, thet
the main intention of the scheme of further :operation Q,
which I propose to submit to their Excellencies in command of the
sea and land forces, is to make ourselves masters of the lines of
communication westward of Canton, with a view to its insulatidn
and complete deprivation of trade and means of supply, from all
points of approach.
The capture or destruction of the flotilla, which took part in
the aggression of yesterday, will, of course, seem to you an ob-
ject of great importauce, if it can be accomplished with due regard
to other considerations. I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, her Majesty's
Plenipotentiary.
Captain Herbert, Senior Officer of her Majesty's
Ships and Vessels in advance.
P.S.—I need scarcely remind you that there was a small boat in
advance of the steam-vessel, also with a flag of truce flying, whew..
the shot was fired.

British Hall, Canton, March 20, 1841.

have the honour to acquaint you that I have this day con_
eluded st suspension of hostilities in this province, the Imperial
Commissioner baying publicly proclaimed the trade to be opened,
and that all British and other merchants proceeding to the fir,_
vincial city, shall receive due protection.
With a view to the restoration efeonfldence amongst the trading
people, I have now to request you will have the goodness to mov,
the vessels actually before " Shaween," about half-way down towards
the Macao Passage Fort, and I hope you will also do what may
otherwise be in your power to evince sincerely peaceful purtfosts,
respecting the population, without, however, removing a suflielent!7
pressing three from the near neighbourhood of the city.
I an persuaded, too, that you will recognize the soundness of ma-
nifesting every degree of proper respect for the Governmcat, and
every disposition to uphold its character in the sight of the people,
which may be compatible with the paramount necessity of keep_
ing awake a lively sense, that renewal of ill faith. will be responded
to by an immediate blow.
It must be quite superfluous to assure you, Sir, I depend with
great confidence (and with constant thankfulness), upon your cot;_
tinned earnest elthrts to present accident at Canton. But per hal•.:
I may be pardoned for suggesting, that for the present, no person'
or boat be allowed to land without the express permission of t!lt
senior officer on the spot.-1 have, &t.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT. H. M. PlCitipotentiary.
Captain Herbert, Senior Officer, &c.

(Copy.)
Wellesley, off Wantong, March^.l, lB4l.
Sir,—The zealous desire of every officer and man in this mutt).
ron to seek occasions in which to distinguish themselves, has led
to the performance of various well executed services. I have nu,
the honour to enclose a copy of a letter from Captain Scott, of bac
Majesty's ship Samarang, detailing the particulars of an enterprise
which he planned and executed with very admirable tact and gal.
anti y, to which 1 will beg to refer their Lordships, expressing, at
the same time, my conviction, that no encomiu:n I could bestow
on Captain Scott, and the officers, Seamen, and marines engaged,
would be equal to the merit of the affair. Lieutenant Bowe!,
senior, of the Samarang, has been often within my notice ; he ha 7
been severely wounded, and has displayed great gallantry ; whip
Mr. Hall, R.N., commanding the Honourable Company's steam-
vessel Nemesis, has rendered the most important services to the
expedition at all times and in all situations. I beg, therefore, to
recommend them, together with every other officer and man, to the
notice of their Lordships.

I have the honour, &c.
(Signed) J. GORDON BREMER,
Commodore First Class, Commander.in-Chici•
It. More OTerrall, Esq., &e. &o. &c.

Samarang's Gig, Whampoa Roads,
Six, p.m., March 15,1841.
Sir—His Excellency her Majesty's Plenipotentiary having,
the afternoon of the l'th instant, suggested to me the great /Id'
vantages likely to accrue by forcing the inner passage from Melee°
to Whampoa (deemed by the Chinese impenetrable to foreigners.,
and fully agreeing with him upon the subject, I made no hesi-
tation in immediately acceding to his views, and making the ne-
cessary preparation for carrying them into effect.
I have now the honour of communicating the result of my
operations.
At three a. u. on the 13th, I proceeded with the small arm
rotor
and marines in the boats named in the margin,* °rl board
Nemesis steamer, where I was shortly afterwards joined 'l4ac,o
hiP
Excellency Captain Elliot. When we got under weigh
rKooakdse,la,onwd pLolacneeddsed,
iioitso•erthtehße
rfloaatds,,byatywreeiynerT
(where not
we proceeded
At eight •.si, we came in sight of Motes Fort, wkheischuwpeacnicta.
in less than half an hour. The steamer having
ta a
gun of the
filading position on its southern angle weelienshfarnomand Tel
enemy could bear upon her), opened her tire, whilst
her shot directed.
in accuratelye boats to the attack. So accurate
that the enemy, on our approach in the boay.ts'
and fled.
were completely tie,.
We found thirteen guns mounted, which ,eraebandoned the place,
zii.
stir work on that point.
Tow, the the river is divided into
strayed, the building in the interior set fireßetotb;rean
wet 1 hraevancitigc.l,:aitdh
Nemesis it exploded, effectually 6n
:
train to the magazine, we re-einbark
On reaching point How Honk .
ch we pursued, takes a sudden.d
in its breadth. Here we
two channels, that to the riglit,onwhi
;
racte
sharp turn, and becomes very c
discovered Tai-Yat Kok, a field battery (very recently constructed)
of fourteen strongly posted on a rising ground, situated
the left bank ikguo thefsn river, environed by overflowed paddy fields,
At thirty minutes past ten A.M. as we appeared round the point,
the enemy opened out an animated fire upon its, which was smartly
kept up as we advanced. It was most effectually returned by the
two guns from the Nemesis, who threw her shot, shells, and rockets
admirably.
Under the slight cover of the bank we advanced in the boats, but.
boor, we could effect a landing on their flank they abandoned their
guns, when we took possession of the work by a narrow pathwAY,
which could only be passed in single files.
Twenty determined men ought to have held it with ease against
triple our force. Twelve of the principal guns were from twenty.
four to twelve pounders ; the remaining two sixes, which under-
went the same process as their fellows at Matao, viz., knocking oft'
their trunnions, driving a shot hard home into their chambers, and
spiking them. A large quantity of gunpowder and other matr-
'la's was lodged here, which, with the temporary buildings, were
consigned to the flames and blown up.
Observing a war junk who had opened her fire about a mile be_
low the battery, I despatched Lieutenant Bower with two pinnaces;
in chase, accompanied by the strainer, but as I could not complete
the destruction of the guns and battery under three quarters elan
hour, the chase was necessarily given up until my return on board.
During the above period a military depot and station on the op.
posits side of the river were destroyed by Lieutenant Maitland,
whom I hail despatched thither for that purpose.
'the moment I returned the chase of the war junk was resuraol:
at forty minutes past twelve, P.M., we again got sight of her Wits
eight others, which were seen over the land. As we entered tLc
Reach which they occupied, we discovered on the right bank of the.
river a new battery, scarcely finished, with ten embrasures, bcit
without guns, and liochung
centre
ncFhtorret thocelfyos,ti,ehatinockhe
di
the
etwhweelal
rr
jvuueninl tkuo.(aofsugsrtrrcaohnr;
surrounded by a wet ditch, mounting fourteen guns and six ;tin:
e
opining again secured. The enemy immel
staged across,
passed,Abr eaa nsttdh or
oft'
uht
ghe
he:
ptche,

. Pinnace, mounting twelve pound earronades ; Cutter, six.oareit
gig, four-oared gig ; Atalanta'& Pinnace, mounting twclre Niue
howitzers.