The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-08 00:00:00

.101 IN IN G SUN

LUNA INDIA, EG I PT,
AN I) TURKEY .

I N A.
BOMBAY, SEPT. 6, 1841.
The storm, whose gathering, was noticed in my last
,commiinieation; has burst, but those by whom its de-
ments were collected have been the victims of its fury.
The accounts which the mail of the 19th July conveyed
home, must have in some measure prepared the public
mind for those which will reach England by the present
.opportunity. It then became known that we were on
the verge of another outbreak. People will now learn
lithe particulars of the expected conflict. Three or four
_slays.enly after the date of the intelligence received hero
esn the I.sth July, by the clipper Sir Herbert Compton,
hostilities were renewed before Canton. The 23d May,
the. anniversary of her Majesty's birth, was the day
fixed upon by General Gough and Sir Fleming Senhouse,
for the commencement of their measures ; and a series
of beautiful operations, both by land and sea, were con-
ducted for five days, at the expiration of which term
the Chinese were completely discomfited, and Canton
lay a second time at the mercy of the British ! A truce
was then demanded, and a negm.ciation for thedeliver-
ance of the city took place between Captain Elliot and
the provincial authorities, the result of which was, that
an arrangement was concluded, whereby, on payment of
Six millions of dollars, and performing some other
4minor conditions, the latter secured the withdrawal
of the British forces, and reposssession of all the forts
within the river which we had previously captured.
The different official despatches, of which Captain
Barlow, of her Majesty's ship Nimrod, i 3 expected to be
the bearer, Ivill be republished so extensively at home
that for me to offer an outline• of the events detailed in
these documents would, I am sure, prave superfluous.
The gallant bearing of the whole of the expeditionary
fOrces, naval and military, their intrepid conduct in ac-
tion, the judgment and precision which marked the dif-
ferent operations, are set forth so clearly that it is alto-
gether unnecessary to dwell on either on the present oc-
casion.
The arrangement entered into by Captain Elliot, with
the. Canton authorities, is understood to be wholly inde-
pendent of the main question between Great Britain and
China—the 6,000.000 of dollars paid over being consi-
deresl, merely as the ransom of the city, which was vir-
tually in our power. A part of this sum has been de-
voted to the payment of Messks. Dent and Co., for the
__opium purchased of them ; awl it is said that the whole
of the surrendered opium will be paid for out of it, and
that Captain Elliot has actually written to Lord Ausk-
land for the purpose of; settling the terms on which the
claims of the scripholders are to be discharged. Reports,
too, are current that the; Plenipotentiary has suggested,
in hisletter, that agssno per chest ($2OO less than Messrs.
Dent and Co. received), should be the rate of remune-
ration.
Captain Elliot's right to appropriate the money to the
discharge of the opium debts is generally questioned.
Some say that it properly belonged to the army and
navy, as prize money ; and others that to whatever pur-
pose it might have been afterwards applied, it should in
the first instance have been remitted to England as pro-
perty at the disposal of the Crown.
It will be seen that the latest accounts intimate a
speedy movement on Amoy ; and indeed state that pre-
parations were making fur carrying Captain Elliot's in-
tentions, in this respect, into effect.
Her Majesty's ship Nimrod, the vessel which bore the
despatches to the Governor-General, spoke the steam
frigate Sesostris, off Acheen Head, in the Straits of
Malacca, on the 27th July. This was certainly a most
opportune meeting, fox, as Captain Barlow went on
board, the Admiral and Sir 11. J. Pottinger were made
acquainted with the important intelligence, with which
he was intrusted, at a inch earlier period than could have
been reasonably expected.
They have long ere this reached their destination, and
Captain Elliot has no doubt at length been relieved by
his successor. The attack on Amoy, projected at the
date of our most recent intelligence, may perhaps be
looked upon as his last public act.
Our victories are clouded by the deaths of Captain Sir
Iletning Senhouse, of her Majesty's ship Blenheim, and
ZMajor Beecher, quartermaster-general. The latter offi-
ris said to have expired from sheer bodily exhaus-
gvhile mental excitement appears to have had no
"collsiderable share in causing the dissolution of the
„
'4,1'4 Commander.
'4othing has been heard of the two officers of her Ma-
y • ship Blenheim, ,who were reported some time
c4O to have been captured by the Chinese ; and it
Ms but too probable that they have shared the melan-
holy fate of their companion, Mr. Field.
(Prom the Summary of the Bombay Times, Sept. 1, 1840.)
VERY IMPORTANT.
Our intelligence extends from the 20th of May to the
19th of June. Captain Elliot, having on the 10th May
visited the prefect of Canton, with a view of ascertaining
his intentions, saw at once that it was vain to look for a
Continuance of the armistice, and that a fresh rupture
Was immediately at hand. The Chinese had, during the
period of simulated peace, been secretly engaged in
raising outworks, arming their batteries, and collecting
troops. On returning to the fleet, accordingly, Captain
Elliot on the 15th countermanded the sailing of the ex-
'edition about to start for Amoy, and Sir 11. Le Fleming
enhouse, prepared to move up the river with the fleet,
ou the 18th. On the 20th, Yu, the acting Governor of
Canton, issued a proclamation to tranquillise the fears
of foreign merchants, anxious, doubtless, to detain them
within his reach- till his arrangements were so matured
ta ;Grapermit their seizure. Next day the merchants were
irnY Warned by an official communication from Capt.
is ti to quit the factory before sun-set. The same even-
bop_ about tniduiglit, the Chinese commenced the attack,
" general cannonade against the advanced ships of
lo aquadron (now
e off Ca
nton), wherever the guns could
hrought to
and by fire rafts deddown the
ter to destroybear, the headmost vessels. Thero schooner
AuroraA and Louisa cutter, were unable to weigh anchor,
abnd:‘Verte exposed off the factories to a heavy fire during
"'grit The steamer Nemesis meanwhile towed the
t IN 'JUL of the way, and opened a tremendous fire from
2-pounder guns, while the Pylades, Modeste, and
Orme kept up a brisk cannonade on the newly
erected fortress of Shaming. The fort was captured at
IggYbreak next morning, and eight highly-finished new
eurfalsvgarguns taken possession of. Meanwhile, a number
wer -Junks having issued from a creek opposite Fate,
e chased back again to their retreat by the Nemesis.
Soone8')°11, however, as they observed that the steamer was
ag: More occupied battering the fort, they venturedout
pu„11, but seeing that they were observed and instantly
to 1.-11 rd by their vigilant and terrible enemy, endeavoured
xe cure, but escaped not with their formerimpunity. The
of rilllcsis having given chase, was soon out of sight
/rwer friends, but the explosions and bursts of white or
thre:YiknOke told how fearfully she was employed. In
retar;rors she blew up no less than forty war-junks. Her
hecleePresented a scene truly unique. She was entirely
taken fed with the flags and pendants which she had
caps unl the captured junks, mandarin dresses and
Chin!.raeed the persons of the boats' crews ; and the
the
(140 tail was seen dangling from beneath the cap of
ehiajseew of one of them. The casualties among the
naval are said not to be heavy. On the 23d the forces,
mspde (1•
,loilitary, arrived off Canton, when their com-
bt; a Held a conference with the Plenipotentiary, for
teafinrPose of concerting measures for their future pro-
!eke; Ls. Sir 11. Gough proposed to disembark. the land
'Nor p the N.W. of the environs of the city, while
sonic
ratt swith the 26th Cameronians, should occupy
°n Art of
the the enemy's attention by seizing the factory
her,
1h
fgoiuthern side. In
.the.meanwhile, Captain Bel-
Plore th "!r Majesty's ship Sulphur, was sent to ex-
ilractieZ,!lrer to the north, and to report on the
°ItY of effecting a landing in that direction.
thr attacked by a number of boats of the enemy
iSoate ii4i_exeursion, but suffered no obstacles to over-
twe,,"l,, and succeeded in his mission, after destroy-
°lni of ,`‘Y-eiglit of their boats. Irma the mast-head of
restur Lae lower junks he completed his survey of the
pia
Y'aarld found that there was an excellent landing
31!‘sy Clof" that the hills north of the city appeared I
f th„ accession even to artillery. By two, r.m.,
at 2d the troops being all on board boats, &c., the
Doiat, • cosumenced towing them to their respective
f.t ftte‘4!ttaok, the right column to take possession of
bri leg by the Atalanta, and the left, consisting of
olot,eiglades, by the Nemesis. The ri,ghtcolumn, under
taq Prese„'l°llntain, arrived at their d.estin.ation. in time.
t"Nra , fur the present, the foreign factories being
cers.gaTii, the inhabitants and soldiers (Chinese). being
at 21 11 carrying off whatever came in their way ;
a the is
gsre,i' stitch and British I:longs were completely plun-
lar °I ever •
ke y thing they contained, among the rest
,a
Now atitity of woollens, stored in the Company s
before their arrival.' The left column, under
lit 's Got
e, and comprising 117 officers, 2,276 rank and
the.. 13
11' Nita guns, arrived at the village of Ising-hae,
O, ,„ of debarkation, about dusk. The General
Laals tnysuth
at veg., consisting of 28 officers, and 273
tiit't D. f,,w-“set, landed for thepurpose of reconnoitering,
Tr4ll. ran opt ggling parties alone were seen. During
eslstliag guns were landed, and the next
ssar4t,nn 11,"e landing of the remainder of the
effected, and. the whole moved for-
PUteqd a littaiae
ti) 6
_, day-light. The distance was com-
a,. g, and 40 three and a half miles from the city
ere. the 4
rive erownca , heights to the north of Canton, which
euitin, oar by tour strong forts. The ground: be-•
vi,neLlati(et. enre, and the city was chiefly under paddy
prened withi -1.110 Commander having cautiously ad-
Iraer;tll f"r ilthreange of the forts, and everything being
bourgiren, t()
ad vi attack, about half-past nine the order
siss the eta, vanoe• and in little more than half an
Y, asa -.era
arns tr_ and western forts were in our posses-
eity wialtsv„,,e)Pa looked down upon Canton within 100
dur' fls fro s* •A spirited fire was kept up from the
th ni h
'ended greater ,y ordnance, ginjalls, and matchlocks
tar teo-111, Prose sPart of the day. After the troops had
rust ts thott,,,!utd on their way, a large body of Tar-
/114114 the .1
9f capturing the .Nemesis, and made a
gun allow s edge fur that purpose; but her coin-
, ‘vh td th
that th rn (-In to approach within range of his
detti k!ty 114 up..*ned such a volley of grape upon them
Ntron,7llilla thenTti to retire, leaving a great number
t4'Y entre , To the north-east of the city was a
bya d camp, containing about 4,000
1443 tract of.""lell was separated from the heights
111,,ie„were til„P(1.1)" land, from which repeated et-
a ,L',,(.y.'s 40th"; r,
.and es frequently repulsed by her
etier".Qarilt of
..4-`,,ezilnient. About 3, P.m. it was evident
thi he Chinese
j4"..bad reached their camp (afterwards
;I,ltese triecitalteadng, tile Tartar General), and that and f , a fresh attack ; in consequence of
d- sir 'Acneral Burrell
Jtr, , th was despatched to repel it,
forrrlect3
by
erulteineMY across a narrow causeway, and
entla y her p. mn t, Nrhich duty was gallantly per-
dea,6ll),,gify of R4arlstv's 18th and 46th Regiments, and
Lifters:le rr.l\()lll'•E•th
Midua_ortrino;
macs, though not without consi-
exposed to a heavy
netultrae...c_ ot the city wall. The enemy
was et on fire ; aeveral maga-

zines were blown up, and the permanent buildings de-
stroyed. The General now determined to carry the city
by storm,_ for which every necessary measure was ef-
fected ; but a flag of truce appearing the next morning
on the city walls, Mr. Thorn (the interpreter) was de-
puted to ascertain the cause, when
nha
Gemainledraatlinhsaa stated
it
t
they were anxious for peace.
explained that, as Commander of the British Forces,
he would treat with no other than the Commander
of the Chinese army, but that he would suspend
hostilities for two hours, to allow of the Chinese
General meeting him ; that if he did not receive a
communication from her Majesty's Plenipotentiary (who
was with the squadron south of the city), or had not a
satisfactory interview with him during that time, hosti-
lities should be resumed. The Chinese General not
making his appearance, the interval was made use of to
bring up the guns, &c. During the night of the 26th,
everything was prepared in the British camp ; orders
were prepared to open the batteries at seven, and to com-
mence the attack at eight next morning, in four columns.
On the morning of the 27th, when our troops were about
to commence operations, an officer of the Royal Navy
ar-
rived in the camp, who had been travelling all night,
having lost his way, with a communication from Captain
Elliot, containing instructions to suspend all hostilities
as the inhabitants of Canton had agreed to ransom the
city. In compliance with these orders (though greatly
to his mortification), Sir H. Gough was obliged to coons
termand his order for the attack. The, conditions upon
which Captain Elliot agreed with the Chinese for the
ransom of Canton were—first, that all soldiers other
than those of the province, with the three Imperial
Commissioners, should quit the city in six days, and
retire 60 miles. 2d. Six millions of dollars to be paid
for the use of the Crown of England, counting from
27th May—one million payable before sunset of that day.
3d. For the present, the British troops to remain in their
actual positions; no additional preparations for hostilities
to be made on either side. If the sum agreed upon be
not paid within seven days, it shall be increased to seven
millions ; if not within fourteen days, to eight millions ;
if not within 20 days, nine millions. When the whole
shall be paid all the British forces to return without the
Bocce Tigris and Wangtong, and all fortified places
within the river to be restored, and not to be re-armed
till all affairs are settled between. the two nations.
4. Losses occasioned by the plunder or the factories, and
by the destruction of the Spanish brig Bilbanio in 1839,
to be paid within one week. 5. It is required that the
Kwang-chow-foo shall produce full powers to conclude
this arrangement on the part of the three Commissioners-
- General of the Tartar garrison, the Governor-General,
and theFooyun ofKwatsetung. At ten o'clock, at the request
of Yiihg, the Tartar General, a conference was held between
Sir H. G ough (accompanied bySii F. Senhouse)andhimself,
when a long parley ensued. Sir Hugh explained to him
that her Majesty's Plenipotentiary having resumed nego-
tions with the local authorities, he should await a further
communication from him. At twelve o'clock, A.M., Capt.
Elliot arrived in camp, when all further active operations
ceased. The day following (28th) a conference was held
with the Kwang-chow-foo under that walls of the city,
when every arrangement was made for the evacuation of
the city, by as large a body of the Tartar troops as could
be got ready, and a mandarin of rank was permitted to
pass through the British ranks to procure quarters for
them. Sir 11. Gough was now informed that the Chinese
forges consisted of 45,000 men, exclusively of troops be-
longing to the Kwang-tung province. The Tartar troops
at the request of Captain Elliot, were permitted by Sir
IL Gough to pass out at the north-east gate. carrying
with them their arms and baggage, but were not allowed
to display their banners or sound any music. The next
day (29th), a large body of troops, apparently regulars,
numbering about 5,000, armed with long spears, shields,
and swords, were collected on the heights, and were
rapidly increasing. The General advanced against them
with a wing of the 26th, three companies of the 49th, the
37th Madras N. L, and the Bengal Volunteers, sup-
ported by the Royal Marines. The enemy were dis.
persed with some difficulty on account of a thunder-storm
that came on, and which wetted the muskets of the
troops so that they would not go off. The heat of the
sun was at this time so insupportable, that Major Beecher,
Deputy Quartermaster General, fell from exhaustion,
and expired in a few minutes. Indeed, both officers and
men were nearly exhausted. The next day a similar
force of the enemy had assembled, and meditated an
attack on our camp ; upon which Sir H. Gough sent to
the Kwang-chow-foo, stating that he would resume hos-
tilities if a similar insult should again be offered. On
Captain Elliot joining the camp, a meeting was held with
the Prefect, who declared that the conduct of the soldiers
was contrary to the wishes of the authorities, and that
he would soon disperse them by sending off his own as-
sistant, if the General would depute an officer to accom-
pany him. Captain Moore, of the 34th Bengal Native
InfautrY, volunteered to do so, and they were quite suc-
cessful, as the enemy entirely dispersed on learning the
reason of their coming. Sir H. Gough, finding that five
millions of dollars had been paid, and that Captain Elliot
was satisfied with the security for the remaining million
for the ransom of Canton—that 14,500 Tartar troops had
marched out of the town, that 3,000 had gone by water,
and that the remainder were prepared to follow, when
carriage's could be procured, acceded to the wish of her
Majesty's Plenipotentiary to re-embark the troops—the
Chinese finding Coolies to convey the guns and ammuni-
tion. The Coolies being furnished on the Ist of June,
the troops and pns were embarked, the British flag was
lowered in the four forts, and the expedition returned to
Tsing-hae. Our casualties have- been very heavy—
Major Beecher fell from over-fatigue—Lieutenant Fox,
of the Nimrod, killed—and fifteen officers wounded. The
number of soldiers and seamen, on shore and on land,
amounts to 13 killed and 97 wounded. Sir H. Le F. Sen-
house stink under the fatigue he had undergone, aided,
it is said, by the mortification he experienced at the pro-
ceedings of her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.
OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS OF THE LATE NAVAL
AND MILITARY OPERATIONS IN CHINA.
(From the Calcutta Gazette Extra, Aug. 7.)
NOTIFICATION, FORT WILLIAM, SECRET DEPART-
MENT, AuG. 7, 1841.—The Right Honourable the Go-
vernor-General of India in Council, having this day
received intelligence of the happy result of the joint
operations of hr Majesty's and the Honourable Com-
pany's naval and military forces, in an attack upon the
Chinese forces, in front of the city of Canton, on the
25th and 30th of May last, is pleased to direct the pub-
lication for general information of the following despatch
from General Sir Hugh Gough, K.C.8., commanding
the land forces, and extracts from a despatch addressed
by Captain Sir Henry Le Fleming Senhouse, K.C.H., the
senior and naval officer of the fleet at Canton, to his Ex-
cellency the naval Commander-in-chief in India, which
has been communicated to the Supreme Government.
These accounts of the brilliant successes of the Bri-
tish arms, have been received with the highest gratifica-
tion by the Governor-General in Council, who, in ex-
pressing his admiration of the conduct of every portion
of the forces employed in this service, has deeply to
lament the loss which has been sustained by the death
of Captain Sir H. Le Fleming Senhouse, who is reported
to have subsequently sunk under the fatigue and ex-
haustion caused by his exertions in the actions with the
Chinese.

The Governor-General in Council is pleased to direct
that in honour of this victory of the British arms, a
royal salute be fired from the ramparts of Fort William,
and at the principal military stations of the Army of
India.

By order of the Right Honourable the Governor-
General of India in Council,

T. H. MADDOCK.
Secretary to the Gov. of India.

THE RIGHT HONOUF.ABLE EARL OF AUCKLAND, G.C.8.,
GOVERNOR-GENERAL, &C., &C.

Headquarters, Ship Marion, Canton River, pro-
ceeding to Hong Kong, June 3, 1841.
My Lord—My letter of the 18th from Hong Kong
will have made your Lordship aware of the temporary
abandonment or the movement on Amoy, in order to re-
sume active operations agaiLst Canton, consequent upon
the constant arrival and concentration of a large force
upon the several provinces, and other demonstrations in-
dicative of an interruption to our friendly intercourse with
the provincial Government.
2. From the judicious and unwearied exertions of Sir
Le Fleming Senhouse, the senior naval officer, the fleet
of men-of-war and transports was prepared tosail on the
18th, but in consequence of light and variable winds, the
whole did not get under weigh until the 19th. Her
Majesty's ship Blenheim took up her position within six
miles of Canton in the Macao passage, on the 21st ult.
but the whole of the force was not assembled until the
morning of the 23d, when I proceeded with Sir Le F.
Senhouse to the vicinity of the suburbs of the city, for
the double object of meeting her Majesty's plenipoten-
tiary and ascertaining, as far as possible, the extent of
the enemy's preparations.

3. It being the anxious wish both of Sir Le Fleming
Senhouse and myself to commence active operations on
so auspicious an epoch as the anniversary of the birth of
our Sovereign, every exertion was made, and the troops
were placed by 2 r. DI., on that day in various craft, pro-
cured during the previous day and night by the great
exertions of the royal navy.
4. From all the sources from which I had been ena-
bled to collect information, or rather from the conjec-
tures of persons who have long resided in China, (for
no European had been permitted to see the country
above the factories, and the Chinese would give no infor-
mation), I was induced to decide on making my principal
point of debarkation to the north west of the city, while
another column was to take possession of the factories,
drawing the attention of the enemy to that quarter; and at
the same time toco-operate with the naval force which was
to attack the river defences, in order to silence nume-
rous new works recently erected by the Chinese nlong
the whole southern face of the city. A most spirited
and judicious reconnoissance made by Captain Belcher,
of her Majesty's ship Sulphur, the previous evening, es-
tablished the, practicability of effecting a landing at the
point I had selected.
5. Every arrangement having been completed by two
o'clock, and the boats and other craft placed in tow of
the steamers, the force moved to the point of attack as
follows : .

Right column to attack and hold the factories, in two
of the Atalanta, consisting of her Majesty's 26th
Regi-
Oiicers. Other ranks. went, as per margin, al!
15 294 an
officer and twenty rank c 1
file of the Madras Artillery,
with one 6-pounder and one si-inch mortar, and thirty
sappers, with an officer of engineers, under Major Pratt,
of her Majesty's 2Gth.
Left column—towed by the Nemesis, in four brigades,
to move left in front.

w
OEE 5,4

fIL M. 49th, commanded by
4th .(Left, Brigade Major Stephens 28 273
underLieut.-Col. 37th M. N. f., Capt. Duff, 11 219
Morris,49thßeg. ! One Company Bengal Vo-
L twiteera, Capt. Mee— 1 114