The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-07 00:00:00

Johnston, Acting-Master, late of the Bittern, having
ascertained, by personal examination, and at considerable
risk, the practicability of the breach, the force partion-
larised in the enclosed return was told off for the assault
under the command of Commodere the Hon. C. Elliot.
The landing was effected at 2 p.m., and the men hav-
ing for Med, were at once led to the attack (accompanied
by field pieces in charge of Lieutenants Bushnell and
Tarysden), the seamen by the, Commodore, Captain the
Hon. Keith Stewart, and Commanders Bute and Rol-
land ; the Royal Marines by Captains P. C. Penrose
a.,d R. Boyle. The way was most gallantly shown by.
Commander Bate, whom I observed alone, waving an
ensign on the top, of the breach. The parapet of the
wall was immediately afterwards covered with'the ma
rines and seamen, who, diverging to the left and right,
bad, within ten minutes, complete possession of the de-
fences between two of the gates, with the field pieces in
the breach.
Captain Penrose, on gaining the wall, hastened to the
gate to the right, on which he hoisted a small flag, to
show its position to Captain Hall, who then promptly
landed with the boats' crews of the Calcutta an 3 Barra.
couta, and, having pushed his way through the streets to
the city gate, quickly effected an entrance, with the as-
sistance of Commander Fortescue,. Lieutenant a C.
Fowler, my flag-lieutenant, Captain Rotten, R.A., and
four gunners of that corps.
The gate was tben blown to pieces, and the archway
partially deetroyed, by two large charees of gunpowder.
Little opposition was offered by the Chinese trorpa
(though the guns were loaded on the parapet) beyond keep-
ing up a scattered and desultory fire from the streets and
houses, by which we sustained a loss of 3 private marines
killed and 11 men wounded. The wounded were conveyed
to the Dutch Folly, where they received every attention
from Dr. C. A. Anderson, staff-surgeon of the flag-ship,
and Assistant-Surgeon Newton, of the Bittern.
I had the satisfaction of entering the city through the
gate, soon after its passage had been secured, and accom-
panied by the Commodore, her Majesty's Consul, and a
portion of the force, I visited and inspected the house
and premises of the High Commissioner. We re-eua-
barked at sunset, and the officers and men werereturned
to their respective quarters; my ohject, which was to
show his Excellency that I had the power to enter the
city, having been fully accomplished.
Before the landing took piece, I assembled the officere
and urgently impressed upon them (as I had previously
done by written order) the necessity of restraining the
men from molesting the persons and. property of the in-
habitants, confining warlike operations against the
troops only ; and I have pleasure in bearing testimony
to the forbearance and good conduct of the seamen and
marines. No straggling took place, and when the orders
were given to re-embark the men returned to their boats
with regularity and despatch.
AbJut 5 p.m. a second fire broke out in the suburbs,
bordering on the first one, which consumed a large
number of houses.

At daylight on the 30th, it was discovered that the
breach had been filled up during the night with sand
bags and timber ; a 'few shot, however, soon cleared it
again, as well as on the mornings of the 31st and the Ist
of November.

I now judged it expedient to personally address the
High, Commissioner, in the h-ipe of inducing him to ac-
cede to our demands. I p tinted out that the steps which.
had been taken were occasioned byhis refusal to afford
reparation in the case of the Arrow ; that the city of
Canton was at my mercy ; and that it was in his power
by an immediate consultation with me to terminate a
state of affairs so likely to lead to the most serious
calamities. His Excellency's reply consisted of a resume
of his letters to Mr. Parkes ; be defended his conduct,
and intimated that he had already appointed his deputy
to consult with me (this was an officer of very inferior
rank to my own).
I sent an immediate answer, and informed the High
Comtnissioaer that unless I received an explicit assur-
ance of his assent of what I bad prOposed, I should at
once resume operations. I added that the deliberation
with which I had so far proceeded should have convinced
his Excellency of my reluctance to visit the consequences
of his acts on the inhabitants of Canton, but that should
he persist in his present policy, he would be responsible
for the result, and would learn, when too late, that we
had the power to execute what we undertook. His
Excellency rejoined on the 34 November, and after re-
capitulating his former correspondence, avoided touching
on the subject of our demands.
Fears being entertained that the Chinese would set
fire to the houses round the factory, to insure its de-
struction, a party was employed for three days in
purling down such houses as were necessary to our safety,
leaving an open space between the town and the factory.
One of the rows of houses (called Hog-lane) penetrated
'he whoie length between two of the factories, and ha-1
long been a source of disquiet to the mercantile commu-
nity. The officer commanding the troops at Hong
Kong subsequently sent me a company of gun Lascars
to clear away the debris.
Captain Thomas Wilson arrived on the 31st with
90 officers and seamen of her Majesty'sahip Winchester.

As the Chinese boats continued' to furni,h supplies
to our ships during the operations, I considered it of
great importance to inform the public of the nature of
our grievances, ;the mere particularly as various placards
had been issued against us with a view to excite enmity
against us. I therefore had copies of my letters to the
High Commissioner printed, and Captain Hall distri
buted them from his boat. They were eagerly sought
for. Mr. Parkes also promulgated a precis of the whole
affair.

At 11 o'ciock in the morning of the 3d of November, I
commenced a slow firing on the G3vernment buildings
in the Tartar city, and at Gough's Fort, from the En-
counter, Sampson, and the Dutch Folly, and continued
it till 5 p.m. At midnight an explo,don took place in a
.rnall boat inserted under the platform of the Club•h,,use,
where the seamen and marines are lodged. It was evi-
dently intended to blow up and set fire to the building.
Fortunately it did no damage beyond slightly burning
one of the sentries. Ail the, Chinese boats which bad
heretofore been allowed to remain unmolested round the
factory sea-wall were now driven away.
Being most anxious to avoid the necessity 'of further
coercive measures, I again addressed the High. Commis-
Sieper on the 3d, but as he could not be brought to en-
tertain the justice of our demands, I was compelled to
re-open fire on the 4th, and again on the stb, from one
of the Sampson's 68-pounders, mounted in the Dutch
Folly. It was principally directed at a fortification
crowning a bill in the rear of the city;, hitherto consi-
dered impregnable ; but, although at extreme range,
several shells burst within the works, the effects of which
must have undeceived the authorities as to their supposed
security in that position.
. . . . .

On the sth inet. I received information that an attack
was intended to be made on our ships and the factory,
and that twenty-three war junks were at anchor belo
the Dutch Folly, protected by the French Folly Fort,
mounting twenty-six heavy guns. Captain Hall haying
ascertained the correctness of the statement about the
junks, I directed Commodore Elliot to take the Barra-
couta, Coromandel, and the ships' boats, and either dis-
perse or capture them. The narrow channel baying
been buoyed by C )mmander Bate at daylight of the 6th,
tho Barracouta proceeded, followed t,y the Coromandel
with a detachment of Royal Marines, and towing the
ships' boats. Commander Fortescue anchored his ship
about 800 yards above the French Folly, and within
200 yards of the nearest junks, which were perfectly
prepared for attack, and drawn up in line of battle.
As the Chinese were observed training and pointing their
guns, the Barracouta was obliged to open fire from her
bow pivot gun to check their deliberate arrangements,
before her broadside could be brought to bear. A most
animated fire was returned instantly by the junks and
fort from more than 150 guns, which was maintained
with great spirit for at least 36 minutes ; but when the
ship was sprung, her grape and canister, with the aid of
the boats in charge of Capt. T. Wilson, which pulling in
opened a most effective fire, soon drove the people out
of the junks. The Barracouta was then enabled to give
her undivided attention to the fort, and having silenced
it, Capt. Hall pulled in and took p oisession. The guns
and ammunition were destroyed. Two 32-pounders in
the Dutch Folly, from whence I had the opportunity of
witnessing the engagement, greatly assisted the Barra-
conta by the excellence of their fire.
Many of the junks being aground, and ethers sunk by
our shot, they were all consequently burnt, except the
Admiral's ship, which was brought off. Only two escaped,
and one of them was afterwards burnt by Capt. Hall.
I was much pleased with the conduct of all the officers
and men engaged on this service, especially of Comman-
der Fortescue, his officers, and ship's company,* under
the heavy fire to which they were exposed. Commander
Fortescue mentions the gallant conduct of Lieut. W. K.
Bush, senior lieutenant of the Barracouta. The commo-
dore has also brought to my notice the cool courage of
Lieut. H. H. Beamish, of my flag-ship, in carrying out
an anchor during the heaviest of the fire, to enable the
Barracouta to spring her broadside.
lam happy to state that our loss only amounted to
one seaman, of the Calcutta, killed in Lieut. Beamish, s
boat, and four men wounded on board the Barracouta.
H.M. steam ship Niger arrived on the 7th from Eng-
land ; and 44 officers and seamen from the French fri-
gate Virginie, came up to the factory to protect t heir
interests.

At 4 a.m. on the Bth, a bold attempt was made to de-
stroy our ships with fire-rafts. Four were sent down
with the tide ; one was anchored close ahead of the Bar-
racouta, and but for the promptitude with which her
cable was slipped, might have been productive of disas-
trous consequences. One raft burnt at her anchor, the
others drifted clear to leeward. To prevent *similar oc-
currence, I caused a line of junks to be drawn across the
river, both and above and below the squadron. One of
the junks in the upper boom was burnt by a stinkpot
thrown on board on the morning of the 12th. and two
fire-boats exploded alongside the Niger at 9 a.m. on the
13th. This led to all boats, with which the river is
thronged, being ordered beyond the lines of junks.
Between the Bth and 12th Nov., the Consul received
three deputations from the principal merchants and
gentry of Canton, who seemed anxious to bring about a
settlement of the present disastrous state of affairs.
They were obliged to admit that our demands were not
unreasonable; but that such was-the inflexibility of the
High Commissioner's character, that they feared it
would be useless to attempt to alter his expressed-deter-
mination not to adn,it our representatives in the city.
They denied the accusation made by the High Commis-
sioner, that he had been compelled by clamour to offer a
reward for our heads, and loudly expressed their disap-
probation o" it. Even if they have the disposition to
settle this dispute in our favour, I fear they lack the
power to do so.
Strenuous efforts having been made, without effect,
to compel a compliance with our demands, bir John
Bowring, on the Bth, submitted that the next step should
be the destruction of the Bogus Forts. Concurring in
this opinion, I informed the High Commissioner that
unless he submitted within 24 hours, I should resume
hostile measures. I waited more than the stipulated

time, and proceeded in 'the Encounter below the Bogue
Forts on the afternoon of the 11th; leaving the Sampson
and Niger, with the Commodore Elliot, to protect the
factory. I found there the C t cutta (in which I re-
hoi4ed my f 1.44, Nankin, Barracouta, Hornet (just
arrived from Shanghai), and Coromandel tender.
On the following morning I sent a summons to the
Chief Mandarin to deliver up the forts till the Viceroy's
conduct could be submitted to the , Emperor of China,
rpleds:ing myself that the forts should remain uninjured,
and be given back when the present ,differences shall
be terminated. This being refused, the squadron then
attacked the two Wantung Island Forts from the Bremer
Channel side, and they were taken possession of by the
boats and Royal Matinee, after a considerable though
ill-directed resistance of about an hour. 'Nese forts
were fully manned, had upwards of 200 guns mounted,
and were found stronger than when captured in 1841.
The Chinese troops stood to their guns up to the moment
our men entred the embrasures. The Mandarins had
boats in readiness to facilitate their own escape, leaving
their unfortunate followers, who rushed into the water
tantil they were assured of their safety by the efforts made
to save them. They were afterwards landed on the main.

One boy killed and tour men wounded on bnaid the
Nankin, was happily the extent of our casualties, though
stinkpots were freely thrown at those who first entered
the forte.

On the 13th the Annunghoy Forts, on the oppo.ite
side of the Bo.oe entrance, mounting together 210 gans,
were similarly attacked and taken, and, though some
resistance wai ofhred, I am thankful to state, without a
casualty on our side.
Toe command of the river being now in our hands, I
have no other operation in immediate contemplation
beyond the security and maintenance of our position ;
and it will remain with her Maje.ty's Government to
determine whether the present opportunity shall be
made available to enforce to their full extent the treaty
stipulations which the Canton Government has hitherto
been allowed to evade with impunity.
I have to express my entire approval of the co.tduct
of the officers and men engaged in the series of laborious
operations I have felt it my duty to undertake. From
the c)rnmodora, captains, and commanders I have re
ceived the most prompt and efficient assistance, and their
example has influenced the officers and men. I have
already mensioned the officers who have brought them-
selves prominently to notice.
The health of the men is remarkably good, and the
squadron continues in an efficient state for any further
service.

During the whole of my proceedings I have received
the most cordial support of.the British and foreign com-
munities, from their confidence that future benefit must
be the result. Her Majesty's Consul has rendered me
most valuable assiitanc.,, particularly from his intimate
acquaintance with the Chinese language.
My thanks are especially due to Commanders Foote
and SQaith, commanding the United States naval forces,
for the good order and harmony they have so largely
contributed to preserve during the present crisis.
I have endeavoured, as briefly as its high importance
will permit, to lay before their lordships every particular
c.mnected with my proceedings. The original cause of
dispute, though comparatively trifling, has now, from
the injurious policy pursued by the Imperial High Com
missioner, assumed so very grave an aspect as to
threaten the existence of amicable relations as regards
Canton,

Though I shall continue to take steps, in conjunction
with her Majesty's plenipotentiary, in the hope of being
able to bring matters to a satisfactory termination, I
shall be mo-t anxious to receive the instructions of her
Majesty's Government on this important question.
I enclose a copy of a notice I have had issued to the
British community by her Majesty's Consul.—l have,
&c , (Signed) M. SEYMOUR, •
Rear-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief.
Ralph Osborne, MI., M.P., to,,
Admiralty, London.

Superintendency of Trade, Hong Kong,
Oct. 11, 1856.

have the honour to forward to your Excel
lency sundry despatches, with their enclosures, con-
nected with the seizure of several Chinamen at Canton
in a vessel (the Arrow) bearing the British flag.
As I have bad the honour of discussing with your
Excellency the various points at issue, and the satisfac-
tion of finding a perfect o incurrence of opinion as to the
course of action to be adopted, I shall be glad if you will
give the needful instructions to the naval authority, and
return the despatches when done with.—T have, &o.
(Signed) JOHN BOWRING.
His Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour,
K.C.B , Commander-in-Caief, &c.
British Consulate, Canton, Oct. 8, 1856.
Sir,-I have the honour to inform your Excellency that
the British lorcha Arrow, while lying with her odours
flying in the river near the Dutch Folly, was suddenly
boarded this morning by a force of Chinese officers, in a
war boat of large size and heavy armament, who pinioned
and carried away nearly the whole of her crew, leavi,ig
two out of fourteen men on board, and added to this act
of violence the significant insult of hauling down the
national ensign.
Having satisfied myself of the facts, and ascertained
that the war boat remained with the captured crew still
on board, in the immediate vicinity of the lorcha, I re-
paired on board to claim the men before they should be
conveyed to a distance, and to explain to the officers, if
it were possible that they had acted in error, the gross
insult and violation of national rights which they had
committed and the heavy responsibilities they incurred.
I informed them, and had a magistrate's officer with me
who could verify my statement, that I had already de-
manded from the civil authorities an investigation of the
subj,..ct, and called upon them, if they had any charge to
prefer stv,ainst the prisoners, to bring them in their ells
telly to the consulate, where due examination might be
had.

To this they refused to accede, stating that they had
reported the matter to their superior officers, and must
wait orders, and intimating very distinctly that they
would oppose with force any attempt en my part to take
the men under my charge.
I returned, therefore, to the Cansu!ate, and have
addressed the Imperial Commissioner the letter I beg to
enclose in copy.
The officers on board the war-boat stated to me, as
the reason of their proceedings, that one of the crew of
the lorcha, is the father of a noted Koolau pirate, and
being authorised to seize this old man wherever they
found him, and hearing that he was on board the Arrow
they considered themselves at liberty to carry him away,
without any previous reference to me, lest that I should
lead to his escape.
_ _

1 did not understand that they had any distinct charge
against the other eleven men, but heard that they wanted
them fur evidence or information they considered they
would be able to give against the said pirate.
Since writing the above (at a late hour in the evening),
a coolie whom I bad left, on board the war boat to watch
proceedirgs has returned, and reported that all the pri-
sooera have been conveyed into the city.
I shall be glad to receive any support or instruction
that your Excellency may consider the case r equires.—
I have, &c., (Signed) H. S. PAUSES, Consul,
Hid Excellency Sir John Bowring, LL.D.,
Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, Hong Kong.
British Consulate, Canton, Oct. 8, 1856.

Sir,—l hasten to bring to your Excellency's ❑otice an
insu!t of a very grave character which calls for immediate
reparation.

This morning, shortly after 8 o'clock, a Chinese war
boat boarded an English lorcha, the Arrow, lying at
anchor in the river near the Dutch Folly, and regardless
of the remonstrances of her master, an Englishman,
seized, bound, and carried off twelve of her Chinese
crew, and hauled down the English colours which were
then flying.
Hesitating to rely solely on the master's account of
so gross an outrage, Tat once despatched people to make
inquiries, and found that the facts were as he bad stated,
and that the war boat, said to be under the command of
Leang-Kwo-ti: g (how-pe), in the imperial service, after
leaving the lorcha, had dropped down the river, and was
lying off the Yantsing gate with the crew of the lorcha
still on board as prisoners. _ _ _

On receiving this intelligence I proceeded in person
to the war boat, accompanied by her Majesty's vice-con-
sul, and explained to the officer who I found in charge,
named the Le-yung-shing, the gravity of the error com-
mitted by the said war boat in boarding and carrying off
by force of arms the crew of an E glish vessel, and the
gross indignity offered to the national flag by hauling
down the lorcha's ensign. I also required him to bring
his prisoners to the British consulate, there to await
examination, but this he refused to do ; and on my
claiming them, and insisting on their being delivered to
me, he made a display of force and threatened me with
violence if I attempted to take them with me.
I hasten, therefore, to lay the case before your excel-
lency, confident that your superior judgment will lead
you at once to admit that an insult so publicly committed
must he equally publicly atoned. I therefore request
your Excellency to direct that the men who have been
carried away from the Arrow be returned by the captain,
Leang-kwo-ting, the officer who seized them, to tbat
vessel in my presence, and if accused of any crime they
may h 3 conveyed to the British Consulate, where,
in
conjunction with proper officers, deputed by your Excel-
lency for the purpose, I shall be prepared to investigate
the case.
At the same time that I address your Excellency on
this subject, I am submitting both to her Majesty's ple-
nipotentiary and the commodore of her Majesty's naval
force in this river a report of what has occurred ; and
I should also add, that the said lorcha being at present
detained here in consequence of the seizure of her crew,
has a claim on your .Excellency's government for the
expenses which this delay occasions her.—l have, &a ,
(Signed) H. S. PARKES, Consul.
His Excellency Yeb, Imperial High Commissioner,
Governor-General, &c.

British Consulate, Canton, Oct. 9, 1856.
Sir,—With reference to my despatch, No. 150, of last
night, reporting the grave violation of national rights,
committed yesterday by Chinese officials on board the
British lorcha Arrow,
I have now the honour to enclose a copy of the letter
I addressed to Commodore Eliot, of her Majesty's ship
Sybille, at present at anchor, I believe, at Chunpee.
The whole of this day has passed without the receipt of
any communication from the Imperial Commissioner, or
any other Chinese official, relative to this outrage.
In the hope of inducing the Imperial Commissioner to
view the matter in the grave light which it deserves, I
have again called his attention to it in a letter this mo•
went despatched.
I have also taken in the course of the day several depo-
sitions confirmatory of the facts set forth in my letter of
yesterday.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) H. S. PARSES, Consul.
His Excellency Sir John Bowring, LL.D.,
Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, Hong Kong.
British Consulate, Canton, Oct. 8, 1856.
5ir,—,4132 outrage, involving a gross insult to our flag,

has been committed this morning by Chinese officers, on
board the British lorcha Arrow ; the Rirticalars yonwilt
find related in the enclosed copy of a letter, which, failing
reparation at the hands of the actors in the matter, I
have just addressed to the Imperial Commissioner and
Governor-General of these provinces. Since doing: ao,
I have just heard that the captured crew of the Arrow
have been taken from the war-boat into the city. Ica
at present form no opinion as to the course affairs may
take, but fear that even if the Imperial Commissioner do
not entirely countenance the proceedings of his officers,
he may still withhold from me the satisfaction I have
claimed. The pres,rice cf her Majesty's ship Sybille at
Whampoa, at this juncture, or of any prompt mark of
support that you could render me, might have the effect
of materially strengthening my position, and I hasten
therefore to lay the circumstances before you, in the
hope that you will be pleased to take such steps therein
as you may consider the exigency authorises or requires.
—I have, &e.,

(Signed) H. S. PARKES, Consul.
Gjamodure the Hun. Charles Billet,
Her Majesty's ship Sybille.

British Consulwe, Canton, Oct. 10, 1856.
Sir,—l have the honour to inclose in copy and trans.
lation the reply of the Imoerial Commissioner, received
at noon this tby, to my representations relative to the
Arrow outrage.
The nine men enumerated at the close of his letter were
returned to me at the same time, but I refused to receive
th.m. bee Luse they were not delivered in the manner I
bad demanded ; but I doubt not the assistant magistrate
will put them on board the loreha, in obedience to the
orders given bun to this effect by the Imperial CJintnis-
sioner.

Nothing, it appears to tx.e, can be more unsatisfactory
than the reply of the Imperial Commissioner, who offers
no redres, or apology, but upholds the acts of his officers
throughout, and denies that the lorcha is British owned.
This he maintains on the evidence of one of the lorcha's
crew, who, being a pri,nner in the hands of the manila.
Fans, was ready, doub less, to conform his statement to
their wishes.

He declared that the lorcha belonged tl one Toonching,
respecting whom, however, no information is afforded.
I should mention that the Arr)w is sailing under a
colonial certificate of registry, renewable annually, bear.
ing thcodate 27th Sept., 1855, and a number 27.

She is therein said to belong solely to Fong-Arcing,
of "Victoria, Hong Kong, Chinese trader, but the place
and date of build are not given
Her master's nline is Thomas Kennedy, a native of
Belfast, and a very respectable man of his class, who in-
forms me that he was engaged by Mr. Block, Danish
Consul at Hong Kong, as nominal master of the lorcha,
which he has hithett ) believed to belong to Mr. Block's
compradore, and he supposes that it is the compradore's
name which appears on the register.
'Th© immediate departure of this evening's post-boat
obliges me to close this despatch without further remark
—but I may add that Commodore Etliot has communi-
cated to me his intention of moving her Majeity's ship
Sybille up to %Vhampoa at once —I have, Etc.,
(Signed) 11. S. Ptaxee, Consul,
His Excellency Sir John B3wring, LL.D.
Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, Hong Kong..

Teh, Imperial High Commissioner, Governor-General of
the Two Kwang Provinces, &c., addresse. this decla•

ration to Mr. Parkes, the British consul at Canton.

At about 8 o'clock on the morning of the 11th day (9th
Oct )ber), and again about 4 o'clock on the same day, I
received the two written repreientations of the said con-
sul, and well considered their contents.
The Prefect of Canton was ordered ,by me to examine
the 12 men, Le-Mingtae and others, seized on board the
lorcha ; but prior to the issue of these directions, I had
already been informed by certain subordinate naval au-
thorities that these same men, Le-Mingtae and others,
were the perpetrators of the piracy committed at San-
chow-tang (in St. John's Island), on the Bth day of the
Bth month (Bth Sept.), on the merchant vessel belonging
to Hwang-Leen-liae, who wears the decoration of fifth
rank.

In the matter of this piracy llwano.Leen•Kae deposed
as follows :

" I belong to the small town of Lin Hin, in the rural
division of the Chintsun, in the district of Shiwtih. On
the Bch day of the Bch month (Sept. 6) I arrived (in my
vessel) off San-Chow-tang, in the district of Sin-ning,
where I fell in with a large pirate fleet. Being supported
by my crew, lopened fire upon the pirates in self-defence
and fought them from 7 o'clock until 4. I observed that
they had with them a lorcha and a Teigh-pang (name of
a certain class of boat), and two or three foreigners. On
our side we had but two sailing junks ; and being un-
able with these to resist the superior force of the pirates
they carried us by the board, and plundered us of all
our cargo, consisting of between five and six bundrea
motile of indigo, aniseed, hides, coarse paper, and paddy
lam able to recognise one of the pirates. He wore a
red turban and a red girdle, hae lost one or two of his
front teeth, and sh• seed on his crew to keep up their fire.
I threw myself into the water and escaped, but of those
who were with me, Ayun received a sword cut, and a
lad from Keang-man, and two other men named Aseet-
sae and Ta-a-sye, received gunshot wounds. Ali these
four have since died of their wounds, wnich were very
severe.

"On the 10th inst. (Bth Oct.) I came up to Canton
and recognised, as I sailed past the lorcha (the Arrow),
one of the men who had fought against me on the Bth
day of the Bth month, as above mentioned. I imotedi.
ately reported the circumstance to the naval authorities
of the sea-cruising force, and with them went and selaYl
the 12 criminals, Le-Mingtae and others. Of the 12
criminals who have now been taken into custody, I am
certain that Le-Mingtae, alias Leang-Mingtae, was one
of those (pirates) who attacked me in the manner de-
scribed."

The following deposition was made by Woo Ajin:—
" I come from the end of Cha Chuen, at Macao, in
the district of Heangehan. This lorcha (the Arrow) be-
longs to Lou-Aching, who began to build it ou the 14th
day of the 7:,h month of the 4th year of Hien•fung (7th
Aug., 1354). On the very day that the lurcha was com-
pleted he obtained a register for her, through the foreign
firm Polo (? F. a Block, of Hong Kong), for which he
paid 1,000 dole. He also engaged the foreigner Aloo to
serve in the lorcha, at the rate of 30 do s. per month.
Hitherto she male voyages along the coast to Foo-chow,
Amoy, and Shanghai, trading in rice, pulse, and general
merchandise. I am aware that Le-Mingtae is also
known by the name of Leang-Mingtae.
"On the 23d day of the Bth month of the present year
(21st Sept.), Kaon-Laimph, the helmsman of our vessel,*
engaged Le-Mingtae and Leang-Keenfoo to assist in the
navigation of our vessel.

`• on the evening of the 25,h day of the Bth month
(Sept. 23), we were sitting al'sne in the bow of the ♦essel,
when 1.4-Mingtae told me that on the Gth day of the
Bth month (4th Sept.), he, with Leang-Keenfoo and
inure than thirty other men, joined themselves to five or
six Tsih.pang boats, and plundered the junks belonging
to Wang-Leen-kae, off San-chow-tang, in the
district of Sin-ruing ; ❑one of the remaining ten men (of
our crew), Tang Akee and others, took partiu the piracy,
and I certainly had no share in it. What I state is per-
fectly true."
It is clear, from the above reports and depositions,
that the officers had good reasons for seizing these ms-a,
amongst whom there are several great offenders. Woo-
Agin, Le-Mingtae, and Leang-Keenfoo, must be again
very strictly examined ; but 1 have directed that the
assistant magistrate Hen take the remaining nine,
namely, Leang-Apaoh, Leang-Meike, Leang-A.tae,
Leang-Agew, Leaon-Aow, Ho-A-pih, Yuen-Ake, Leang-
King jen, and Tang...A.-Kee, and return them to their
vessel.

As to what (the consul) states relative to the lorcba
being reimbursed the expenses consequent on her deten-
tion, I find that as the lorcba was built by Loo-Aching,
who •obtained a register for her through Polo (Ms.
Block), to whom he paid LOOO dollars, she •is not a
foreign vessel (loicha), , and it is useless, therefore, to
enter into any discussion respecting her.

Names of the nine men who are herewith sent back :
Tang-Akee, Leang-King-j en, Yuen-Ake, Ho-A-pib,
Leaon-Aow, Leang-Agew, Leang-Atae, Leang-Meike,
Leang-Apaon.
Hien-lung, 6th year, 911 month, 12th day (Oct. 10,
1856). (True translation)
(Signed) H. S. PARKES.

Superintendency of Trade, Hong Kong, Oct. 11.
Sir,—I have your despatch, Nos. 151 and 153, dated
9th and 10tb, with their enclosures, on the subject of
the arrest of sundry Chi,amen on bcard a vessel called
the Arrow, bearing the British flag, and commanded by
a subject of her Majesty.
The question pre,ents two important inquiries : first,
the rights of the vessel in question ; and, second, the
conduct of the Chinese authorities.

It appears, on examination, that the Arrow had no
right to hoist the British flag, the licence to do so expired
on
ntitthiee
from which period she has not been
ion. You will send back the register
to
Butbe deliveredth e Chinese tot
had
dColonial-office.
Sept.,e
of the exp'ry of the
licence; nor do they profess that they had any other
grounds for interference than the supposition that the
owner is not a British subject ; that, however, is a ques-
tion for this Government, who granted the register; and
it is clear that the Chinese have violated the fith Article
of the Supplemental Treaty, which requires that all
Chinese malfaisants in British ships shall be claimed
through British authorities.
You will inform the Imperial Commissioner that I re-
quire an apology for what has taken place, aad au assur-
ance that the British flag shall in future be respected;
that 48 hours are allowed for this communication, which
being passed you are instructed to call on the naval
authorities to assist you in enforcing redress.
You will add, that on sufficient evidence being givet,
that British ships or British subjects have been engaged
in piratical practices, th.y will be proceeded against
without hesitation ; aid th it, on application to the pro•
per authority, Chinese offenders will not be harboured
on board British vessels; but that all proceedings must
take place according to the conditions of the treaty.
If these representations fail, the senior naval officer
will Le authorised to seize and keep in his possession one
of the Imperial junks, which he will hold until redress
he ob!ained, or further instructions be received from his
Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief.
This letter has been communicated to his Excellczr:
Sir Michael Seymour, who will give the needful instruc-
tions to the senior naval officer.—l have, &C.,
(Signed) JOHN BowRINGt.
Harry S. Parkes, Esq., H.B.M.'s Consul, Canton.

---
British Consulate, Canton, Oct. 12, 1856, Noon.
Sir,—l have the honour to state to your Excellency that,
on receipt, at noon on the 10th, of your Excellency's decle,
ration relative to the seizure by Chinese naval officers of
12 of the crew of the British lordsa, Arrow, I at once fur.

elieved, is here meant.--,H. S. P.

The Arrow,