The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-02 00:00:00

Mr. Newby has just published, 2 vo's., 21s ,

NAPLES: Religious, Social, and Political.
" Lord E*****•f is a shrewd observer and pleasant writer."
—Critic.
"The pictures are lively, and as bright as the colours and climate
they reflect " Spectator.
" Decidedly worthy of public attention."—Globe.
" The subject is one of European interest "—lllustrated Times.
" For entertaining narrative it can hardly be exceeded."—Sporting
Magazine.
" A book of greater interest has not come tinder our notice for
many years."-- Guardian.

The Friend of China says—
, " We have much pleasure in giving publicity to the
following memoranda by a gentleman posse3sed of good
Opportunities for nothing what occurred :
" Thursday, Oct. 23 —This morning Her Majesty's
ship BArracouta having a large party of marines on
board, under the command of Captain Penrose and
Lieutenant Burton, took in tow the boom boats of Her
Majesty's ships Winchester and Sybille, and proceeded to
the Barrier Fvrts, followed by the Coromandel with flag,
and having in tow come of the boats of the Calcutta.
On reaching the Upper Fort (Napier's), situated on a
peninsula, she opened fire with shell, throwing them in
first-rate style. The Winchester's boats pushed in under
shelter of her guns, and took possession of the fort.
The I3arracouta then shelled, first one, then the other of
the forts, the Coromandel's and the boats' guns doing
good work. Two forts opened fire, but it was but of
short duration, owing to the rapid movements of the
boats. Lieutenant Dent, with boats of the Sybille, took
possession of Howqua's Fort. The guns (45 of them)
were found loaded. They were spiked and the trun-
nions broken off, the carriages destroyed, and the doors
of the embrasures torn from their hinges. A similar
fate awaited the other forts. Promptitude and decision
were the order of the day. The Winchester bad some
sharp firing with the Braves, who wished to retain pos-

session of the forts. Meanwhile the Barracouta steatned

through Blenheim Reach, shelled Blenheim Fort, and
anchored below the stakes near MaCao Fort, the latter
having already been taken by the boats of the Calcutta.
The Coromandel, after the boats had finished by burning
the buildings within the forts, took them in tow, and
proceeded to Canton. The officers engaged during the
day were as follows : —The Sybille—Lieutenants Dent
and Chisholm, Midshipmen De Burgh, Price, Brooke,
and Hiperley ; the Winchester--Lieutenant- Bughnell,
Mr. Mate James, Lieutenant Peliew, Mr. Midshipman
Broome, and Assistant-Surgeon Trenson ; the Calcutta
—Lieutenants Campbell and Beamish ; Staff Surgeon
Anderson on board the Coromandel.

"Friday, 24.—This morning Commodore Elliot, in the
Barracouta, crossed the Barrier, and opened fire on the
Bird's-nest Fort. This place was a mass of ruins in a
short time. The Sampson soon followed, and took up a
position opposite the Shameen Forts. The Bird's-nest
Fort having been taken possession of was left garrisoned,
kvhile the energetic Captain Hall, with the Sybille's and
Winchester's boats, took possession of the Shameen
Forts.

" Saturday, 25.—The greater part of the day was
spent in destroying the guns of the Shameen Forts. The
Red Fort being already in the charge of her Majesty's
ship Encounter, in the afternoon the boats went down
the river and gained the Dutch Folly without opposition,
though a few hours previously there were close to it
about 20 Mandarin junks. These retired to a further
distance, and got rid of their guns. A strong party of
marines was placed in the Folly, the boats returning to
their former positions.
' Sunday, 26.—A party of the Royal Artillery ar-
rived, under command of Captain Rotten. They were
stationed in Dutch Folly, with marines and bluejackets
the latter to work two 32-pounders under command of
Commander Rolland, of the Calcutta. The guns taken
and destroyed were 437 in number, including some fine
brass 24-pounders.
" Monday, 27.—This morning, at 6 o'clock, the
Barracouta proceeded to Sulphur-creek, about two miles
and a half distant from the Shameen Forts, where in the
late war the troops disembarked to attack Gough Fort.
She succeeded in getting within shelling distance of the
Tartar encampments. Some of the shells which fell on
the Red Tower elicited cheers three times three from
the people on the Factory housetops. The Encounter
threw shell into the Viceroy's palace with unerring pre-
cision. The fine g ceased at 6 p.m.
" Tuesday, 28.—The Hon. Keith Stewart, With a
strong reinforcement from the Nankin, arrived. The
merchant Howqna requested an interview with his
Excellency the Commander-in-Chief. His Excellency
declined treating with any but those high in authority.
His Excellency, however, gave the Imperial Commis-
sioners a little longer time to pause ere more blood
should be spilt through his mulish obstinacy. The En-
counter commenced shelling the palace, and the Dutch
Folly opened fire at noon, clearing away the houses
between the wall and the water's edge. One of the houses I
caught fire, which spread rapidly towarii the Chin-chew
Hong's. This was subdued by midnight. During the '
day a strong party of blue jackets was employed in pul-
ling down houses in Hog-lane. This lane is in dangerous
proximity to the factories in case of fire, and has been '
frequently a source of much terror to foreign residents.
"` Wednesday, 29.—An efficient breach having been
made in the walls by the guns of Dutch Folly—and no
intimation from Yeh as to a wish for peace—prepara-
tion was made to attack the city by assault. The fort!
again commenced firing, the Encounterlthrowing in an i
occasional shell. At a little past 1 p.m. a party of 1801
marines and some blue jackets from ships embarked in.
boats ; they were accompanied by two field pieces, in
charge of Lieutenants Bushnell and Twisden - the whole!
number being short of 300. After a short delay under!
the walls of the fort the boats disembarked the marines
and blue jackets, who-were for shore duty. The ruinst
dthurroi h g
and whichthe atihreopmpernesshivaedlyt oh
opt!a s sTwh
ee rime
asrtiinl less
fme ui
11;
four deep and quickly marched to the breach. On the'
wall, at either side, large parties of the Chinese were
waving their flags and brandishing theilewords. The.
breach once gained, the flag was soon exhibited floating:
over the much famed wall. A party of blue jackets anct
marines, with artillery, filed to the ri:At towards one off
the city gates, which they blew in after a little time. The:
firing in the breach was kept up with much vigour on:
both sides. Four of our men were wounded and removed.
Our sharpshooters did good execution. His Excellency I
ordered up a fieldpiece, a road having been previously
cut under the inspection of Captain Stuart. A con-
tinned fire was kept up by this one piece on a wall sur.;,
1 rounding the courtyard of the palace, while the Commo=
dore gained a shorter entrance by cutting away a pali4
sade. The Admiral, followed by the Consul and other
officers and men, entered the Palace, the only occupants
to receive them being the lifeless bodies of some Chinese
I killed by shell. Pools of blood stained the residence,
1 which, from some rich hangings and other articles of
value still remaining, must have been furnished in a
luxurious style. The party eon returned to the walls,
where there was still a brisk fire. The United States!
Consul Keenan had a narrow escape of his life. Having
remained behind a little longer than was prudent, the
Chinese made a sudden rush at him with frightful yells,
but failed in gaining their object, and met with a volley
of musketry from the marines which laid prostrate a
goodly number. Just after the Admiral left we observed
a fire, which originated from the necessary explosion at
the gate. As this was fast gaining on the dwellings
towards the breach, the fieldpieces were removed to the
boats. The Braves returned to the attack, and unfor-
tunately killed two of our men and wounded several
others. Deep was the revenge inflicted by the Marinei,
who, cool as they are brave, fired with unerring aim.
The fire gaining on us, we slowly retreated towards the
boats under a strong covering party. Some boats with
12-pounders, as soon as the last man had filed off to his
boat, opened fire on the breach, thus securing a safe
embarkation.

" 'lt were invidious to point out the names of any
when all appeared to vie with one another in the execu-
tion of their duty, from the brave and worthy Admiral
to the humble mid. The Marines were under the orders
of Captains Penrose and Boyle ; Lieutenants Burton,
Henry, Swale, and Allnutt ; Captain Rotten, Royal
Artillery ; medical officer with wounded, Assistant
Surgeon Tronsen. The C ilcutta—Captain Hall, Lieu-
tenants Campbell and Beamish ; the Sybille, Lieutenants
Dent and Naers, Messrs. Brooke, Rice, and De Bergh ;
the Bittern, Captain Bate, Lieutenant Butler, and
Mr. Johnston ; Dr. Gorrin and Dr. Orr (59th) ; the
Winchester, Lieutenants Bushnell, Pellew, and
Mr. Brown, and Mr. James ; the Encounter
—Lieutenants Gibson, Twisden, and Mr. Shambler ;
the Barracouta—Capt. Fortescue, Lieut. Bush, and Mr.
Tully. There were other officers, but their names could
not be got hold of.
" Two men were killed, and one has since died of his

wounds ; one officer and 13 men were wounded.

The

wou❑ded were at first removed to the Dutch Folly, where
Dr. Anderson had an efficient staff u❑der his orders,
with Mr. Newton, of the Bittern, and Dr. Rattray, of
Nankin.

" On reaching the factories the force was received
with loud cheers by the foreigners assembled, which was
replied to by three lusty British huzzas from the strong
lungs of our sturdy fellows.
"The bags of coarse brown sugar which had been piled
up against the T-singhai Gate, situated about 150 yards
east of the entrance to the Viceroy's official residence,
having been removed by our men from the inside, so that
one person could get through, Admiral Seymour and
suite made an entrance into the city, and proceeded up
the wide staircase on the left en to the wall. This wall
on the south side of the city is about 20 or 25 feet high,
tapers upwards, and including the battlements, is some
nine or ten feet broad on the top. Here our marines were
found popping away at every imperialist soldier showing
his head above the house-tops. The appearance of the
houses and shops within the city is in no way attractive
—less so, indeed, than similar buildings in the suburbs.
Proceeding along the wall his Excellency again entered
the city down the breach, and over the remains of a'
house skirling a lane outside the extreme wall of the
Viceroy's yamun.' Under this wall, on the outside,
was a. coffin ; within the wall were two or three dead
bodies, one of them a stalwart Tartar soldier ; another a
long haired wretch, and a third with his head blown off
close to the shoulders.

" The courtyard at the entrance is over 100 feet in
width, and runs up for a considerable distance before the
grand entrance of the official residence is reached, trees,
gagstafrip and low buildings ranging along the sides, on
either of which, near the south end, are gateways marked
in large characters Eastern and Western doors. Passing
into this courtyard from east and west, too, are two
streets, and it was from ambuscades in these we had the
most to fear. Preceded by a guard of marines and blue
jackets, his Excellency Admiral Seymour Consul
Parkes, and others passed onwards, and found
little diffi-
culty in driving in the doors forming the entrance of the
'yamun.' Once within one could hardly fail to uass an
observation on the cowardice of the Chioede v I,ti n g

a post so easily defensible. Proceeding on we reached
a large ball, in the centre of which hang a full-length
picture of the late Emperor Taouk-wang, as placed there
on the 17th day of the first month of the 26th year of
his Imperial Majesty's reign. In the rear of that again
was another hall, with a similar picture of Hienfung
(the present Emperor) fir the third year of his reign.
To the left of these hall esvere the sleeping apartments ;
to the right the kitchens ; above them the refectory.
The whole place, however, was pretty well stripped, and
the north east corner of the building terribly battered
by our shot. In one of the bedrooms spoken of, mixed
up with Chinese ladies' clothing, several State papers
of some interest were found, along with a pretty letter
from the father and mother at Pekin of the Lady Lum,
the Chetoy's (Viceroy's) wife.
" On the whole, the interior of the Viceroy's official
residence within the city was found to possess much less
of grandeur than had been generally anticipated. It
was evidently a mere place of business, with accommo-
dation for residence as occasion required.

The following account from the supplement to
the Friend of China comprises the latest particu-
lftrs of what had taken place :
" CANTON, OCT. 31, 4. 30 P.M.
' "Firing from the Dutch Folly commenced this
morning at 6 a.m., and lulled for a couple of hours after
11 o'clock. The steamer Canton arrived early with about
80 -marines, who were landed in the Gardens. The
Coromandel also came' up an hour after her, and has
again left for (long Kong.
"Another placard is posted up in the city an,l suburbs,
ritising the head-money for each foreigner to 100 tub:.
Chinese report that Yeh has transferred the seals of his
4ffice to a high mandarin, who distinguished himself in
exterminating the rebels, and that he is a most energetic
Man. Yeh's apathy and mulish obstinacy in coming to
iny—decision puzzle even -the Chinese. They seem tQ
think that he is not in the ps-.ession of a sound mind,
and hence arises his unaccountable indifference to the
(ivents of the last few days.
"The removal of the whole of Yeh's treasure and
ya!uaole property from the palace took place on the
night when the first shell from the Encounter was thrown
into the city. It is sail that 3,000 coolies were employed
the whole night in carrying away his effects. Yeh is
reputed to be enormously rich ; his treasure is mostly in
gold

.• "CANTON, SUNDAY, Nov. 2, 1856.
"Nothing has been done since yesterday, and perfect
quietnes§ reigns in the faotories.
"The heads of three foreigners have been seen banging
pn the city wall. No one knows who these poor fellows
were; some suppose them to be sailors from the shipping
of Whampoa, who went into the city with the storming
party—probably lost their way, and were taken prisoners.
"The city is now, according to Chinese report, filled
with soldier, and if the British forces attempt a second
entry a vigorous resistance will be made. ,The populace
bre apparently, but most foolishly, opposed to the city
eing opened to foreigners. This prejudice must be
;overcome, cost what it may.
"The Chamber of Commerce have addressed a letter
:to the Admiral fully approving the course he has pur-
sued towards the Chinese Government since the com-
mencement of the present embroglio, and expressing a
hope that he will insist on a compliance with the rea-
:sonahle demands he has made to them.
"The last two letters of the Admiral are remarkable
for moderation and that due sense to the claims of hu-
manity which characterise a great heart and brave man.
May he, therefore, be successful in the accomplishment
of the arduous task he has undertaken ; and may the
God of Battles grant him victory and shield him from
harm !
" It may be mentioned that the terrible fires of the
28th and 29th tilt. entirely destroyed 36 out of the 38
Chin-chew and Fokien Ilongs. The value of property
lost is said to be immense. Unfortunately, however, the
Chinese will not believe that the fire was purely acci-
dental, and that it was far from the wish and intention
of the English to peril private property in any way when
it could be avoided.
" CANTON, MONDAY, 4.30 P.M.
. _

" The Admiral's letter has dra.wn forth no satisfactory
response apparently. His Excellency will hardly have
expected it, for to-day, at a little before noon, firing
commenced from the Folly, the Encounter, and the
Sampson—shell as fast as it could be thrown into the
old city. This terrific and continued cannonade for now
five hours is quite sickening to civilians on shore ; houses
appear to quiver again. There has been some firing at
foreigners on the factory roofs from the direction of
Looking-glass-street.
" CANTON, TUESDAY, 4,30 P.M.

" Firing commenced at 1 o'clock to-day, and has just
ceased. It was briskly kept up, but without much
apparent damage. There were some signs of a fire in
the old city just now, but it is out again.

The subjoined official communications. form a
connected narrati►e of the various events :

CIRCULAR.

British Consulate, Canton, Oct. 21, 1856, 6 p.m.
The undersigned circulates for the information and guid-
ance of the British and foreign community at this port, the
accompanying copy of a letter which, in the spirit of the
instructions of her Majesty's Plenipotentiary he has ad-
dressed, and has this evening delivered to the Imperial
Commissioner and Viceroy of the Provinces.
(Signed) HARRY S. PARSES,
EIJI M.'s Officiating Consul at Canton.
To the British and Foreign Community at Canton.
(Copy.)
British Consulate, 21st October, 6 pm., 1856.
On the morning of the Bth instant the British lorcha
Arrow, when lying among the shipping anchored before
the city, was boarded without any p evious reference being
made to the British Consul, by a large force of Chinese
officers and soldiers in uniform. who, in the face of the re-
monstrance of the master, an Englishman, seized, bound,
and carried away twelve Chinese out of her crew of four-
teen, and hauled down her colours. I reported all the par-
ticulars of this public insult to the British flag, and grave
violation of the IX. article of the Supplementary treaty to
your Excellency the same day, and appealed to you to
afford satisfaction for the insult, and cause the provision
of the treaty to be in this case faithfully observed.
But your Excellency, with a strange disregard both to
justice and treaty engagement, has offered no reparation or
apology for the injury ; and by retaining the men you have
seized, in your custody, signify your approval of this viola-
tion of the treaty, and leave her Maiestf government
without assurance that a similar event shall not again
occur.

--- -
Your Excellency was warned by what took place on the
evening of the 14th inst. of the dangerous consequences to
which a refusal of justice might load, but your Excellency
treats with indifference that warning and also the several
protests made to you not only by me, but by her Majesty's
Plenipotentiary.
I am therefore instructed by her Majesty's Plenipoten-
tiary to inform your Excellency that twenty-four hours, to
count from the delivery of this representation, are allowed
your Excellency to accede to the demands made to you in
my letters of the Bth and 12th inst., and in the event of
those demands not being complied with within the time
named her Majesty's naval officers will then have recourse
to force to complete satisfaction.—l have, ste.,
(Signed) H. S. PARKES.
To H. E. Eep, Governor-General of the Two swang, &o.

CIRIULAR.
British Consulate, Canton, 22d Oct., 1856, 7 p.m.
The undersigned with reference to his Circular of yes-
terday morninginforms the British and Foreign community,
with great regret, that the Imperial Commissioner has not
yet complied with the demands which were then presented.
The task of exacting the satisfaction claimed devolves
therefore from this time on her Majesty's naval officers.
S. PARKEs,
H. B.M.'s Officiating Consul at Canton.

British Consulate, Canton,
31st October, 1856.

of Foreign Mercantile Corn
Sir,—l am instructed by bis Excellency Rear• Admiral
and
sent yesterday evening
Sir M. Seymour, K. C. 8., &c., &c., Naval Commander-in-
Chief, to forward to you for the information of the Members
ofma t
uan
iltayte, Chamberchoop uyor fot
foyehamilmperial High Com-
missioner —Your obedient servant,
C. W. Murray, Esq., H. PARKES.
Chairman of British Chamber of Commerce.
communicationsm e rce
Excellencya Eep,

British Consulate, Canton,
30th October, 1856.
Sir, When the prefect of Luy-chow-foo was sent yes-
terday Consulate
state to him for the in-
formation your Excellency for
the
demands I had to make,
, that convinced as I am,
I instructed
purpose
u t
ro teh e o
s thf ascertaining
the
British British Cou
whatl
Consuln s
city that has been invariably conceded at the other ports,
similarly in force at Canton, no such contingency could
tba were the°f y r
arise as the present, in which the impossibility of other-
wiseioguhrt
of access Excellency
to the authorities within the
effecting any satisfactor arrangement had rendered
necessary the proceedings of the last few days, what I had
now to insist upon was simply this—that the foreign re-
presentatives should have here the same access to the
authorities as at the other ports.
Your Excellency sent no reply to my message, and, ac-
cording to the intention of which I had given notice to
your deputy, I breached the wall of the city, and thus
obtained access to your Excellency's official residence,
which I visited yesterday afternoon. This object accom-
plished, I withdrew my troops.
I may observe that it has been wholly with a view to
the preservation of life that my operations have been
hitherto so deliberately conducted. Even yesterday when
entering the city no blood was shed save where my men
were assailed, and the property of the people was in every
wee
respected. The fires which have broken out during
the last two days were not either designedly caused by us.
They were but a lamentable consequence of the measures
to which your Excellency's conduct has compelled me re-
luctantly to resort.
I have now one remark to make, to which I request your
Excellency's particular attention. The lives and property
of the entire city population are now at my mercy, and
could be destroyed by me at any moment that any event
might impose upon me so sad a necessity. The preven-
tion of any such necessity is entirely in the hands of your
Excellency. I have been constrained to move onward,
proceeding from one step
to a further, by the pertinacity
and discourtesy with which your Excellency has persisted
in evading the just and simple claims advanced by us in
the first instance. It is now for your Excellency by im-
mediate consultation with me to terminate a condition of
things of which the present evil is not slight, but which,

To his Excellency Yeh,
Imperial High Commissioner, kc., &c.,
[Received at 7.30 a.m., Ist November.]

Eep, Imperial Commissioner, Governor-General of the
TWO Kwang, &c., &c., makes communication :
I have this day received your Excellency's letter of the
Ist inst., and have acquainted myself with its contents.
The relations between your Excellency's country and the
Chinese, ever since the commencement of conanercial inter-
course between them, have been none other than those of
politeness; and when ou the Bth ult. the 12 prisoners were
seized on board the lorcha, having ascertained from the
officer I deputed to conduct the investigation that nine of
the number were innocent, I directed an officer on the 10th
ult. to put them on board the vessel again. Mr. Consul Parkes
refused to receive them. Early on the morning of the 22d
ult., I wrote to Consul Parkes, and at the same time for-
warded to him twelve men, namely, Leong Mingtai, and
Leong Kee foo, convicted on the inquiry I had instituted,
and the witness, Woo Avu, together with nine previously
tendered. But Consul Parkes would neither receive the
twelve prisoners, nor my letter.
The lorcha, it appears, was built by Soo Aching, a Chi-
nese ; she was not a foreign vessel at all, and her British
flag had been purchased through the merchant Block, as
we clearly established by the admission of the prisoners,
and Woo Ayu, when under examination. It was not known
at the time that my Executive went to seize persons on
board her, that the lorcha was a foreign vessel She was
anchored in the neighbourhood of the Dutch Folly ; she
was built by the Chinese, Soo Aching.
As to the question of the flag, it hiss been the invariable
rule with lorchas of your Excellency's nation, to haul
down the flag when they drop anchor, and to hoist it again
when they get under way. When the 'orals was boarded
in order that the prisoners might be seized, it has been sa-
tisfactorily proved that no flag was flying. How then
could 14 flag have been hauled down ? Yet Consul Parkes,
in one despatch after another, pretends that satisfaction
is required for the insult offered to the-flag.
There has been in truth no breach of the treaty commit-
ted, and after so many years of peaceful understanding
between our two nations, why, without cause, a military
operation should be undertaken, I am utterly unable to
explain.
In reference to the admission into the city I must ob-
serve, that in April, 1849, his Excellency the Plenipoten-
tiary Bonham issued a public notice at the Factories
here, to the effect that he thereby prohibited foreigners from
entering the city. The notice was inserted in the news-
papers of the time, and will, I presume, have been read by
your Excellency. Add to this that the exclusion of-foreigners
from the city is by the unanimous vote of the whole popu-
lation of Kwang-Tong. It may be supposed how little to
their liking has been this storming of the forts and this
destruction of their dwellings ; and, apprehensive as I am
of the evil that may hence befal the officials and citizens
of your Excellency's nation, I can suggest nothing better
than a continued adherence to the policy of the Plenipo-
tentiary Bonham, as to the correct course to be pursued.
As to the consultation (proposed by your Excellency) I
have already, some days ago, deputed Tseang, Prefect of
Luy-chow-foo.
I accordingly reply, availing myself of the occasion, to
wish your Excellency prosperity, &c.
A necessary communication, addressed to his Excellency
Sir Michael Seymour, Naval Commander-in-Chief.
Meng-Fang, 6th year, 10 Moon, 2d day, (31st Oct. 1856).
TTrrauneselaotped y. by THOMAST. H.
WADE.
HANCE.

British Consulate, Canton, Ist Nov., 1856.
Sir,—l am in receipt of your Excellency's reply of 31st
ult. I must positively decline any further argument on
the merits of the case of the lorcha Arrow. lam perfectly
satisfied of the facts as represented to your Excellency by
Mr. Consul Parkes. The men who have been publicly
seized on board the Arrow were not publicly restored to
their vessel as he had requested, nor was the required
apology made for this violation of his jurisdiction by your
Executive. _ _ _

The whole course and issue of the lengthy correspon-
dence arising out of a matter, which might in the first in-
stance have been easily adjusted, have determined me, as I
have already told you, to insist on behalf of the foreign re-
presentatives, on the same right of access to the authori-
ties within Canton, as has invariably been conceded at
other ports—the exercise of this right, being in my belief
our solo security against a recurrence of misunderstandings
like the present, involving proceedings so distasteful to
myself and so disastrous to you. Your Excellency's reply
refers me to the notification of the British Plenipotentiary
of 1819, prohibiting foreigners from entering Canton. Now
I must remind you, that although we have indeed serious
matter of complaint against the Chinese Government, for
breach of the promise given in 1817, to adroit foreigners
into Canton at the end of two years, my demand now
made is in no way connected with former negotiations on
the same subject, neither am I demanding admission of
any but the foreign officials, and this only for the simple
and sufficient reasons above assigned.
On my proposal to treat personally with your Excellency,
you do me the honour to remark that you sent a Prefect
some days ago. lam compelled therefore to regard your
Excellency's whole letter as unsatisfactory in the extreme,
and have only to add that, unless I immediately receive
an explicit assurance of your assent to what I have pro-
posed, I shall at once resume offensive operations. The de-
liberation with which I have so far proceeded should have
convinced you of my reluctance to visit the shortcoming of
the authorities upon the inhabitants of Canton. The2e-
sponsibility of what may now befall them rests on your
Excellency. Should you persist in your present line of
policy, you leave me but one course to pursue, and you
will learn, when too late, that we have the power to exe-
cute what we undertake.—Accept, &c.,

(Signed)

M. SEYMOUR.

To His Excellency Eep, Imperial High Commissioner.
&c., &c., &c.

Yeh, Imperial Commissioner, Governor-General of the
Two Kwang, &c., makes a communication in reply :
I am in receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 2d
instant, and have acquainted myself with its contents. In
the case of the lorcha, you state, that on the representa-
tion of Consul Parkes, I should have caused the men pub-
licly seized on board that vessel to have been publicly re-
turned to her, and that it was incumbent on me to admit
their capture by my Executive was a mistake. No foreign
flag was seen by my Executive at the time of the capture,
and as, in addition to this, it was ascertained on the exa-
mination of the prisoners by the officer deputed to conduct
it, that the lorcha was in no respect a foreign vessel, I
maintain that there was no mistake committed.
In the next place the 12 men were all handed back to
the Consul after examinatien, but he declined to receive
them ;—there was not then any refusal to return the men
to their vessel. _ _

' As to what is said in the letter under acknowledgment
respecting that rule of intercourse between foreign officials
and the native authorities that has always obtained at
other ports, it has been found that the people of Swang-
Tung are extremely fierce and violent, differing in nature
from the people of other countries. In 1848 there was a
long controversial correspondence on the subject between
my predecessor Seu and the British Plenipotentiary Mr.
Bonham, and Mr. Bonham being satisfied that an inter-
view within the city was utterly out of the question, ad-
dressed (a letter) to Seuin the—April of 1819, in which he
said—" At the present time I can have no more discussion
with your Excellency on this subject." He further issued a
notice from the factories to the affect that no foreigner
was to enter the City, which was inserted in the papers,
and he communicated this to the British Government.
There was not a Chinese or foreigner of any nation who
did not know that the question was never to be discussed
again, and as is shown by the records, his Majesty the Em-
peror was informed, in a memorial drawn up by myself, the
then Governor of the Province, together with the late Cow.
missioner Seu, that Mr. Bonham had stated in his corres-
pondence that this question could not be discussed, and had
issued a notice prohibiting foreigners from entering the city.
Assuming that your Excellency has long been aware of this,
I am utterly unable to explain what is meant in the letter
under acknowledgment, by the statement that the present
demand is in no way connected with the negotiations of
former years, and that it is only for the admission of foreign
officials into the City. As to former negotiations, Mr.
Bonhan stated in correspondence, that discussion of the
question could not be renewed, and issued a prohibitory
notice on the subject.
Your Excellency's pi °position having reference to the very
same question (as that mooted by Mr. Bonham), how can
it be said to have no connection with it ? And when Mr.
Bonham has said that the question could be no more dis-
cussed by him it is to be inferred that it can less be dis-
cussed by your Excellency.
To conclude, our countries have been many years on
friendly terms. Without cause you have in one day come
upon us with hostilities ; the result of which has been in-
tolerable misery to the people. Let your Excellency pon-
der well, what is no vain fiction of mine, that hundreds
and thousands of them have been for days past clamorously
tendering their services, ardent and united for the defence
of the city
I accordingly reply, availing myself of the occasion to
wish your Excellency prosperity.
Hieng-Fung, 6th year, 10th moon,
6th day (3d November.)
British Consulate, Canton, 4th November, 1856.
Sir,—l am in receipt of your Excellency's letter of yes-
terday, referring me to the correspondence between your
Excellency's predecessor and Mr. Bonham, our late Pleni-
potentiary. The perusal of all that is on record will
show you, that although, when the Chinese Government
declined in 1819 to fulfil the promise given in 1847, of
right of entry into Canton, was for the moment waived, it
was distinctly informed at the time and since that our
claim was in no respect abandoned. My demand, how-
ever, as I have already told you, is entirely distinct from
any former proposition on the subject.
It is needless to restate my reasons for insisting upon it,
and I have only to add that, until it is acceded to, I have
no alternative but to persist in the course you have cont.
pplled me to adopt.—l have &0.,
(Signed )

M. SEYMOUR.

"British Consulate, Canton, Nov. 15, 1856.

"Her Britannic Majesty's Consul has received the in-
structions of his Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir M.
Seymour, K.C.8., Naval Commander-in-Chief, &c., to
issue the following notice to the British community :
" Hi' Excellency feels it unnecessary to recapitulate
to the British community the origin and progress of
what has been done at Canton during the last few weeks
by her Majesty's naval forces under his command. Their
loss has happily been trifling, and their operations, now
including the capture of the Bogue Forts, eminently
successful.
" His Excellency regrets to find that neither the ex-
treme measures to which the Imperial Commissioner'S
defiance of treaty obligations has compelled him to resort,
nor the plain proof given that the city and its inhabi-
tants are at the mercy of her Majesty's ships of war,
have as yet induced the Imperial Commissioner to
make the concession demanded by his Excellency, as a
guarantee against future misunderstandings of a similar
nature to the present.
"The concession is not regarded as unreasinable by
Chinese, who, his Excellency understands, adequately

represent the feeliaga of the respectable inhabitants of
Canton, nor 'is any tangible obstacle alleged to it by
these except the impracticabilty of the Commissioner
himself, who has laboured to associate the people with
him, by representing the English as in league with
rebels and outlawS, and has pushed his hostility to the
fO.ocious length of pr ,claiming rewards for the lives of
English satjects without distinction.
!" His Excellency is determined that his demand shall
be conceded ; but the community must be well aware
that any course his Excellency may now contemplate
would be compromised by publicity. His Excellency
therefore confines himself to stating that he sees no im-
medlate prospect of a restoration of quiet.
" The security of the foreign position will be as well
cared for as heretWore. The nature and object of any
measures now to be resorted to his Excellency deems it
advisable to keep to himself.
(Slgned) " HARRY S. PARKRS,
Her tritannic Majesty's C wsul at Canton.
" To the British Community at Canton."

(Translated from the Chinese.)
Notification of Mr. Parkes, H.B.M. Consul at Canton,
; issoed by order : for the removal of misconceptions, by
declaration •f the truth, to the end that confidence may
be restored to thepublic mind.
i In overy discussion there is a position which is the cor-
rect one; nor can a just conclusion upon the merits of any
question be arrived at until the arguments on both sides
Blasi! have been heard.

The Governor-General, Yeh, has been at great pains, li
ever since the approval of the British forces under com-
mand of the Admiral, H. E. Sir M. Seymour, to inflame
the public mind by the circulation of unfounded state-
Monts on the subject ; and it, is to counteract:the evil effect
but too probably to be apprehended from these, that
H. B. M. Plenipotentiary has instructed the Consul to
. Mane a notification of the plain truth to the g. -.try and
people of the city anti suburbs of Canton.
At Hong Kong,,being a British colony, it is competent
fbr tire owps• of:etty vessel, of any country, when he shall
haveobt'arned the tequisite security, to make applicatiott,
through the-proper official channels, to the supreme autho-
rity for a Colonial Register. Under this the vessel hoists
4 British ensign, and the register once issued she is re-
garded in all respects as a British vessel, while those on
board her become alike responsible to British control, and
entitled to British protection. The conditions of this
colonial registration were communicated some months ago
tie the Governor-General by the Minister Plenipotentiary,
Who is also Governor of the Colony, and a trauslation of
the Colonial Ordinance was enclosed to him in his Excel-
lency's despatch.
Meanwhile, the lorcha Arrow, a vessel duly registered
as above, having come up to Canton in the earlier part of
October, information, it appears, was given to the autho-
rities by a person who had been robbed by pirates at sea,
that one of the delinquents was serving as a sailor on board
the lorcha. Now by the treaty between England and
China, all authority over British vessels at any of the Five
Ports is vested in the consuls. The proper course, there-
fore, if any question bad been raised ag tinst the lorcha,
as she was flying British colours in the port of Canton—
being one of the five—would have been to call ou the Bri-
tish Consul to inquire into the case and take the necessary
steps. Without any reference, however, to the Consul, a
party of the local marine boarded tie vas iel, tore clown her
ensign, seized twelve men who were on board, and carried
them into the city.
The Consul, of course, as soon as he became aware of
this violation of his jurisdiction, reported it, to his supe-
rior, H. M. Plenipotentiary. He at the same time made
his complaint to H. E. Yeh, as Imperial Commissioner,
accompanying his statement of the facts by a request that
H. E. would cause the seamen who had been carried off
from the vessel to be restored to her publicly, in order
that the atonement might be made for the affront that had
been offered to his authority as Consul. He added, that if
it were still desirable to examine the parties, he was pre-
pared to conduct au inquiry with any officer of his own
rank, who might be deputed for that purpose.
The Governor-General replied that the lorcha was not
'a foreign vessel. He sent back some of the men, but nine
of the twelve that had been taken ; but these the Consul
did not think it right to receive; and, under the instruc-
tion of the Plenipotentiary, he now demanded, besides
restoration of the whole number, a letter of apology for
'their seizure, and a- suranee that nothing of the kind should
occur again—to be given within forty-eight hours. The
'Plenipotentiary himself wrote to the Commissioner, on
the 'eth October, to the same effect, adding that, unless
the required satisfaction were accorded within the period
assigned, it would be left to the Naval Commander-in-
Chief to exact it. This letter reached Canton on the 15th
of October, but was left without answer for eight days.
H. E. Yeh then sent a reply, in which he repeated what
he had already said to the Consul. To the requisition
made by the latter he paid no more attention than before.
H. E. the Admiral, unwilling to resort to force without
due deliberation, waited fram one day to another, until the
21st of Oct., when the Consul, under farther instruction
from the Plenipotentiary, addressed a last letter to the
Imperial Commissioner. He was now told that unless he
conceded what had been asked for by six o'clock in the
evening of the following day, the naval forces would act.
At noon of the following day, an officer of low rank was
sent with the 12 seamen to the Consulate, with a message
from his Excellency Yeh, thattwo of them were criminals,
and must be sent back to him immediately.
The Consul, in reply, put in the hands of the officer sent
two extracts from his letters before referred to, reciting
the substance of his requisition, and the form in which it
was to be complied with; namely, that the men publicly
removed from the vessel should be as publicly restored to
her, and that a letter of apology should be written. At
eight in the evening came another despatch from his Ex-
cellency Yeh, requesting the Consul to inform him why his
despatch of the morning had not been acknowledged.
It being thus apparent that farther protraction of the cor-
respondence would be of no advantage to the settlement of
the question at issue, there remained no alternative but to
place the matter in the hands of the Admiral. His Excel-
lency, unwilling to inflict unnecessary injury upon the in-
habitants, confined himself in the first instance to the cap-
ture of some of the forts along the river ; this done, he
directed the Conrail to warn the Governor-General that if he
persisted in refusing to listen to us more serious proceedings
would be rendered inevitable. The Governor-General pro-
posing nothing, the Admiral proceeded to possess himself of
the remaining forts along the Canton river. Ho then
reached the city wall, and blew up the Tsieg Hai gate.
Now, his Excellency has been brought to this point by no
intention of his own; he has been simply driven onward by
the determined obstinacy and extreme discourtesy of the
Governor-General. The original claim advanced was, com-
paratively speaking, of no great tnagnitude. Leas could not
have been demanded than the formal rendition of a crew
unauthorisedly seized without reference to the consul. To
the high official of a nation with whom the rule and prac-
tice of what is due from man to man are so important a
consideration, what could have been so easy as to acknow-
ledge an error committed, and to give assurance that none
such should be repeated.
How widely different a course was pursued ! For several
years past the high authorities at Canton have entrenched
themselves in inaccessibility to foreign officials, pleading al-
way s that the people are opposed to the admission of foreign-
ers within their walls. It has hence resulted that discus-
sions, which might have been disposed of in a single inter-
view, have endured through months of correspondence,
and this, too, without any satisfactory result. The present
case commences with an insult to our flag. that is to say,
an affront is put upon our dignity as a State; this is fol-
lowed by the unauthorised seizure of sailors subject to the
British control and protection ; we complain, and our as-
sertions are contradicted ; no attention is paid to our ap-
plication, once and again, for reasonable redress ; we are
constrained to threaten force, and our menaces are simi-
larly disregarded ; and at last, after repeated delays, we
make some demonstration of our power, and the Governor-
General Yeh, forgetting that our act is the consequence of
his own obstinacy and discourtesy, proclaims to the people
that we are in league with the rebels, and set a price on
our heads.

Would barbarism and ignorance have gone the length of
such a declaration ? Will the people of China, knowing and
practising the duty of man to man, believe the fact when it
is told them ? To conclude. This quarrel is not with the
people ; our proceedings have not originated in anything
done by the people. They have been caused by the obsti-
nacy and discourtesy of the chief authority, and for any
calamity that may result from them, the chief authority is
singly responsible. There is but one means of escape from
it, and this is in the hand of the chief authority, who, if
he lose no time in meeting our high authorities, will be en-
abled, by arranging matters on a satisfactory footing with
them, to put an end to the existing peril, and to prevent
the recurrence of like misfortune iu the time to come.

Think how completely at our mercy are the lives and
property of the entire population of the city; and with
what facility, in one moment of time, we could effect their
utter destruction—a terrible contingency. You are told
this in no spirit of boasting ; the power of our nation is
too well known to require that we should indulge in self-
glorification ; but simply because we have no wish to see a
long continuance of these hostilities, so cruel to the feelings
of the people, and so injurious to their interests.