The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-08 00:00:00

The unremitting exertions of every officer and man of her
Majesty's squadron, loyal Marines, and Indian Navy, through-
out the operations. merit my warmest commendation. I sub-
join a statement of the ships present.
Captain Herbert of tha Blenheim, whose zeal is always con-
spicuous, handsomely volunteered to head the landing party of
the seamen and marines; and I gladly acknowledge the valu-
able assistance I have derived from the local knowledge and
sk,ll of Captain Maitland of this ship, who has conducted her
with much ability in the intricate and difficult navigation
amongst these islands.
Commander Giffard, of the Cruiser, has been indefatigable
in the duty assigned him of superintending the disembarka-
tion, which he has performed to the entire satisfaction of the
General and myself.
The fire from the ships and steam-vessels covering the land-
ing party did much execution ; it was, indeed, directed with
such precision that two or three individuals fell by single can-
non shot, at a distance of seven hundred yards—one of them
while in the act of waving the Chinese banners.
It is out of my province to observe on the movements of the
land forces, but. I may be permitted to express my admiration
of the gallantry which was throughout displayed by our corn.
panions of the army, and their distinguished chief; and I can
but express my regret that circumstances did not admit of the '
officers, seamen, and royal mat ines of her Majesty's squadron,
as well as of the Indian navy, participating to a greater extent
in the operations of the day.
Sir Henry Pottinger has vvithessed all the proceedings of
the expedition ; and, considering the lateness of the season, it
is a subject of congratulation to his Excellency, as well as to
Sir Hugh Gough and myself, that the re-occupation of this
island has been secured.

Your Lordship may be assured that not a moment will be
lost in making the eontemplatul movement of Chinhae and
Ningpo, whenever the state of the weather renders it practi-
cable.—l have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordships most
obedient servant, W. PARKER, Rear-Admiral.

THE RIGHT 110 N. THE EARL OF AUCKLAND, G. C. H., &C.
Modeste, at Ningpo, Oct. 11, 1841.
My Lord—My despatch of the 4th instant, in which I had
the honour of communicating to your Lordship the re-occupa-
tion of Chusan by her Majesty's forces, would apprise you of
the anxiety of Sir Hugh Gough soft myself to commence ope.
rat i kns against Chinhae, as SO3ll as a change of whether should
enable the ships of the expedition, with common prudence, to
approach that exposed position.

On the 7th the wind veered to the desired point, and every
preliminary arrangement having been m .de, not a moment
was lost in embarking the troops intended for the expedition.
The following day most of the transports were moved to the
anchorage of Just- in-tbe-way, four leagues in advance ; and
the General and myself, accompanied by Sir Henry Pottinger,
proceeded at the same time in the Phlegethon and Nemesis, to
reconnoitre the points of our intended attack, where we were
fully informed and found that every preparation for resistance
had been made.

The city of Chinhae, which is enclosed by a wall thirty-seven
feet in thickness, and twenty-two feet high, with an embra-
sured parapet of four feet high, and nearly two miles in circum-
ference, is situated at the foot of a very commanding peninsular
height which forms the entrance of the Tahee river on its left
or north bank. On the summit is the eita-Tel, which, from its
strong position, is considered the key to Chinhae, and the large
and opulent city of Ningpo, about fifteen miles up the river, and
it is so important as a military post, that I trust I may be ex-
cused for attempting to describe it.
It sands about 250 feet above the sea, and is encircled also by
a strong wall with very substantial iron plated gates at the east
and west ends. The north and south sides of the height are
exceeding steep; the former, accessible only from the sea by a
narrow winding path from the rocks at its base ; the south side
and eastern end being nearly precipitous. At the east end of
the citadel, outside its wall, twenty-one guns were mounted in
three batteries of masonry and sand bags, to defend the entrance
of the river.

The only communication between the citadel and city is on
the west side by a steep but regular causeway, to a harrier gate
at the bottom of the hill, where a wooden bridge over a wct
di' ch connects it with the isthmus and the gates of the city, the
whole of which are covered with iron plates, and strongly
secured. The space on the isthmus between the citadel hill
and the city wall, is filled up towards the sea, with a battery of
five guns, having a row of strong piles driven in a little beach
in front of it, to prevent a descent in that quarter ; and on the
river side of the isthmus are two batteries adjoining the
suburbs, and mounting 22 and 19 guns, for flanking the
entrance ; 28 guns of different sizes, and numberless gin-
j3lls were also planted on the city walls, principally towards
the sea.

The main body of the Chinese forces were posted on the
right bank of the river, in fortified encampments, on very
commanding and steep hills; field works and entrenchments
being thrown up in every advantageous position, with twenty•
three guns and innumerable gingalls mounted in them to im-
pede the advance of the troops. The principal landing-place
on this side is within a considerable creek, close to the south
entrance of the river, and across this creek we found a row of
pilos driven. Four batteries, mounting 31 guns, were also
newly constructed on this side of the river, to flank the en-
trance, and about half-a-mile above its mouth a similar ob-
struction of larger piles was carried completely across ; space
only being left for one junk to pass at. a time. In short, the
Chinese had exercised their ingenuity to the utmost to make
their defences secure, and a great amount of treasure and
labour must have been expended in the execution of these
works, fully evincing the importance which they attached to
this position.
The plan of attack agreed upon by the General and myself
was to land the troops in two columns on the'right bank of the
river, inside the small islands called the Triangles. The main
body under his immediate command (about 1,040 strong) to
disembark a short distance beyond the creek above referred
to ; the other (about 500 strong) immediately at its entrance,
where it appeared to us practicable to put them securely on
shore outside the piles, under tho cover of one .of t:,e brigs;
good anchorage being found within a few yards of the spot.
The attack of the citadel and city on the left bank of the
river was assigned to the naval branch of the force, strength-
ened by about 23 of the Royal and 12 of the Madras Artillery,
under Lieutenants the lion. F. Spencer and Alelesworth; and
50 Sippers under Captain Cotton and Lieutenant Johnston, of
the Madras Engineers. It was calculated that the advance of
the two columns of troops by different routes, would not only
secure every point on the right bank, but cut off the retreat of
many of the Chinese; and, by a simultaneous bombardment
of the citadel and city, by the squadron, we entertained confi-
dent hopes of complete success, which has been happily realised
in every respect.
On the evening of the 9th the whole of the squadron, as
per subjoined list, and the transports, were anchored off Chin-
hae, in convenient situations for the intended operations ; and
at an early hour on the following morning, the troops pro-
ceeded in the Queen, Nemesis, and Phlegethon steamers, and
the boats of the transports, to the points of debar kation, where
the Cruizer, Columbine, and Bentinck most judiciously took
up their positions, under the direction of Commander Cliff:lrd.
A few shot from them cleared the shore of about 300 of the
Chinese, who had assembled to oppose the landing, and by
half-past nine o'clock, under his excellent arrangements, every,.
man was safe on shore.

....„
The Wellesley, Blenheim, Blonde, and Modesto were ap-
pointed to cannonade the citadel and eastern part of the city
walls; and the Sesostris, Queen, and Phlegethon, after land-
ing the troops and towing up the ships to their stations, to
shell the citadel in flank and enfilade any of the batteries in the
harbour which their guns could bear upon; the Nemesis to
join in the attack on the north side, in readiness to cover the
lending of the seamen arid marines as soon as it became prac-
ticable.

The citadel hill cannot be approached for an attack by large
ships, except on the north side, and the water in that direction
is so shallow, that it is only in the calmest weather that they
can be carried with safety sufficiently near to fire with effect.
The day was fortunately every thing we could desire, and the
Wellesley, as soon as the tide served, was towed by the Sesos-
tris into an excellent position, where the anchor was dropped,
about a quarter before nine o'clock, in four fathoms, about
1,300 yards from the citadel and town walls. As the water
ebbed, she settled imperceptibly into a bottom of soft mud,
and was as steady as a land battery, Commander Ormsby (with
very commendable activity) immediately afterwards brought in
the Blenheim ; the Blonde and Modesto, favoured by a light
breeze, took their stations under sail, and every ship was placed
to my entire satisfaction, as close as possible; the Blenheim
and Modeste touching the bottom at low water. The precision
of the fire, both of shots and shells, from all, exceeded my most
'sanguine expectations ; and the destruction of the works from
the commencement of the attack was never doubtful.
As the troops on the right bank of the river moved forward,.
Commander Giffard advanced the sloops, towards .the entrance
of the harbdur, and the steamers all took up very good posi-
tions and performed excellent service with their guns; they
.iiere.for a considerable time under a heavy fire from the river
_`batteries, but fortunately sustained no damage.
?!' About eleven o'clock we had the gratification of seeing the
British colours planted by the troops on one of the batteries on
the opposite shore, and within a few minutes the others on that
side were all carried, and the Chinese observed flying in every
'direction before our gallant soluiers on the heights.
- " - - - - - - - -

At a quarter-past eleven the wall of the citadel was breached
by the fire from the ships, and the defences being reduced to a
ruinous state, the Chinese abandoned their guns, which they
had hitherto worked with considerable firmness, and a large
portion of the garrison retreated precipitately toward the city.
Not a moment was lost in making the signal for landing the
battalion of seamen and marines, with the detachments of artil-
lery and sappers (the whole under the command of Captain
Herbert, of the Blenheim). Before noon the boats were all
on shore; every impediment presented by the difficulty of
landing on rugged rocks was overcome,_ and the force gallantly
advanced to the assault, with a celerity that excited my wannest
admiration. An explosion at this time took plane in a battery
near the citadel gate, and the remnant of the garrison fled with-
out waiting to close it. The citadel was therefore rapidly en-
tered, and the union-jack displayed on the walls. Our people
had scarcely passed within them, when another explosion oc-
curred, happily without mischief, but whether by accident or
desiJn is uncertain.
Captain Herbert having secured this post, quickly reformed
his men, and advanced towards the city ; the Chinese still oc-
cupying in considerable force the wars of it, as well as the two
batteries beneath the hill on the river side, against which our
troops had already turned some of the guns taken on the bank
A few vollies of musketry speedily dislodged them from both
positions, and the battalion of seamen and marines pushei on
in steady and excellent order fo attack the city. The wall
(26 feet high) was escaladed in two places, and in a short time
complete possession [was taken of Chinhae, the Chinese troops
having made their escape through the western gates.
While in the act of scaling the city wall, a third and for-
midable explosion took place at one of the river batteries,
within a short distance, by which I regret one man of the Blen-
heim was killed ; there is strong suspicion that it was caused by
a mine, intentionally sprung ; and considering the number of
our men which were assembled at the time, it is most provi-
dential that the consequences were not more disastrous.
The seamen immediately returned on board for the security
of the ships, which, with the rising tide, were moved into
secure berths, Captain Herbert remaining with the marines in
charge of the town until the evening, when Sir Hugh Gough
arrived, and a considerable portion of troops were conveyed
across the river in the Phlegethon, to garrison it.
I have sincere pleasure in bringing before your Lordshi?'s
notice the gallantry and excellent conduct of every officer and
man of her Majesty's ships and the Indian navy under my
command.
To Captain Herbert my best acknowledgments are due fer
his zeal for the public service and animating example on all