The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-25 00:00:00

(Copy.)

FROM HIS EXCELLENCY LIEUT.-GEN. SIR H. GOUGH,
K.G.C.8., COMMANDING EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, TO
THE RIGHT HON. LORD STANLEY, PRINCIPAL SECRE-
TARY OF STATE, COLONIAL DEPARTMENT, DATED THE
24TH JUNE, 1842.

My I,.)rd,—My letter of the 18th June will have in•
formed your Lordship of the entrance of the combined
forces into the Yang-tse-Keang, and of the capture of
Woosung and Paonshaw, together with the dismantling
of the forts which command the entrance of the Woosung
River leading to Shanghae, and opening a very extended
water communication into the interior of this province
(Kanguan).
2. On the 19th the troops were embarked on board
the steamers, with the exception of of one column, con-
sisting of the details named in the margin,-1- which I
was anxious should move, if found practicable, by a road
that I understand to exist between Woosung and Shang-
hae, so as to reach at the same time with the steamers
this latter city, where I was informed that from 4,000 to
5,000 troops were stationed for its defence. By this
movement I was in hopes to have intercepted their re-
treat, at all events to prevent the abduction of the
valuable property as well as the public treasure:
This column I placed under Lieut.-Colonel Montgomerie,
Madras Artillery, in whose sound judgment and practi-
cal resources I had every confidence.

3. At eight o'clock the steamers gOt under weigh, and
by two o'clock reached two small batteries within half a
mile of Shanghae ; these opened upon the steamers and
the smaller ships of war, which they had in tow, and
after a few shots Were evacuated, some of the retiring
enemy falling in with a flanking party of the land co-
lumn were tired on, but from the country being one sheet
of paddy cultivation or swamp, they could .not be cap-
tured. The steamers pushed on with the troops, and
landed them close to 'the city, but we found Lieut.-Colo-
nel Mongotuerie in possession of the place. This offi-
cer hearing the firing, and conceiving it was from the city
on the shipping and troops, rapidly pushed forward with
his advance, and found himself unexpectedly close
to the city walls. No enemy showing himself at this
point he advanced to the north gate, which he entered
unopposed, having got some men over the wall to open
it. It appears that the Chinese authorities and troops
evacuated the city the preceding evening, except a few
men who remained to fire off their guns in the batteries
before mentioned. Shanghae appears a rich commer-
cial city, with good walls in perfect repair, on which but
few guns were mounted, and these all at the gateways.
The walls are three miles and a quarter in circumfe-
rence ; the population I understand to be from 60,000 to
70,000 souls. A very considerable trade is carried on at
Shanghae ; its position as a commercial city nothing
can exceed, being situated within 16 miles up the Woo-
sung river, up which, for several miles above the city,
ships of large burden can be brought with great facility.
4. It afforded me great satisfaction to perceive the
unusual degree of confidence manifested by the peo-
ple ;it is true a great proportion of-the wealthiest
inhabitants . had left it, but the middling classes
and the great body of the ,shopkeepers remained,
and freely brought in poultry and vegetables,
so that I was enabled to give the troops a good por-
tion of these necessary comforts, after living for some
time on salt provisions. I have done everything in my
power to prove that the confidence was not misplaced,
and I am most happy to say the troops, by their orderly
and forbearing conduct, in the midst of that pernicious
liquor sham-shu, with large stores of which we were
surrounded, conducted themselves to my entire satisfac-
tion, and I re-embarked the whole force, with its numer-