The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-23 00:00:00

GOD SATE THE QUEEN.

Dated on board the steam-frigate " Queen," Yang-tse-
kiang river at Chin-lteang foo this 24th day of July, 1842.
HENRY POTTINGER,
Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.

AFFGHANISTAN.
The report of General Nott's victory over Shums-
ioodeen Khan, in the neighbourhood of Ghuznee,
which was current at the date of our last advices, has
turned out correct. The engagement took place on
the 30th of August, at a place about 38 miles from the
city, and was a gallant and well-contested fight.
Two days previously a body of the enemy had at-
tacked the rear-guard of our force, but were defeated,
and dispersed by a detachment of cavalry under Capt.
Christie, and about fifty of their number cut up.
Nothing daunted by this trifling reverse, Shums-
hoodeen moved out with nearly the whole of his army,
amounting to not less than 12;000 men, and arrived
in the neighbourhood of the British camp about three
o'clock on the afternoon of the 30th.
" I moved out," says General Nott, " with one-
half of my force ; the enemy advanced in the most
bold and gallant manner, each division cheering as
they came into position, their left being upon a hill
of some elevation, their centre and right along a low
ridge until their flank rested on a fort filled with
men ; they opened a fire of small arms, supported by
two six-pounder horse artillery guns, which were ad-
mirably served ; our columns advanced upon the dif-
ferent points with great regularity and steadiness,
and after a short and spirited contest, completely de-
feated the enemy, capturing the guns, tents, ammuni-
tion, &c., and dispersing them in every direction.
One hour's more daylight would have enabled me to
destroy the whole of their infantry. Shumshoodeen
fled in the direction of Ghuznee, accompanied by about
30 horsemen.
"In the above action and the engagement on the
preceding day, our total casualties amounted to 104
killed and wounded." The following are the names of
the officers included in this list :
KlLLED.—Captain Bury, 3d Regiment of Bombay
Light Cavalry ; Brevet-Captain G. 0. Reeves, same
regiment.
WOUNDED.—Brevet-Captain G. 0. S. Ravenscroft,
same regiment ; Lieut. T. A. Mackenzie, ditto; Lieut.
Meason, her Majesty's 40th Regiment of Foot ; Lieut.
A. B. Chamberlain, Christie's Horse.
On the Ist of September, General Nott advanced
from Gonine (where the battle took place) and con-
tinued his march to Ghuznes. He arrived on the
sth, and invested the city, which was strongly gar-
risoned, while the hills to the north-eastward swarmed
with soldiery. These heights were the first object of
the attack, and after considerable opposition they
were effectually cleared. Preparations . were then
made for an attack on the fortress, but before our
batteries could be opened, the enemy abandoned it,
and left us once more complete masters of Ghuznee.
Our flags were then hoisted in triumph on the Bala
Hisser.
The loss sustained by our troops amounted to no
more than three killed and forty-three wounded.
Three hundred and twenty-seven Sepoys of the 27th
Native Infantry were found in the city, and released
from slavery, to which state they had been reduced
by the Affghans.
Ghuznee is now a desolate heap of ruins. Its splen-
did citadel, and other formidable works and defences,
have been razed to the ground.
The force was to leave about the 9th or 10th Sep-
tember, and would join General Pollock at Caubul on
the 17th or 18th.
CIRCULAR. My last letter informed you of the departure of
TO yr,
ir --.'"
BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS IN CHINA. General Pollock from Gundamuck on his way to Can-
ts:4er Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c. &c., in China has bul. He reached Soorkab in one march, and left on
'blegl' satisfaction in promulgating for the information of the Bth September in progress to Jugdulluck. On
,rird Majesty's subjects in China, the important progress reaching the hills which command the road through
access of the expedition, since the date of the last the pass, the enemy were found strongly posted and ,
circular on the 24th of June. in considerable numbers. They resisted our passage
The
eiretvexpedition was detained by bad weather and other with determined courage, and most manfully main-
. tileo4ay_thinimrt stances at Woosung until the 6th July, on which tamed their position, although our guns told with
advanced up the river Yangtse-kiang, and on the deadly effect amongst them. At length the heights
Eteacdl.led a military position, built on a range of hills
were stormed, and after much arduous exertion, the
batteries,
ing the stream, where two small recently erected
enemy were dislodged and dispersed. A large body
sine':
lie s, . mounting thirteen guns, opened the first fire
of them, however, fled to the summit of a lofty hill,
Woosung, on the leading ships, but were
intan tlayvsuillgenced and the guns, batteries, and military where they planted their standards, and seemed to set
buildings connected with them destroyed as soon as men us at defiance. To co.mpleteour victory, General
could be put on shore. Pollock directed Captains 'Wilkinsonii. and Broadfoot
At this point the main body of the fleet was retarded to take possession of this stronghold, which accord-
byativerse winds for nearly a week, during which period ingly was gallantly assaulted, when the Ghilzies gave
tom.e of the ships of war, assisted by the steamers, getup way and fled from the field.
tztvlClnahan" or " Golden Island," where the whole ar- In this action several of the most influential Affghan
' Irrltt amounting to seventy sail of vessels, assembled chiefs were engaged; and the total amount of the
oh
,-.:: the 20th instant and anchored abreast of the city of force brought forward to oppose us is estimated by
Chin-keang-foo. General Pollock at from 4,000 to 5,000 men. Our
g41,-trbet e,onnaisance having been obtained the same even- loss was rather heavy, Captain Nugent, the
troops Su-
b Sale slightly wounded, and 62 men killed
were' disembarked as early as possible Assistant Commisary-General being killed, and Major-
the next morning. It was at this time believed, that
majority of the Chinese troops, which had been va-
rio
" 13' reported at from fifteen hundred to three thou-
-114 men and wounded.
64
, were in a camp, which was visible from hills General Pollock proceeded onwards, and does not
overhanging the river, at a distance of about three miles. appear to have encountered any further opposition,
...„Against this camp the right brigade moved under until his arrival on the 13th of September, in the
b7ai.o_r-peneral Lord Saltoun. The centre brigade, led Tezeen valley, where an army of 16,000 men, com-
-B;taniajor-General Bartley, was directed in the first in- manded by Mahomed Akbar Khan in person, was as-
stance to co-operate with the right one, in cutting off the sembled to meet him. A desperate fight ensued ; we
directionof the city, and the left brigade, headed by was completely defeated, and driven from the field,
the ... joy-General Scheodde, landed on the river face of
.C.lty with a loss of several hundred killed and wounded.
opposite the fleet, where it was instructed to es-
Wade the n . Our loss was 32 killed and 130 wounded. The names
io.rthern wall, which the centre brigade was
likewise appointed to do on the southern side, after it had of Captain Lushingten, of her Alajesty's 9th ; Cap-
performed the other duty assigned to it. tain Geils, of the 60th Native Infantry ; Lieut. Nor-
: The Chinese troops in the camp did not venture to ton, 35th Light Infantry ; and Lieut. Montgomery,
three
the near approach of our men, but after firing of the 60th Native Infantry, are among the list of the
I:7Ce or four distant volleys from their jinjalls and latter. Akbar Khan fled in the direction of
' qVcitineks, broke and dispersed all over the country, Bameean.
lell was hillrand covered with the jungle. .By this On the day following this engagement, the General
tirosobvious
the left brigade had got on shore, when it became advanced to Boodkhak ; on the next he encamped on
e;.viens that the Tartar garrison intended to defend the the Race-course at Caubul ; and the 16th witnessed
i 1
i"eYe,s from the walls of which they opened a. heavy and his triumphant entry into the citadel, and the plant-
. sant tire of cannon, jinjalls, rockets, and. matchlocks. ing of our colours on its walls.
At-zzithe left brigade moved from the landing place, the
city
.. - sition rd The i was nigh deserted. The prisoners who
(steaml.. frigate), which had been placed in pa-
had. been left there on the removal of their cotn-
obbligedorto the
Befrpurpose,in threw some shells amongst the
anions to Bameean were restored to us by the Kuz-.
enemy on the works with admirable precision, but NI as P
_ rigade to the bottom oofwr'liinen.zilbashes. They consisted of Mrs. Trevor and eight
wallto th:liie rapidh v,a,
was
children, Captain and Mrs. Anderson and three chil-
ahce
mosto fgtahle-
!tinily escaladed under a heavy fire from the Tartar dren, Captain Troup and Dr. Campbell. It would
i ery inch
, every inch
who behaved with great spirit, and disputed appear that the captives who were taken to Bameean,
of the ramparts, availing themselves with are not now in the custody of Mahomed Akbar, as
great tact, of their knowledge of the localities, to gal at the date of our latest accounts, General Pollock
• our, and screen their own troops. appeared to entertain a confident expectation of ob-
The in
finding
.centre brigade got into the city (after some delay Wiling their release in eight or ten 'days; while Cap-
Ing a bridge to cross the Grand Canal, which runs tain Bygrave, who had been carried off by the Sirdar,
;;;;: along the western side of Chin-keang-foo, and separates was not thought likely to be recovered at present.
74,, the walled city from very extensive suburbs) by blowing Lieut. Sir Richmond Shakspeare had proceeded in
i tif7 °
had
roue. of the gates ; but even after the left brigade search of them, at the head of 700 Kuzzilbashes.
4.413.
na_..neceived this large reinforcement, besides parties of
W-)_,
‘,.,_'017.i and seamen who were landed the moment the The arrival of General Nott was daily looked for;
‘l,lO Won remised ••,; -. full P
to be so stubborn,-the Tartars man- don the junction of the two armies it is said they
'-in lateY.prolonged the contest for some 'hours, and it was would
an
dreturn to India with as little delay as possible.
in the afternoon before they entirely disr •
_xi which it is surmised the survivor, dir.l,.bythro.waipnpgeaa‘rveaL;
There seems no probability of our re-occupying
the prisoners are all recovered,
~ their arms and uniform,- ' nnii, night .. and either hiding themselves tillshall doubt re
Caubul ; as soon as
retire, after completing the work
, enabled them to escape, or else mingling with the we no
„.0 ,
.other inhabitants A great deal of discussion has at different times
of retribution by the destruction of the city.
-lb,
~ The city of Ch.in keang-foo is rather more than four arisen on the subject of the national. .character. of the
,r, relies in circumference,-
the works are in excellent r Affghans; the advocates of retirement heaping praises
~,..i1
liosioniii! tut cannon 0(17,- pair, and the parapet, which is so thick and solid theat. on the treacherous assassins of Caubul, and vehe-
' Lott •
.on shot could have made any impres- mently proclaiming their patriotism—their valour—
in „tin it, is •.pierced with narrow embrasures an 1
~,..,. "1-noles, and flanked at variety .-, ( and their kindness to the captives; while other writers
a of spots with trans-
-- to- rse vvalls- repudiated principles so discreditable, painted our
,_. alt 1i
-as hitherto been impossible to obtain anything like enemies in their true colours, and denounced, with
from
return of the strength of the garrison, but honest indignation, their abominable crimes. The
Work
made with reference to the extent of I correctness of these latter views has been proved on
'l' ' . the numberless occasions ; and we have now a yet
„hi,:
....._ orks, and the Tartar troops seen on them at the
iie6.,, iirae_moment, it is thought there could not have been stronger and more fearful confirmation of their truth,
Arta,.,;' ,t_ll 5 than three thousand men. Of these it is said, that in the fact that the whole of the Sepoys of the 27th
tii,„
~ lulled
Mandarin's officers and thousand men, were Native Infantry, who were released at Ghuznee, had
one
-14.,i, Juiled and wounded. The Tartar-General Command- been reduced to slavery by the Affghans ! Of this
.4 ~ Jwastn,_-chief, retired to his house when he saw that all there is no doubt—not even the encomiasts of our
0104made.o his servants set it on fire, and sat in his enemies—with all their effrontery, can deny it—and
4 Wag burned to death, Ms. hero io an9tber tale, more horrible in its nature,
Private sore t

OFFICIAL. DISPATCHES.
(From the Friend of China, Sept. 10.)
CIRCULAR.
liEtt BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS IN MINA.
C 144 Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c. in China
7, eAtreme gratification in announcing to her Majesty's
4"ace/s in China, that he has this day concluded and
Vied, with the Chinese High Commissioners, deputed
t° negotiate with him, a treaty, of which the following
44, the Most important provisions.
• ',skating Peace and Friendship between the two em-
times.

2. China to pay Twenty-one Millions of dollars in the
c°l4i'se of the present and three succeeding years.
3. The porta of Canton, Amoy, Foo-choo-foo, Ningpo,
.111 Shanghai, to be thrown open to British merchants,
C°ostilar, officers to be appointcd to reside at them, and
Pegular and just tariffs of import and export (as well as
inland transit) duties to be established and published.
4. The island of Hong-Kong to be ceded in perpetuity
to her Britannic Majesty, her heirs and successors.
5. All subjects of her Britannic Majesty (whether na-
• tv.Vs of Europe or India), who may be confined in any
ihi4ltlt of the Chinese empire to be unconditionally released.
Nb t'• An act of full and entire amnesty to be published
the Emperor under his Imperial sign manual and seal
all Chinese subjects, on account of their having held
14;17, vice or intercourse with, or resided under the British
.41:2°Irerriment, or its, officers.
7. Correspondence to be conducted on terms of per-
t •,1•1 aas.
or{ equality amongst the officers of both Governments.
I. 8- On the Emperor's assent being received to this
I`',rel47, and the payment of the first 6,000,000, dollars
'FlrlL,.*e.l* Britannic Majesty's Forces to retire from Nanking
',4.4'411d the Grand Canal, and the military posts at Chinhai
41: to be also withdrawn, but the islands of Chusan and
lf.,Xillangsoo are to be held until the money payments and
the arrangements for opening the ports be completed. ,
-41 L In Promulgating this highly satisfactory intelligence,
sk,,,.:er Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c.; purposely refrains
any detailed expression of his own sentiments as to
the surpassing skill, energy, devotion, and valour, which
lija• 'have distinguished the various grades, from the highest
14°,,_ the lowest of all arms of her Majesty's combined
1141rees, during the contest that has led to these moment-
-111,(14s results. The claims which have been this established
-`44lMill be:doubtless acknowledged by the highest authorities.
11 4., the meantime, her Majesty's Plenipotentiary congra-
N:Mates her Majesty's subjects in China on the occasion
Ilte• peace, which he trusts and believes will, in due time,
It• °qually beneficial to the subjects and interests of both
141:41-and and China.—God save the Queen.
'31,3 „,;(:-. 141,t4A on heard the steam frigate Queen, in the 'Yang-
A54:46411k"g river, off Nanking, this 29th day of August,
.

(Signed)

HENRY POTTINGER,

Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary
(True Copy) G. A. MALCOLM, Secretary of
Legation.

Which though not officially noticed, has been repeated
in dozens of private letters, and which, if true, and it
seems worthy of all belief—will condemn the Affghan I
character to eternal infamy, and furnish a bitter com-
mentary on the praises of those who have defended it.
It is
.this, that previous to the action of Jugdulluck,
on the advance of cur column, a soldier of the 44th
was burned alive by the Ghilzies in sight of our
troops, on whose approach the throat of the victim
was cut to make sure of him ! Thus were the patriots
fighting " in defence of their mountain homes"—thus
did they exhibit their " nobleness of spirit"—thus
was their " uniform kindness to the captives" trium-
phantly demonstrated ! If this do not alter the sickly
and effeminate tone of some of your home journals in
reference to the Affghan war, nothing surely will
effect the change.