The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 30, 1842

The British colours were soon waving over their position.
The Modesto then weighed and ran into the inner har-
bour, where she engaged five or six batteries, speedily
driving the men from their guns. Twenty-six deserted
war-junks were in the harbour ; one a two-decker,
mounting thirty-two guns. In all there were a hun-
dred and twenty -eight guns in these vessels. The Alge-
rine quickly followed the Modesto, into the inner har-
bour, as did the Blonde immediately she floated. During
this time the Wellesley and Blenheim, led by the Ben-
finds, to give the soundings, stood within four hundred
yards of the long battery, anchoring by the stern, about
the centre of it. The Sesostris and Queen had been for
some time sustaining the fire of this heivy work. At
this point the Tartars stood remarkably well, nor were
the forts silenced until about 4 P. 31. The troops from
the iron steamers landed in the neighbourhood of Lam-
po-to, and'took them in rear, when several of the garri -
son were bayonetted at their guns. A party of seamen
and marines from the ships were landed, under the com-
mand of Commander Fletcher, immediately abreast of
their ships ;- and -as soon as they formed, charged right
`up to, and entered the fort by the embrasures, following
their flying toes through the suburb into an open sandy
spot, where the latter attempted a slight ,resistances but
were quickly again compelled to fly, making for a con-
fined pass in the hills, which separated the city from the
suburbs. Towards this point, along a narrow causeway,
a large body of the enemy, led by mounted mandarins,
was seen retreating, closely followed by the General
and his troops. The marines and seamen were now
placed to flank this causeway,. when they opened a cross
tire, by which three of the mandarins fell, and about
thirty of their men, and the others broke up and fled in
all directions. All the positions being carried, the troops.
were bivouacked for the nighton the heights between
the chief city and suburbs. The • Pylades, Cruizer, and
Columbine, were not idle during the. time, as they en-
- gaged and silenced the batteries in the neighbourhood
of the spot at which the troops landed ; and having
completed that duty, they took up stations astern of the
line-of-battle ships, and in front of the long sea wall.
The Phlegethon lead narrow escape from being most
roughly handled, by coming suddenly and within exact
range of a - heavy masked battery, which immediately
opened fire. The light draught of the steamer admitted
of her running close into shore, when Lieutenant M`Cle-
ver ty immediately landed with his men, and stormed the
battery in the most spirited manner. The loss on the
side of the Chinese was very great : that of the British.
naval force amounted to one killed and seven wounded.
The wall of the long battery, which from. the sea had
appeared a common wall strengthened with sand-bags,
proved on examination to be a most masterly piece of
masonry. It was a high, strong, thick wall, composed of
huge blocks of granite, with small low gun-ports, having
a thick bank of earth between each of them, as high as
the wall. Mud was laid on over each gun-port, so as to
prevent the shot from striking off splinters from the
stones, which would have rendered it impossible for the
cannoniers to stand to their guns. The shot of the ships
had taken but little effect on the wall ; their utmost
penetration did not exceed sixteen inches. Vast quan-
tities of -timber were found in the naval yard ; and a
cannon foundry was near the walls of the citadel. Bul-
lion, to the amount of 20,000 dollars, was secured ; but
the bulls of the sycee had been carried off. Immense
magazines, filled with all the munitions of war, were also
stored up here ; they were either removed or destroyed.
-The principal inhabitants had fled ; and as no. one re-
mained..With•whom it was possible to treat, the destruc-
fiom of the forts went rapidly on. At the capture of
Chin-hai, . which took place on the 10th of October,
1841, after the ships had done good service in obeying
the orders which had been given, the troops, about
seventeen hundred strong, having been landed at an
early hour, under cover of the Cruizer, Columbine, and
Tentincls, had not been less actively employed. Sir
Hugh Gough had a good opportunity of display-
ing his skill in military tactics. Perceiving that the
enemy had five thousand men in an extensive encamp.
ment on the southern bank at the river, while the city
was on the northern, he determined to attack the former
first. Having divided his small army into three co-
lumns, the right and left were dispatched towards the
flanks of the enemy, which movement they were enabled
to execute without being perceived by their opponents,
under cover of a rising ground. The centre column
advancing at the same time, the-Chinese came boldly out
to meet this apparently small body. The British troops
advanced steadily until within good range, though the
Chinese had for some time opened a fire of ginjals and
matchlocks directed solely against this column. The
order was given to fire, when, at the same moment, the
flank companies debouched, pouring in their volleys on
the now bewildered Chinese, who, as it were, in a sudden
panic, moved, broke up, and fled in every direction,
leaving the field thickly strewed with their dead and
dying. Our men followed close in the pursuit, and many
hand to hand encounters took place ; but the long. Ch-
inese -spear could make but little resistance against the
British bayonet. Many of these men fought with
desperation, apparently resolved to conquer or (lie. The
residue fled by hundreds to the water. The men were
then re-formed and advanced towards the city, but, on
ascending the heights, the enemy were perceived pour-
ing out of its gates at one end, as the sailors and marines
entered at the other. The Tartar General, who had
used the late Mr. Stead in such-a barbarous manner, and
had assured the Emperor that " he would catch all the
barbarians in a net, give their flesh to the wild beasts,
and prepare their skins for the Celestials to sleep upon,"
thought tit to cut his own throat, though a blow in the
arm prevented him from doing it as expertly as is usual
with his countrymen, Many other officers also commit-
ted suicide. On this day fifteen hundred Chinese must
have perished ' • our loss amounted to sixteen killed and
a few wounded, amongst whom was Lietenaut Montgais
mery, of her Majesty's 49th.
Six WILLum PARKER, K.C.B.—Rear-Admiral Sir
William Parker, was appointed Commander-in-Chief at
the same period as Sir Henry Pottinger, was created
sole plenipotentiary. At his head-quarters in China, about
8 at night on the 10th August, he landed from the Sesos-
tris. The Chinese having thrown garrisons into Yuyaun,
Tsekee, and Funghwa, distant respectively forty, twenty,
and thirty miles from wing-po, for the purpose of inti-
midating. the inhabitants of that place, and to stop the
supplies of the British, it was resolved by the Com-
manders-in-Chief to dislodge these forces. The Sesos-
tris, Nemesis, and Phlegethon, therefore, on the 27th of
December, with a number of boats in tow, and seven
hundred men of all arms, proceeded up the river, the
Sesostris, from her great draft of water, being obliged to
anchor about fourteen miles from Ning-po, and the two
iron steamers anchoring off Yuyaua late in the afternoon.
Sir Hugh Gough immediately landed with the military
division, and occupied a small fort and a joss-house. Sir
William landed the next morning, when, on preparations
being made for storming the town, the inhabitants came
out and stated that the garrison, said to consist of 2,400
men, regulars and militia, had evacuated the town in the
night. The troops, therefore, marched in; the divisions
separating to march round the rampart. When the
naval brigade had advanced a little way, a fire of ginjals,
&c. was opened upon them from some Chinese troops
outside the town, but who fled as her Majesty's troops
found egress through the northern gate. They were
hotly pursued for about seven miles, and about one hun-
dred of their numbers fell. .Their loss would have been
much more severe, but for their local knowledge, the
whole country being knee-deep with frozen snow, ren-
dering it impossible for our troops to distinguish the
paths. On the 29th, the city was examined,, and large
granaries of corn were thrown open to the public.
lintlte attack upon the citadel and city of Chin-hai, Ad-
miral Parker, accompanied one of the- columns, and was
the first to settle the walls. So impetuous was the as-
sault, that the garrison, though four times more nume-
rous than their assailants, fled through the western gate
as soon as they saw the English columns on the ramparts.
Sin H. LE FLEMING SENHOESE.—This gallant Cap-
tain, K.C.H., expired at Hong-Hong on the 'l3th of
June, from a fever contracted during his arduous duties
on the heights of Canton. Ills remains were interred at
Macao on the 17th, with all due military honours.- A
-fund was subsequently raised amongst the officers of the
army and navy, and a handsome.smonument erected
therewith to the memory of this distinguished officer.
Sir Fleming Senhouse greatly distinguished himself in
the attack upon Canton, as regarded the two forts de-
fending the entrance of the Bogue river. The capture
of the two Anunghoy forts, was entrusted to him,
having under his command the Melville, 74, and Queen
steamer, with a flotilla of rocket boat's. About half-past
ten A.M., the Blenheim got under
,weigh ; her progress,
however, was but slow, owing to the lightness of the
wind. She was followed by the Melville, considerably
astern. 'Shortly after the remainder of the squadron got
under weigh, and stood slowly towards• the other forts.
:rlio day being most lovely, and the river smooth as glass,
it
eir
LlNralts 10": exciting
destruction.
ulpletsurrounding
to () observe e
sti.hl
tess e
were
eei
?0,13 majestically eo .ssttie d
on 011inwn.3(irmthgote,;(71dists,tlai
.ch(l:v:rer4dllwitrnvt:l(l)
, mewed about noon, by the Queen firing at
protected by small sand-bag batteries. acltTyon,
which, as well as the lower Anunghoyfort, opened on
her and the Blenheim, before they got within ranol.
The latter ship did not fire a shot till she let go ter
anchor, about six hundred yards front the fort, when
she dewed up all her sails and opened her broadside. In
a few minutes the Melville came to her assistance, and
took up her position a short distance ahead of the Blen-
heim, about lintr hundred yards from the fort. The
Chinese kept up the action here for sane time with
great spirit, but the terrific broadsides of the two line-of.
battle ships, at length drove the Tartarsfrom their guns;
on seeing which, Sir Le Fleming Senhouse landed at the
head of the marines and small-arm men, and, driving all
before him, carried these fine forts.
Sin GORDONBREMER.—Sir Gordon was appointed from
England joint Plenipotentiary, on the 22d of June, 1841.
.On his arriving off Canton, he issued a proclamation es-
tablishing a blockade of the river and port of Canton,
r and directing that foreign vessels arriviug off the coast ot
China
.should anchor in the Macau Roads. On the other
hand, the Chief Magistrate of the district in which •
2dacao is situated, published an edict, requiring the
people to join heart and hand with the Government, for ,
the tle.truction of the barbarians ; and forbidding any
"Chinese ships to put out to sea, except such as were laden
with combustibles for the destruction of the enemy, In
the meantime, Sir Gordon Bremer, followed by Admiral
Elliot, steered northwards ; and on the sth of July
reached the island of Chusan, which it was resolved
to occupy. A landing was speedily effected, and on the
6th, the city or Ting-hae-hpen, was taken almost without
oppoSitior. Admiral Elliot reached Chusan tire day
after its surrender, and immediately proceeded to Ning-po
for the purpose of landing a letter addressed by Lord
Palmerston to the Chinese Court. Admiral Elliot,
shortly after, through ill-health surrendered up the
whole command to Sir Gordon Bremer.
Mascot Manconar.—This officer is Secretary to Sir
Henry Pottinger. He was employed on the •appoint-
ment of that General, to proceed in the Nemesis to
Canton, to notify that circumstance to the authorities.
The Prefect who had acted so prominent a part in ne-
gotiations, came post haste on this occasion, to have an
interview with Sir Henry, but was •reeeived by Major

Malcolni, and informed that his rank was not sufficiently
high to admit of such taking place. The Prefect, with
ever-ready Chinese falsehood passed it off by saying that
he had come to chin-chin Elliott before he went away.-
CAPTAINS _HERBERT AND BOURCHIER.—TAKING OF
CHIN-Har.-e-For this attack, which took place on the
10th of October, 1841, the order of the day commanded
that the number of seamen and marines to form the
landing party, under the command of Captain Herbert of
the Blenheim, and to take with them one day's provi-
sions, were to be from the Welleiley and the Blenheim
a hundred and fifty each, from the Blonde fifty, and the
Modeste twenty, making in all three hundred and seventy
seamen, with a proper proportion of officers ; marines
the same as detailed in the memorandum of th 25th of
September. The marines from the Cruizer and Colum-
bine were sent that evening 'to the Wellesley by one
of the small steamers. At an early hour on the morn-
ing of. the 10th of ()etcher, the ships got into their al •
lotted stations ; the Wellesley and Blenheim being
towed in by the steamers, and the Blonde and Modesto
taking up their positions under sail. The whole of' these
vessels settling in the mud, as the tide ebbed became as
steady as forts, and the fire frorif them waS most tre-
mendous, and is thus spoken of by the Commander-in-
chief :—" The precision of the fire both of shot and
shell, far exceeded my most sanguine expectations ; and
the destruction of the works' from the commencement of
the attack was never doubtful:l By a quarter past 11,
the citadel, on the Joss-house hill was 'welched, and the
defences reduced to a ruinous state. The Chinese, who
had stood well to their guns, now began to abandon
them. The signal was immediately made for the right
column to land ; and before noon, in spite of the rocky
nature of .the shore,' 'the force landed, and. gallantly.
mounted the hill to the assault of the, citadel. An ex-
plosion at this moment taking place' near the gate, the
-last of the garrison fled without waiting tee close it. Our
men rushed in, and the union jack 'instantly floated over
the walls. Scarcely had the -men entered when a second
explosion took placti,sbut providentially without injury
to, tiny one. Captain Herbert-now re-formed his men,
and advanced to the attack of the city, on the walls of
which the enemy were collected in considerable force. -
A few volleys quickly dislodged them from their posi-
tion, and the column advanced steadily, and in good
order, to the escalades"' The wall was.:26. feet high, and
"a
while the enemy, instead
of •
attempting to
fo placesendth ;neiselves, were flying out of
-the western gate. The city being very soon fully in our
possession, Captain Herbert remained with the marines
-in charge of the town, and the seamen returned
astesp in tdue-
to their ships to move them into the offing,
as soon ae they floated with the rising tide,
Attack was 'next made upon the large walled city of
Ning-po, which Was entered without the firing of a shot.
'On the 14th Admiral Parker issued the following memo-
randum, highly eulogising the bravery and efforts of the
officers above named, with the marines and others under
their commands.—" The Commander-in-Chief has wit-
' nessed, with the highest, gratification, the gallantry and
excejlent conduct which has been further manifested by
.the captains, officers, seamen, and marines of her Ma-
jesty's squadron, and those of the Indian navy under ads
command, in the capture of the citadel and city of Chin-
: hai, and the 'occupation of .Ning-po, on the lOtli and
13th instant. He noticed with great satisfaction, the
adthirable precision of the fire from the ships and steam-
vessels against the citadel, and the ardour with which
the party Of -officers, seamen, and Royal Marines, headed
by Captains Herbert and Bouchier, of the Blenheim and
Blonde, disembarked and advanced to the assault, over a
steep. and difficult ascent ; he is no less pleased with the
'regularity and dispatch with which. his Excellency
Lieutenant-General Sir Hugh Gough and the troops
were landed on the right bank of the river, taken under
the direction of Captain Gif?ard, of the Cruiser; and
with the proceedings of the sloops and steam-vessels sta-
tioned in that direction. He begs to convey to every
individual of the squadron present, his entire approba-
tion of their conduct anti exertions. Lieutenant Somer-
ville, agent, and the mister of the transports which ac-
companied the expedition &Om Chusan, are also entitled
to the Rear-Admiral's approbation and thanks, for the
promptitude with which their ships were got under sail
when-the signal was given, and the attention with which
the prescribd positions were taken up at the anchorage
off Chin-hai, as well as the desire which they have
throughout manifested to forward the public service upon
all occasions. Sir W. Parker feels aseured that every
person in the squadron must, participate with him in ad-
miration of the gallantry with which the strong positions
of the Chinese were all carried by the British troops on
shore." In the attack upon Tsekee, Sir Hugh Gough
speaks in terms of the highest admiration of the conduct
of Captain Bourchier. His dispatch alludes to him as
follows :—" From the heights it affbrded -me no small
satifaction to witness the spirited rush of the advance
of the marine brigade, led by their gallant chief, who was
ably supported by Captain Bourchier, commanding the
naval brigade, Captain Richards, of her Majesty's ship
Cornwallis, and Commander 'Watson, of her Majesty's
ship Modeste, commanding the seamen's battalion.
The whole- brigade soon reached the summit,
carrying the enemy's works." In this attack, also,
the spirited conduct of a number of other officers
was specially noted, and their. names mentioned by
the same commander. They were as follows :
Lieutenant C. E. Tennent (flag lieutenant), Lieutenant
G. Elliot (slightly wounded), Mr. G. H. Hodgson, mate
(slightly wounded in a personal recontre with aChinese),
Mr. W. Bowden, volunteer Ist class ; and Mr. D. C.
Cunningham, secretary'e clerk, all of her Majesty's ship
Cornivallis ; also of Lieutenant Harriott, R.M., of her
Majesty's ship Blonde ; Lieutenant J. Eitzjames and
• Mr. C, K. Jackson, mate, both of her Majesty's ship
Cornwallis. These officers accompanied Sir W. Parker
with the advance. Lieutenant A. J. B. Hambly, of the
Royal Marines, „ls severely wounded at the head of his
company in the advance to the hill. The officers of the
49th, among whom were Captain Reignold (wounded) ;
Lieutenant and Adjutant Browne ; Lieutenants Ramsay
and Mitchell, of the Grenadier company ; Lieutenant
Lane (whose left arm was amputated on the field), and
Lieutenant Montgomerie (severely wounded in the
thigh), also Captain Balfour, of the Madras artillery.
LIEUTENANT l‘PCLEvEaTr.—After the capture of
Amoy, and the separation of the vessels composing the
fleet, the Phlegethon arrived at Keeto point on the 15th
of September. It was represented to Lieutenant
M`Cleverty by the master of the Lyra, that his first
mate and a Lascar had been seduced to a village, and
there treacherously murdered by the Chinese. Lieutes
rant M`Cleverty at once determined to attack the Man-
darip station ; and fbr that purpose proceeded at daylight
on the 16th, accompanied by Lieutenant B. Crawford,
R.N., serving as a volunteer, acting Lieutenant-
Ryeves, fifty British seamen, and eighty Lascars. On
arriving at the village, it proved to be the one in which
Mr. Stead, late master of the transport Pestonjee Bo-
re:inject, had been so cruelly seized a few months pro•
viously. The station and village was therefore de-
stroyed, and three prisoners were taken, from whom it
was ascertained that about five hundred Chinese troops
were quartered in a small town at some, little distance,
and that was the spot at which the people of the Lyra
had been killed. These troops were fully prepared and-
expected to be attacked. At eleven A.M., Lieutenak
M`Cleverty assembled his small force, and advanced to
destroy this nest of murderers. As they neared the sta-
tion about noon, a smart fire of gin:ells and matchlocks
was opened on the party, but without effect ; and-as they'
rapidly closed on theta the Chinese fled up the hills at
the back of their position. The barracks and maga-
zines were blown up, and the town set on fire, when the
party returned to the Phlegethon without any less. -
CAPTAINS BYRES, CLARKE, AND KNOWLES.—TAKING
or Cerusaso—The capture of Chusan was mainly brought
to its victorious conclusion by the skill of these officers.
On the morning of the 28th September, 1481, the Mo•
deste, Columbine, and Nemesis, under the orders of Cap-
tain Lyres, were detached to " Spithead," to prevent the
Chinese front occupying the eight-gun battery, or from
strengthening their position. These shies soon opened
their fire upon the fort and camp ; and after knocking
them pretty well about, Captain Eyres and Clarke, tie-
companied by about fifty men, landed to reconnoitre the
position, and to ascertain whether there were any guns
in two partially finished Works that would command the
point at which it was intended the troops should land.
This party walked to the Sappers' Point, from whence
they had a full view of the long sea battery, and into
which several muskets were ~discharged by the party ;
when the garrison commenced firing in all directions,
and about six hundred troops showed themselves on the
heights above, but were kept in . check by some well
directed shells thrown from the steamer. After corn-
pleting their'observation's, the party returned to their
respective ships. On the 29th, the Blonde, Modeste,
and Jupiter, with the Queen, and Sesostris steamers,
took up a position on the south side of Macclesfield and
Turnbull Islands, Der :the purpose of covering the artil-
lery, who, under Captain Knowles. assisted by Lieute-
nant Spencer and Lieutenant Barrow, were erecting a
battery of one 68 and two 24-pound howitzers. The
Wellesley was moored as close as possible to the intended
point of landing under Sappers' Point. The Cruiser,
Columbine and small steamers were placed within two
'hundred yards of the beach, with their broadsides to
keep the Chinese in check. All the transports having
arrived during the 30th, and the preparations for the
attack being completed, the ships on the Ist of October
opened their cannonade on the Chinese position, the troops
landing at the same time in two columns. The first
column, about fifteen huadred strong, were disembarked
under the heights whereon the entrenched camp was
situated, in which the Tartar and Chinese troops were
drawn up about 2,000 strong. The General and 55th
Regiment were the first on shore; and being exposed
to a most galling fire without any cover, the advance
was at once sounded, and they instantly pushed up the
hill, led by Major Fat„ cent The Chinese came down to
meet thew, the hill aarently blazing with the fire of
pp
their matchlocks and
ginjals ; they could not withstand
the ifnpetuosity or our troops ; and as the gallant 55th
closed within spear's length of them, they gave way and
fled. The 55th in this advance had one officer killed,
and twenty men put hors de combat. As the 18th
landed, they, with two light guns advanced to the right,
and driving in several snail parties of the enemy,
en-
tered the western end of the sea battery. The Chinese,
who were retreating along --:
the causeway, quickly rallied
under their brave general Keo, and 'niade a very re-
spectable resistance ;. sonic of the most advanced of our
force only saving theireelves • by discharging their pis-
tols. Having overcome this obstacle, they advanced
along the causeway, and the Royal frith soon took pos-
session of their old quarters on the Joss-house hill, which
the fire from the ships and Royal Artillery had already
made too hot for the Chinese. The second column, con-
sisting of the 49th, marines, and seamen, were landed as
quickly as the. boats could accomplish it, at the eastern
end of the defences, and were to have carried the
sea battery, but their services were rieot required.
While this had been going forward in the suburbs, the
55th and Madras rifles advanced on Ting-hai, scaled the
walls, and drove all before them. Two hours were suffi-
cient for the.wtole of the operations ; and the British
colours. et 2 P.M., waved 'for a second time over -the city
walls. The Chinese force consisted of about 5,000 men,
of whom very many fell, nine or ten mandarins being

in the number. The loss of the British amounted to
two tilled, and twenty-eight wounded. The Blond,)
also ono or hf cluartol7.deck guns dismounted.
Great quantities of military stores were found in the
arsenals ; and it was Very evident that the Chinese had
no idea of being again so quickly kicked out of Chusan.
Numerous guns were found in the batteries, thirty-six
of which were new, of brass, and well cast. These were
subsequently shipped on board the transports. .
On the arrival of the next Overland Mail, we
shall give further accounts, with all the latest
news.

11 INI Fi Y OF NE '4' kla

AND
kth tie 01%“"to
4•4 k,

" Who runs may read.'

POIZEIGN.
The Spanish Cortes were prorogued on the 22d
inst:, the day after Espartero" left Madrid for Bar-
celona. -

It is stated in the French papers that Olot and the
neighbobring districts had recognised the Junta. The
republiCan chief Abon Terradas has failed in the
Lampurdan:
The insurrectionary movement which took place at
Valencia on the'2oth inst., was appeased on the 21st.
The .Eco de Arragon of the 21st states that tran-
quillity prevailed at Saragossa -and throughout Arra-
gon. The opinion of this part of the country is de-
cidedly in favour of Espartero.
Accounts from the Basque Provinces, Andalusia,
and other parts, are satisfactory.
The Sud of Mdrseilles, states that four steamers,
and the Jemmapes man of war, were to set sail from
that port for Barcelona on the 24th instant, to bring
back to Fran& such French subjects as may be de-
sirous of leaving that city,
Louis Philippe had sent the decoration of the Legion
of Honour to Dr. Spiker, librarian to the King of
Prussia.
•.
A Hamburglf piper announces that *Russia had ac-
.ceded at Constantino-pie to the Anglo-Turkish treaty
of commerce, not having beeo"able to renew its own
advantageous tariff.
Accounts from Germany: received last night state
that the rumours relative to the alarming state of
Prince Metternich's health turn out to be unfounded.