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

The activity and ardour of Commanders Giffard, Clarke,'
Fletcher, and Watson, and of Lieuttant CoHinson in com-
mand of the Bentinck, has been eminen,lY displayed on this
and every other opportunity ; and I have no less pleasure in
beating testimony to your Lordship that the same yirit of en-
terprise and zeal has been conspicuously evinced by (~,,intnander
Ormsby, Lieutenant M'Cleverty, Master Hall, and ..4laster
Warden ; and, indeed, of every officer and man in the aiesm.
vessels attached to the expedition.
I may he permitted also to notice that any flag Lieutenant;
Charles Tennant, hat attended me in every operation since I
Wok command of the squadron, and his zeal and attention is
deserving of my highest approbation.
By official Chinese documents found in Chinhae, we have
good reason to believe that the regular Tartar troops, quar-
tered on the 19th in the city and batteries on the left bank or
the river, amounted to upwards of 3,000, of which abort 700
composed the garrison of the citadel or Joss-house-hill ; their
less on these points is calculated at 150 men.
The troops opposed to Sir Hugh Gough were estimated at
ten thousand, and they have sustained a heavy loss, but no
amount of force as yet met within this country can withstand
the gallant band under his command, into which his active and

energetic example infuses unbounded confidence.
The total number of guns which have fallen into our halide
amounts to ninety iron and sixty-seven brass; the .latter
be embarked without delay in one of the transports, with a
large quantity of metal, which has been found in a cannon
foundry, at Chinhae.-1 have the honour to be, my Lord, your
Lordship's obedient servant,.
W. PARKER, Rear Admiral.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF AUCKLAND, G.C.B:♦

&c. &e. &c.

.Modeste, off Ningpo, Oct. 14, 1841.
My Lord,—lt is with feelings of the greatest satisfaction
that I have now the honour of addressing your Lordship from
the anchorage off the walls of Ningpo, on which the British
colours are flying.
The progress of the expedition has been greatly favoured by
the fine weather, which enabled it to complete the reduction
of t hinghae, on the 10th instant, and to place the large ships
and transports on the following day at a safe anchorage after
landing the requisite supplies for the army, for the wind
changed to the north-east on the 12th, and blew strong. The
ships, however, were all in security, the Blonde, with the
sloops and steamers and part of the transports having found
sufficient water, and excellent shelter within the Eahea River,
a few of the piles having been taken up for their admission.
I removed on the 1 tth to the Modeste, and that ne time
might be lost in prosecuting our farther operations, I directed
Captains Mailand and Herbert, when the Wellesley and Blen-
heim were anchored off "Just-in-the-way," to return by one of
the steam-v, s:els, with the boats and 1.50 seamen from each
ship, in reat'iness to advance on " Ningpo," and on the 13th I
proceeded in the Nemesis to ascertain thepracticability of hook-
in the la-ge steamers and sloops up the river. We fo:usd it
wide, free from shoals, and carried not less than four teen feetat
low water to tiro walls of the city, which appeared not only un-•
prepared for resistance, but a general panic pervading the inha-
bitants, who were evacuating the town in every direction, with
their goods and families. Sir Henry Pottinger, Sir Gough,
and myself, therefore deemed it expedient to move on it with-
out delay, to check as much as possible the departure of thy
respectable portion of the population, and the ravages which
are invariably committed by the lower orders of the Chinese on
all property which is left unprotected.
The whole of the troops (with the exception of a garrison
for Chinghae and the citadel) were consequently embarked on
the following morning in the Sesostris, Queen, Phlegethon.
and Nemesis, and the supernumerary seamen and marines were
distributed in the Alodes'e, Cruizer, Columbine, and Bentinck ;
the Blonde being ordered to remain at Chinghae for the sup-
port of the garrison.
Sir 11. Pottinger and the General accompanied me in the
Modesto, and the expedition proceeded up the river soots after
9 A at., but owing to some unavoidable delays did not reach
Ningpo until 1 v 01.,. when the Nemesis and Phlegethon,
which contained a large portion of the troops, anchored within
a few feet of a floating bridge, which connects the city at its
east gate with the suburbs across the river. The men wets
disembarked with the greatest facility by stages from the bows
of these vessels. The let'talion of seamen and marines, under
Captain Ilerbert, landing at the same time, in the suburbs on
the city side, a short distance below them.
The gates of the city were all found secured and barrieadoeJ
in,ide, but an entrant, was soon forced, when her Majesty's
forces m %relied in and took possession without a symptom of
resistance, being indicated in any quarter. The mandarins and
troops hail all It ft the city, the latter having, since their defeat
at Chinghae, refused to fight.
Her Majesty's sloops and the steam-vessels are anchored
under the walls of the city, and his Excellency the General
is actively exerting himshf in securing all the Government
property on shore, and endeavouring to establish order, and
t-V
prevent the pillage of this populous and opulenoce, where,
I am happy to say, such of the respectable inhabitants as have
remained evince much less apprehension at the presence of the
English than was exhibited either at Amoy or Chosan.
From the number of large junks found in the river, the
trade with Ningpo, by sea, must be extensive, but an embargo
will be laid on all vessels until measures can be concerted for
our further proceedings.
A few war junks and a trifling amount of naval stores bare
fallen into our hands.
I beg to off,r my congratulations to your Lordship, on the
result of our operations, and
I have the honour to be my Lord, your Lordship's,
Most obedient Servant,
W. PARKER, Rear-Admiral.
The Right Hon. the Earl cf Auckland, G.C.B.

Head-Quarters, Tinghae, bland of Chnsan,
October 2, 1841. .

My Lord,—l feel much satisfaction in accluainting your
Lordship that Chusan is in our possession, notwithstanding the
extraordinary ?,xertions made by the Chinese to strengtbea
the defences since our departure in February last, and rather
a gallant defence on their part, particularly on the heights
west of the city, generally denominated the 49th hint,
and along the shore, where as a defence to the inner hat*
Lour (which was our former part of attack) a new lino of
battery. has been constructed, presenting so formidable a
front, that with due regard to the peculiarity of the tides, it ,
would not have been advisable to bring in the ships of war.
2. The fleet bad passed Chusan, and assembled at an audio-
rage ttl" Silver Island,: half way between Chusan and Ching..
hae, when, after waiting three days, the continuance of eon.,
trary winds, together with the lateness of the season, induced
his Excellency the naval Commander- in- Chief to propose a change
in the plan of operations, which I mentioned to your Lordship to
my last report. I fully concurred with Sir Wm. Parker in the es.
pedieney of attacking Chusan first under these circumstances,
instead of proceeding to Chinghae and Ningpa, particularly
as in a reconnoissance, which we made in the Phlegethort
steamer, with his Excellency Sir Henry Pottinger, we aseer.
tamed that two forts, were in progress of construction upon the
base of the heights already named. This reconnoissance eon*
firmed me in the opinion which I had previously formed from
the report of officers acquainted with the ground, that this
would be the most eligible point of attack. I must add that
the fire opened on the Phlegethon, as she skirted the harbour,
also established that the sea line of battery was sufficiently

armed.
3. I shall leave it to the Admiral to detail the isevements
of the fleet, but I cannot deny myself the gratification of ex-
pressing how greatly 1 am indebted to him for his judicious ar-
rangements and the cordial assistance which I have experienced
throughout, anticipating my wishes, at the same time, that the
arm over which he so ably presided, has been brought promi-
newly forward whenever practicable, and I most be allowed to
remark that the precision of the fire from the ships surpassed
my most sanguine expectations, anti did great execution where-
ever it could be brought to bear.
4. The greater part of the fleet assembled in the outer road-
stead on the 29th ultimo, and during that night and the fol-
lowing day a battery was thrown up on Trumball Island by
detachment of the Royal anti Madras Artillery, under Captain
Knowles, of the farmer corps, aided by Lieutenant Bidwood,
of the Madras Engineers, for the purpose of shelling the Joss-.
house-hill, which the enemy had strongly fortified, Mowing
out the unfinished plan of our own engineers. The remaining
ships having arrived in the meanwhile, it was determined to
make the attack on the Ist instant.
5. 1 beg to refer your Lordship to the annexed disposition
of attack, which will show what were my intentions. any en
the morning of the Ist, the first division, consisting of the
Madras Artillery, with eight guns, the Sappers, her Majesty's
18th and •55th regiments, anti the rifle company of the 36th
Madras Native Infantry, were placed in steamers and boats in
tow of them, anti under the zealous superintendence of Captain
Gifford, of her Majesty's ship Cruiser, who conducted the dis-
embarkation, were landed as soon as practicable, though not
without some delay from the extraordinary strength of the tides
at this point. Finding that the enemy, whom occasional .ehote
from the ships had hitherto kept under cover, now crowned
the heights and opened a gallingfireof gingallsand ntatchlealtes
and that as some of my men were falling. I deemed.itudvisablo
to push on at once the two flanks and a third company af. The •
55th that were first on shore, directing the remainder, who.
closely followed, to move up in support. This Autzwasgellanfly,
performed under thedireetions of Lieut.-Col. Craigle command=
mg the column, and Major Fawcet, in the temporary command
of the regiment, and notwithstanding the steepness and rugged-
ness of the ascent, and a heavy and well-sustained fire from an
infinitely superior force, this gallant corps carried the whole
extent of the ridge of hills terminating in a fortified camp, and
drove everything before them. Lieutenant-Colonel Craigie
has brought to my notice the prominent conduct bf Lieute-
nant and Adjutant Butter, who was with the advance at this
point, and seized the first of the enemy's colours as also of
Captain Campbell and Lieutenant. Toddy, who led the two
flank companies. •
6. This movement completely turned the right of the enemy's
posit.ons, and gave us the command of a bridge which led
direct on the flank of the whole line of sea defence. The
18th and artillery being landed, and the light guns placed se
as to enfilade this line of batteries, I felt it best to change
my first intention of attacking the sea defences by the right
column, and ordered the 18th at once to push forward to the
attack on this point. This was executed with equal gallan-
try by Lieutenant-Colonel •Adams in the face of a very large
force, which contested the whole line with more than ordi-
nal-) spirit, apparently led by one of the principal Mandarins,
who, with several of inferior rank, was killed on the spot,
when the Chinese fled, and the 18th pushed on ani occupied
the Joss House-hill, which the well-directed fire of the guns
on Trumball Island, under the Hon. Lieutenant Spencer, of
the Royal Artillery, and of the detached squadron under Cap-
tain Bourchier, had compelled the enemy to evacuate. Lieu-
! tenant-Colonel Adams speaks warmly of the spirited manner
in which Captain Wigston led the grenadier company of the
Royal Irish in this attack.
7. Considering it advisable to support the 18th I had pushed
forward across the valley the light and another company of the
55th, with Lieutenant-Colonel Mountain, who is well ac-
quainted with the country, and who most judiciouslyplaced them
in a position close to the West gate of the city, so as to prevent
any support being given from the town, and intercept the
enemy in falling back on it. The Rifle company of the 55th
having joined me, I moved on with the remainder of the 55th
covered by the Rifles, for the heights overlooking the 'city to
the north-west., which we occupied. During these operations,
by the praiseworthy efforts of the Madras Artillery under Cap-
tain Anstruther, the light field guns had been brought tod
summit of the heights, and opened their fire on the walls
town. The enemy was now in full retreat through theitn northßone
and east gates, although a few guns and
gingalb'crl directed
matchlocks, continued to be fired from the walls—end
„i_rwou, •
the 55th to proceed to the escalade, whilst Captain _
map"
al ladders bad been
with the Rifles, rapidly passed down a deep Woad d
cut off the retreat to the north. Theme hieiltiss by the great
brought up on most difficult and reggn now pliant ly
exertions of the Madras Sappers, ei:lp:rfs,
who
was the
vine to
planted under the directions of
,CePt_aa_
the wall, of Tin h
etion of seeing the co.
Regiment waving-on g ae,
lours of the 5.5 th
sh woe planted on the Joss House.
while those of the RoyalCaptain Mitt th
first to ascend, and I hedsoon the atiata
hill, above the suburb. 4 er reports that