Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-06-25
EIIIN A

a.
Most Important Infeigence from China-Capture IF
he Bosue Forts and Me City 81 Canton 6y The Bri
hM
From the Bombay Overland Courier, Of May ~
The intelligence received from China during the
past month is of highly interesting and important
nature Our latest from Macao IS TO the 5lsl OF
March keshons continued procrastlnaon having al
length exhausted Captain Elliott patience, the Ne
mess steamer was despatched from Macao on the l4th
February with the draft Of treaty for the approval
and ratification of the imperial high commissioner
The commander of the steamer was ordered to wait at
the Rogue FOL reply until the 18th, and in the event
Of his receiving one by that date, to return mme-
dIately to Macao.
This he accordingly did on the l9th Keshen not
having made his appearance A circular was then
published stating that the squadron was moving to-
wards the Bocca Tigris. On the following day, Capt
Elliott received message from keshen, IN which the
latter stated his Willingness TO sign the treaty, and ex
cused his delay in coming to the Boguc when the
steamer was there, by alleging that he had been de-
tanned by some pratical boats This appears to have
been a mere to gam time. On The 9th of Feb
notification of the renewal of hosttes was issued By
her Britannia Majestys subjects
Towards the morning of the 25th of February three
howitsers and party Of Sepoys landed at South
Wantong from the Nemesis and the boas of the squad
ron. The Chinese kept up desutory fire while the
darkness lasted Before the dawn OF day a battery
had been erected with sandbag and the guns gnt INTO
position. From these soon as It was sufficiently
light the British returned the fire Of the Chinese At
III A. NJ the tide served and the signal was made for
the squadron to weigh H. NJ. s. Caiope, bearing
the broad pendant Of the Commodore, led the attack
against the North Wanong followed BY the Samarang,
Druid, Wellesley, Sulphur, and Modesto.
The Blenheim, and Melville, with the queen
steamer, opened their fire on the fort of Anunghoy
BY the action had become general, and the firing
constant and heavy all sides In the mean time the
Nemesis and Madagascar steamers, with numerous
boats in tow, run IN close to North Wantong, and
loaded the troops under the command OF Major Pratt
Shortly afterwards the whole of the forts were in pos
session of The British forces. Official notifications
issued in the course ofthe day-one by the Plen
potentary, ntimating the capture of the FORTS the
other by the Commodore, authorsing merchant yes
sells to proceed to the Bogue.
1t is evident that attack the Bogue forts should
have been resorted at the The great loss Of
time and expenditure OF public money which has &C.
CURED since The first arrival Of the squadron off Macao
would have been avoided, also the mortality which
has dreaduy thinned the ranks of the unfortunate
regiments that were quartered in Chusan.
That island has been evacuated and delivered up to
the Chinese, orders to that effect having been trans
mtted by Captain Elliot when he aborng under
the unhappy delusion that the Chinese inclined
to fulfil their promises of indemnity. The British
who were detained prisoners at Nngpoo released
as soon as the evacuation of Chusan was completed
Captain Anstruther Lieutenant Douglas r. n, Mrs
Noble, and their companions in captivity, now IN
safety under the British flag.
The whole Of the European troops on leaving Chu-
san proceeded to Iongkong, and consequently have
been available in the hostile operations that have been
carried since the date of the action at the Bogue
But greater proof need 10 be adduced Of the wretch