Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-24

Canton resolved to strike blow which should compel the
Chinese authorities to listen to reason
Accordingly having made his arrangements, Sir John
Davis accompanied by General DAguiar, with about 900
of all arms, embarked board her Majesty ships Vul
ture and Espege the Honorable Company steamer Pluto,
and the Cosair with small vessels for the convey
OF artillery and troopsthe whole naval forces being
der the command of Capt Macdouga the senior officer
the station With this expedition Sir John Davis entered the
Bocca Tigrs at A. NJ Of the I'd April surprised one fort
iii which were two hundred guns the Chinese flying at the
appearance Of the British troops simultaneously fort on the
opposite side also taken by surprise. In few hours five
batteries dsmaned four hundred and fifty guns spiked
and the magazines blown up In eiecting these important
objects the utmost observed abstain from Offering
personal injury the Chinese the various forts and not
even the most ng articles of property were carried away or
destroyed by the troops.
"Having thus secured communication with Hong Kong
the expedition advanced up the river and reached Whampoa
late in the afternoon As intelligence Of the seizure of the
Bogue Forts had arrived Whampoa before the squadron
must have been known in Canton the same night and twas
not therefore, considered likely that these works would be
yielded without struggle The plan Of operations--ha the
two forts TO the left should he simultaneously aackedwas
carried into effect The gates OF both forts were blown open
w the engineers their Gsons escaped by the rear the guns
spiked the magazines blown up, and the boats with the
two columns under Col Bercion and Major Aduch support
ed by the steamers pulled across to attack the forts on the
other bank Of the Here evident that the Chinese
had determined TO make stand and, the boats with
in range both forts opened brisk fire Of round shot, and
when they drew nearer grape. They Immediately
replied by the Pluto, Corsa and the artillery gunboat
The boats with the troops pulling steadily towards the forts
The firing continued until the men landed and then, seeing
the force formed on Shore the enemy abandoned their works
hy the rear The fire OF the Chinese remarkably well
directed The guns all Of them Of large size, Zone of copper,
particular was "a feet in length with Snch bore
spiked the magazines blown up but private property
before, rigdly respected
''The expedition then continued its progress up the river
and the fort called the French Foly situated the com
onceent Of the southeastern Suburbs of Canton was attack
ed, the gate blown in, and the guns spiked.
cat o'clock p NJ the steamers anchored in front Of the
factories aud four other FORTS the river dcences the city
and the suburbs Of Canton damed by blowing their
gates spkng their guns and destroying their magazines
making altogether upwards Of eight hundred and City pieces
of heavy ordnance disabled since nine o'clock the preceding
morning. All this done in thirty six hours.
CON landing Sir John Davis communicated Immediately
with Keyng waited upon Sir John at the British Con-
sulae Keying asked time to consider the conditions popos
cd TO him il was granted, He asked further time