"This was brought about by the Chinese having fired upon a flag of truce, sent with a chop to the Imperial Commissioner at the desire of his Excellency the Plenipotentiary. The flotilla of boats

of the enemy's advance batteries, engaging them for about two hours and a half, when all opposition ceased, and the factory within the defences was taken possession of.

The Modeste was placed within 300 yards in front of the principal battery, and shortly gave proofs of her welldirected fire, flanked by the powerful guns of the Madagascar, Captain Dicey, with artillerymen under the direction of Lieutenant Foulis, Madras Artillery, and Nemesis, Mr. W. H. Hall, R.N., commanding, with artillerymen, under the direction of Captain Moore and Lieutenant Gabbett, Madras Artillery, who handsomely volunteered their services upon the occasion. The Algerine (Lieutenant Mason), and Starling (Lieutenant Kellett), passing ahead, cutting through the rafts on the right bank and engaging a part of the war junks, the Hebe and Louisa tenders taking part, at the same time, under cover of the ships' guns, the flotilla, with the Marines, was brought up in admirable order by Captain Bourchier, and upon the signal given stormed and completed the capture of this part of the enemy's works, notwithstanding a most determined resistance on the part of the Tatar troops. From this battery the vessels and flotilla moved forward, and carried the other defences in succession, amounting in the whole to 123 guns.

"By the great care of Captain Nias, his officers, and ship's company, the Herald was brought over the flats, and entered the reach during the engagement, which must have had considerable effect upon the enemy, by dividing their attention, not knowing what other force might be in reserve.

"Of Captain Bourchier, whose high character is so well known to you, Sir, and the service, I cannot speak sufficiently strong for the manner in which be conducted the forces under his immediate command, not only leading them into action in admirable order, but keeping them together in readiness

of the squadron formed into four divisions under the command of Captains Bourchier and Bethune, of the Blonde and Conway; every arrangement having been completed, the force moved in advance

for any outbreak of the immense population of such a crowded city, and I cannot refrain from mentioning his conspicuous and energetic exertions in towing off the burning junks, which were drifting upon the suburbs of Canton, and soon would have evidently set fire to that part of the city, and involved the destruction of the whole, in which he reports he was ably assisted by the officers under his directions. My thanks are also due to that excellent officer, Captain Berthune, and to Commanders Belcher, Warren, Barlow, and Clarke, for their great zeal. The Royal Marines, under Lieutenant Stransham, of the Calliope, assisted by Lieutenants Daniel, Hewitt, Marriott, and Polkinghorne, were, as usual, conspicuous for their gallant, steady, soldierly bearing. I have, however, to regret that Lieutenant Stransham, in exerting himself to destroy the works, was suddenly exposed to a heavy explosion, by which he has been considerably burnt, but continues at his post; to Lieutenants Kellett and Collinson, and Mr. Brown, master of the Calliope, every favourable consideration is due, for having made themselves particularly useful in sounding, and afterwards conducting several men-of-war safely to an anchorage off the city of Canton; indeed, my sincere gratitude is due to every officer, seaman, and marine, employed on this service, for their zeal and spirited conduct, from which it is to be hoped the most beneficial results will ensue.

"Your presence at the close of the action releases me from going further into detail.

"From the various reports brought in, we have been able to ascertain that the enemy's loss has been about 400

men.

"I have the honour to be, &c. "T. HERBERT, Captain." "Commodore Sir J. J. Gordon Bremer, Knt.,

C.B., K.C.II-, Commander-in-Chief, &c."

Return of Ordnance destroyed in the Defences near Canton.-Lower Battery,

about noon, and engaged the batteries for about an hour, when the flotilla, with the marines, under the command of Captain Bourchier, was brought up in admirable order, and, upon the signal being given, stormed and completed the capture of the enemy's works, notwithstanding a most determined resistance on the part of the Tatar troops-123 guns were mounted in the different forts; the loss of the enemy has been very considerable (upwards of 400 men); our casualties, I am happy to say, do not exceed six wounded.

"This blow was followed by an agreement on the part of the High Commissioner to a suspension of hostilities, and afterwards by the publication of an edict, declaring the trade to be opened, and that all British and other

* "British Hall, Canton, March 20th, 1841. "SIR, I have the honour to acquaint you that I have this day concluded a suspension of hostilities in this province, the Imperial Commissioner having publicly proclaimed the trade to be opened, and that all British and other merchants proceeding to the provincial city shall receive due protection.

With a view to the restoration of confidence amongst the trading people, I have now to request you will have the goodness to move the vessels actually before Shameen, about half-way down towards the Macao Passage Fort, and I hope you will also do what may other

merchants, proceeding to the provincial city shall receive due and perfect protection.*

I endeavoured to push forward to the scene of action in the Hyacinth's gig, but only arrived towards its close, in sufficient time, however, to be gratified by the hoisting of the British colours. Thus, for the first time in the history of China, have ships been brought under the very walls of Canton, and by channels and branches on which a foreign ship never before floated. I believe the Chinese were not acquainted with the capabilities of their splendid river; assuredly they had no idea that the second city in the empire could be assailed by ships of war on its waters; I trust that the fact will have its due influence on the authorities, and I have no

wise be in your power to evince sincerely peaceful purposes respecting the population, without, however, removing a sufficiently pressing force from the near neighbourhood of the city.

"I am persuaded, too, that you will recognize the soundness of manifesting every degree of proper respect for the Government, and every disposition to uphold its character in the sight of the people, which may be compatible with the paramount necessity of keeping awake a lively sense, that renewal of ill faith will be responded to by an immediate blow.

"It must be quite superfluous to assure you, Sir, I depend with great confidence (and with constant thankfulness) upon your continued earnest efforts to prevent accident at Canton. But, perhaps, I may be pardoned for suggesting, that for the present no person

or boat be allowed to land without the express permission of the senior officer on the spot.

doubt that the forbearance displayed towards a city so completely at our mercy as this is, will be appreciated by the better classes of the community, who have every thing to lose, and the benevolence of the British character more fully understood than it ever yet has been in this country.

"The gratifying spectacle of our ships in this position is solely attributable to the unwearied exertions of the captains, officers, and men belonging to them, in sounding the various inlets through which they passed, not a single Chinese pilot having been employed throughout.

"In conclusion, we may on this, as on former occasions, congratulate ourselves on this service having been performed without any loss of life on our side, and only seven wounded (severely), amongst whom is that gallant officer, Lieutenant Stransham, Royal Marines, of Her Majesty's ship Calliope, Acting Brigade-Major,

"I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,

"J. J. GORDON BREMER,

"Commodore of the 1st Class, Commander-in-Chief."

"Her Majesty's Ship Wellesley,

"Bocca Tigris, March 11th. "MY LORD,—I have the honour to report to your Lordship my arrival on the 1st instant in the Canton river, and of my having joined and assumed the military command of the expeditionary force, on the 2nd, at Whampoareach, where I found Commodore Sir Gordon Bremer and Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, Captain Elliot, with the advanced division of the fleet and transports, except 200 men of the 37th Madras Native Infantry, left at North Wangtong, as a protecting force.

flanked it, and the destruction of the ship Cambridge.

"3. Having unfortunately arrived too late to participate in those operations, I cannot refrain from expressing my admiration of the noble, daring, and judicious execution which thus reduced, within a few hours, and almost without loss, what were considered by the Chinese as impregnable, and what, in the hands of almost any other nation, would have been nearly so. It is a great satisfaction to me to find Sir Gordon Bremer speak most favourably of the conduct of Major Pratt, of Her Majesty's 26th, and the troops employed on this occasion.

"4. Having communicated with the Plenipotentiary and the Commodore, I found it was proposed to continue the operations in advance the following day (the 3rd), by attacking the last defences on the Canton river, consisting of a square stone-built fort, mounting

thirty-two guns, in front of which the river was barricaded by a double row of strong piles, firmly driven in, with an intervening space of about thirty feet, which the Chinese had filled, by sinking junks, and placing masses of bamboos, together with timber of every description; 1,700 yards further up, the river divides itself into two branches, forming a low narrow island, which extends to within about a mile of Canton; at the lower point of this is Napier's fort, a regular half-moon enclosed work of stone-masonry, mounting thirty-six guns; at this point the river was again strongly barricaded connecting Napier's fort with two strong newly-constructed fieldworks thrown up on either bank of the river, by a planked platform placed over the barricade; these latter works showed embrasures of from forty to fifty guns each.

5. On the morning of the 3rd, having made my arrangements with the Commodore for a conjoint attack on the enemy's works, I proceeded with him up the river in the Nemesis steamer ; but a communication having been made that Yu, the Quang-chowFoo, was approaching, bearing a flag of truce, the white flag was hoisted by Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary. Captain Belcher of the Sulphur, having reported that he could perceive no persons in Howqua Fort (the before-mentioned work flanking the nearest barricade), I proceeded in the Calliope's boat with the Commodore and Captain Herbert, when we found it had been abandoned. I had it immediately occupied by the detachments of Her Majesty's 26th and 49th Regiments under Major Pratt at the same time I took

possession of a joss-house at the opposite side of the river (here about 800 yards wide), where a five-gun mud field-work had been commenced, in which I placed Captain Ellis with his company of the Royal Marines.

"6. An armistice until noon of the day but one following having been agreed upon, I had an opportunity of reconnoitring the Chinese defences, accompanied by a party of the Royal Marines under Captain Ellis. In performing this duty I had to pass through a very large and populous village: the inhabitants appeared to view our approach towards Canton without the remotest ill-feeling, and I have no doubt would have shown me the road, could I have made myself understood.

"7. A further communication having been received from Canton, an extension of twenty-four hours was granted to the armistice, and at noon on the 6th, the time having expired, the troops were landed on the left bank of the river, consisting of the detachments of Her Majesty's 26th and 49th Regiments under Major Pratt, and the Royal Marines of the fleet under Captain Ellis, the light squadron and the flotilla getting under weigh at the same time. On the first vessel passing the barrier, the Chinese fired off their guns in the centre battery and retired; the guns in the two flank-works, it appears, had been previously withdrawn, and these defences were instantly occupied by the seamen of the fleet. Thus the last defences of one of the richest towns in China, with a population of upwards of 1,000,000 of inhabitants, were abandoned without a shot having been fired on our side, and Canton lay at British mercy,

and remains a memento of British forbearance.

"8. Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary having forwarded me the accompanying letter (No. 1), the troops were re-embarked. On the receipt of the letter marked (No. 2), arrangements were made for the transports to fall down the river, and rendezvous here. All the forts have been destroyed by the indefatigable exertions of the seamen, the guns rendered unserviceable, and the barricades have been mostly removed, leaving open the free navigation of the river between Canton and Macao.

"9. Major-General Burrell and the Staff arrived three days back, and all the force from Chusan, with the exception of the Bengal Volunteers, has reached this river. I am using every exertion for the military occupation of North

Wangtong, and when completed, or in a forward state, the fleet will proceed to the island of HongKong, which it is the intention of Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary to occupy.

"10. I shall not fail, when the troops are assembled at HongKong, to give my earnest attention to their location, so as to establish by every means within my power, their health, and fit them for their ulterior operations: no want of supplies need, I conceive, be apprehended; nor do I believe, from all I can learn, that any exertion on the part of the Chinese authorities can prevent their being procured.

cr

"I have the honour to be, &c., "H. GOUGH.

"Major-General Commanding the "Expeditionary Force."

2. From the judicious and unwearied exertions of Sir Le Fleming Senhouse, the senior naval officer, the fleet of men-of-war and transports was prepared to sail on the 18th, but in consequence of light and variable winds the whole did not get under weigh until the 19th. Her Majesty's ship Blenheim took up her position within six miles of Canton, in the Macao passage on the 21st ult., but the whole of the force was not assembled until the morning of the 23rd, when I proceeded with Sir Le Fleming Senhouse to the vicinity