76
BRITISH POSITION
correct and stable judgment on the important interests involved in the present position and future prospects of England in China; and if I am singular in the opinions I have formed, and stand alone in opposi- tion to the high approbation which, think, has been erroneously given to the past system of policy, I feel regret at being compelled to diff r from those who are my superiors, and for whom publicly and privately I entertain a sincere respect. With an humble yet earnest hope that your Excellency will examine this minute, as regards its imperfections, with an indulgent yet enlarged and generous spirit, and that irrespec- tive of the past, or of individual considerations, you may be enabled, in accordance with your own patriotic feelings, to procure for England a more permanent and secure footing, and a more extended and beneficial intercourse, than we now enjoy in China,
AND PROSPECTS IN CHINA.
conquered cities became in several instances scenes of plunder, desola- tion and anarchy,-
',--commerce was interrupted, and inland communication
of lascars and camp-followers, was only sixty-nine in fifteen actions, during two years! This fact will indicate the tone of exaggeration which was purposely given to the whole of our measures in China.
British and Chinese loss, killed and wounded, during the war, from July 5, 1840, to July 21, 1842, according to the official despatches from the Commanders- in-chief of our army and navy. The killed in battle include soldiers, seamen, marines, sepoys, and camp-followers. The wounded ditto, and the slightest scratch was called a wound.
Date.
Name of Action.
British
and Indian force.
Chinese*.
I have, &c.,
R. M. MARTIN.
Ordnance
Captured.
Killed.
Wounded.
Total.
Killed.
Wounded.
Total.
Inclosure in No. VII.
MINUTE ON THE BRITISH POSITION AND PROSPECTS IN CHINA,
Ir is of great importance to examine our present novel and some- what anomalous position in China; to ascertain what are our prospects in various points of view; and to trace the line of policy which national interests, in combination with national responsibility, would indicate as the most advisable course to be pursued with reference to the mutual benefit of Great Britain and the vast Chinese empire.
For two centuries Britain carried on a restricted commercial inter- course with one port of China, through the medium of a well-organized mercantile company: China was politically isolated from all other nations, and our sole object was to maintain in peace a profitable trade, subject to the controul and not unfrequent interruption of a haughty, jealous, and exclusive Government.
Our open, extensive, and increasing prosecution of a traffic in a pro- hibited and pernicious drug was necessarily followed by violent acts on the part of a proud and determined viceroy, whose power was unequal to his will, and who resorted to the only means at his command for the forcible suppression of what was deemed by his sovereign a grievous evil, fraught with great injury and suffering to the people and country at large. The result was soon manifested: England, much against her inclination, was compelled to declare war against the Government of China; the Chinese, whether by sea or by land, were everywhere easily discomfited; the momentary fight was soon converted into an indis- criminate slaughter*; fire and suicide completed the dreadful havoc; the
*This is shown in the following table, where it will be seen that the total number killed of our soldiers (Europeans and sepoys), of our seamen and marines,
1841 Jan. 7
Feb. 25 Anungboy batteries
and N. Wantong forts
1840 July 5
Tinghae, Chusan
Chuenpee fort (1)
War junks (1)
Tycocktow forts (2)
91 None None None
Unknown.
66
-
w
82
None.
38
38
Immense.
25
about
about
300
None 5
5 500 very many
about
8
May 25
City and heights of Do.
98 1
123 None 6
106 14 112 126 1500 500 6500
9 300 ditto ditto
about
6 400 ditto ditto
about about
Aug. 26
Amoy and defences
550 None
9
ය
Verly
136
IN
27
29 400 to
se vere
500
about
150
3 16 19 150
2
Many.
Carried forward
Feb. 27 Cambridge and war
junks Mar. 18 Defences of Canton
Oct. 1 Chusan
Oct. 10 Chinghai citadel
It is impossible to give the actual loss in killed and wounded of the Chinese. The official reports frequently advert to the "great loss," "dreadful slaughter," &c., of the enemy. The numbers here given are those mentioned in the British state- ments. After a careful examination, in China and in England, of various data, and from eye-witnesses of the engagements, I cannot estimate the Chinese loss at less than 18,000 or 20,000 killed and wounded. Most of the wounded perished, unless where kindly attended to by the truly Christian spirit that ever pervades our medical officers in the army and navy.
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