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um NARRATIVE
OF THE
Roots ,
VOYAGES AND SERVICES
OF
THE NEMESIS,
FROM 1840 TO 1813 ;
AND OF THE COMBINED
NAVAL AND MILITARY OPERATIONS IN
CHINA :
COMPRISING A COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF
THE COLONY OF HONG KONG,
AND REMARKS ON
THE CHARACTER AND HABITS OF THE CHINESE.
FROM NOTES OF
Cilliam ]
COMMANDER W. H, LHAL
en L , R. N.
lil iam
ry
WITH PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS,
L BY
W. D. BERNARD, ESQ ., A.M., OXON.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL . II .
LONDON :
HENRY COLBURN , PUBLISHER,
GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET .
1844 .
46 162 13044
FREDERICK SHOBERL, JUNIOR,
PRINTER TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT,
51 , RUPERT STREET , HAYMARKET , LONDON.
CONTENTS
OF
THE SECOND VOLUME .
CHAPTER XXI .
Chinese fire -rafts at Canton -First alarm — Premature discovery
-
Nemesis and boats of advanced squadron -- Fire -rafts sent against the
Wellesley at the Bogue — Night engagement at Canton — Suburbs set
on fire — Shameen battery captured — Narrow escape of Captain Elliot
- Nemesis ordered to chase the Chinese flotilla — Destruction of thirty
five junks and fifty fire -boats by Nemesis and boats of the squadron
Discovery of the landing-place at Tsingpoo, and report thereon by
Captain Herbert, on the 22nd March Captain Belcher's report on
the following day — Curious scene — Sailors with tails — Pillage and
Destruction of the factories by Chinese soldiers and the mob — Account
of the imprisonment of the Americans-Are carried before the criminal
judge — Removed to the ruined factories — Our troops come to their
rescue Captain Elliot's proclamation to the Chinese people -
- Calls
upon them to drive the authorities and the troops out of the city
Arrangements for the advance of our forces from Whampoa 1
CHAPTER XXII .
Canton and its neighbourhood — City walls—Palaces of the Mandarins
-Forts upon the heights — Preparations for the advance of our troops
from Whampoa - Important general order — Browne's passage, or the
main branch of the Canton river - Chinese boats collected to convey
the troops — Chinese trade stopped - Departure — Flotilla towed by
Nemesis — Right column lands at the factories Left column towed
up to Tsingpoo — Importance of iron steamers - Advantage in landing
troops — Reconnoissance by Sir Hugh Gough -- False alarm — Naval
iv CONTENTS .
operations on the 24th, 25th, and 26th May, before Canton — Shameen
Fort attacked— Narrow escape of Captain Herbert and Captain Bethune
- Arsenalcaptured — French Fort and other works stormed 18
CHAPTER XXIII .
Engagements upon the heights of Canton — Number of men engaged
- Description of the forts — Dispositions for the attack — Chinese threaten
Tsingpoo - Defeated by a party led by Captain Hall – Forts captured
on the heights - Entrenched camp burned Morning of the 26th of
May — Critical moment — Flag of truce displayed, and terms proposed
-
by the Chinese - Preparations for the assault — Truce concluded — Dis
appointment - Tartar troops leave the city - Demonstrations by the
armed peasants — Tremendous storm -Critical position of the sepoys—
Their rescue — Preparations to restore the forts-- Our troops re -embark
on the 1st of June — Observations on the truce — The ransom -money a
droit of the crown - Opinion of Vatel 34
CIIAPTER XXIV .
Return of all our forces from Canton — Sickness breaks out — Death
of Lung -wan and of Sir Le Fleming Senhouse - Buried at Macao -- Re
marks on Hong Kong — Its extent and position --- General character of
the island – Influence of the monsoons -- Contrast between the islands
near the Canton River and those of Chusan — (' larke Abel Smith's
observations on Hong Kong in 1816 - Why it is preferred to Lintao
- Causes of unhealthiness Mean temperature of July, 1843 — Re
marks on the prevailing sickness — 55th regiment. West- point bar
racks abandoned Notices of the southern side of the island- Chek
chew — And Skekpywan - Comparatively healthy — Site for a naval
yard recommended — Rivalry of Macao— Wonderful progress of Hong
Kong— First land-sale — First house built September, 1841 – Descrip
tion of Victoria at the present time — Public works and institutions -
Projected fort - Question of future tenure of land - Quit-rents — Public
press of the colony 62
CHAPTER XXV .
General remarks — Future government of Hong Kong - Prospects of
the opium -trade - Sir Henry Pottinger's proclamations - Attempts of
Americans to enter China in opposition to the Mandarins -- Visit to
CONTENTS . V
Chang -chow— Mutual surrender of criminals — Account of the great
Typhoon — Superstitions of the Chinese — Dreadful destruction- Dis
tressing scenes — Danger of the two Plenipotentiaries—Presence of mind
of Captain Elliot - Wreck of the Louisa — Imminent danger and narrow
escape – Nemesis renders assistance, after the typhoon — Narrow escape
of the Starling—Arrival of Sir Henry Pottinger and Sir William Parker
from England 91
CHAPTER XXVI .
Arrival of reinforcements — Sir Henry Pottinger's first proclamation
-Announcement to the authorities at Canton-His refusal to see the
Prefect — Dismay of the great man in consequence Good effect upon
-
the Chinese — Preparations of Sir William Parker for advance upon
-
Amoy - Departure of the fleet from Hong Kong - Captain Elliot and Sir
Gordon Bremer leave for England — Notices of Amoy — Situation and
appearance of the town — Description of its defences—Their great extent
-Island of Kolingsoo - Attempts to negociate — Reply of the Plenipo
tentiary-General order of Sir Ilugh Gough - Orders against plunder
ing-Attack commences 26th of August - Positions of ships against the
batteries Landing of the troops — Party from the Nemesis joins the
-
advanced guard of the 18th - Captain IIall the first upon the walls—
Personal combat — The long fort captured - Kolingsoo taken - Accident
to the Nemesis — Occupation of the city on the 27th-Curious scenes -
Boldness of Chinese plunderers — Evidences of infanticide — Harassing
duties—Tiger soldiers — Description of Kolingsoo - American missionaries
- Remarks on the prospect of OPENING CHINA BY MISSIONARY ENTER
PRISE — Errors to be guarded against - Garrison left on Kolingsoo
Our troops quit Amoy — Re-embarkation 113
CHAPTER XXVII.
Mercantile spirit of Amoy — Character of the people — Enterprising
colonists — English compelled to abandon their factory, owing to extortions
- Prospects of future trade – Capabilities of Amoy — Great trade with
Formosa - Dutch once settled there — Question of an English settlement
on the Bonin Islands — Their character and position - Notices of Formosa
—The last Tartar conquest — Chinese colonization — Settlement of the
Dutch — Their expulsion from the island— Productions — Great trade
with Amoy-Probable demand for English manufactures - Wreck of the
Nerbudda and Ann - History of the unfortunate sufferers — Their cruel
vi ("ONTENTS .
treatment - Imprisonment -- Ty -wan -foo - Inquisitiveness of the man
darins, Strange questions — Horrid details — Hopes raised and disap
pointed - Final tragedy 148
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Departure of the fleet from Amoy — Affair of the Nemesis at Sheipoo
--Curious mode of getting a good pilot - Attack upon the forts — Three
war-junks blown up - Chinese troops dispersed - Apathy of the people
generally - Inaccuracy of the surveys of the coast - Alligator Island -
Interesting anecdote - Expatriated Chinese - Their wretched life - Ren
dezvous at Keeto Point - A village destroyed in retaliation for murder
-- Attack upon Chinhae deferred — Reconnoissance of the harbour of
Chusan — Remarks on the character and appearance of the island -
Its high state of cultivation — Anecdote of mountain husbandry in
Tartary - City and harbour of Tinghai, and its new defences described
Defects of the Chinese system --Reconnoissance of the Nemesis, Modeste,
and Columbine — Preparations for the capture of the defences of Chusan
- Positions of our ships — Mortar battery erected on Melville Island
1st of October, 1841 — Debarkation of the troops — IIills carried by the
55th, and long battery by the 18th regiments -- Capture of the city -
And measures to prevent the escape of the Chinese — General re
marks 175
CHAPTER XXIX .
Military government of Chusan --Remarks on the town of Tinghai
--The great bell— Notices of Chusan — Not adapted for commercial
purposes -A visit to the interior - Interesting observations of a Chinese
gentleman-Civility of the people — Remarks on our commercial pro
spects in China --Necessity of barter — Difficulties — Preparations for
the capture of Chinhae - Its position - Defences of the Ningpo river
Chinhae captured, 10th of October, 1841- Military and naval opera
tions, on both sides of the river, described — Suicide of Chinese officers
The Emperor's remarks respecting the Viceroy - Public honours
Attentions of the English to the wounded Chinese -Remarks on Chinhae
and on Chinese inventions — Use of torture and cruel modes of inflicting
death – Burial of murdered Englishmen - Instrument for pounding
women to death— IIumanity towards the Chinese prisoners 203
CHAPTER XXX .
Ningpo river - Reconnoissance of the City - Ningpo occupied with
CONTENTS. vi
out opposition — Panic throughout the province - Alarm at Hang -chow
foo — Remarks on the seat of operations.- Chekeang - Importance of
the Imperial Canal — Measures adopted at Ningpo - Ransom demanded
-Chinese plunderers - Bridge of boats— Excursion to Yuyow - Beauties
of the country - Notices of Ningpo - Prize -money - Public granaries
.
opened to the people - Chinese horses — Pagoda, and panorama of the
country - Aspect of the town - Chinese etiquette - Want of scientific
researches - Taste for English manufactures — Russian cloth manu
factured in England for the Chinese -overland trade - Wood - carving and
varnishing — Sporting excursions — Abundance of game- Chinese trea
chery - Anecdotes — Second visit to Chinhae — View of the battle - field
Amusing incidents — Lady shamming dead--Infanticide— Visit to Chusan
-Return to Ningpo 231
CHAPTER XXXI .
Expedition to Yuyow - Capture of the City - Treachery - Close of
1841 -- Alarm spreads to Hang -chow -foo - People quitting the City
Expedition of boast of the Nemesis towards Fungwah - Character of the
country described - The Cornwallis at Chusan — Reinforcements begin
to arrive - Expedition to the island of Tai -shan — The Nemesis - Gallant
affair Rumours of aa combined attack by the Chinese — Ningpo in
-
danger - A surprise — Night attack Gallant defence of the City
Repulse of the Chinese-Pursuit and slaughter - Chinese attack Chinhae
-All their plans are frustrated 259
CHAPTER XXXII.
Advance upon Tsekee Horse Artillery - Phlegethon and Nemesis
-
destroy fire-boats — The Segoan hills — Positions of the Chinese - Tsekee
captured - Double attack upon the enemy - Serious conflict — The
heights carried — Flight of the Chinese army - Their retreat harassed
by the fire of the steamers — The Chungkie pass — Return to Ningpo
Chinese kidnappers – Curious caricatures - Remarks on Chinese cha
racter - Discovery of their preparations — Night attack by fire- rafts at
Chusan - Awkward position of the Nemesis — Their plans fail — Dan
gerous accident — Visit to the island of Pooto — Consecrated ground—Its
numerous temples- Beauties of the island - Description - Superstitions
of the people — Remarks on the religions of China 288
CHAPTER XXXIII .
' Evacution of Ningpo - Remarks on that city - Its importance as a
place of trade - Former factory - Why abandoned — Jesuit missionaries
vii CONTENTS.
first landed there — Their character, and great temporary success— Edicts
against Christians at Pekin – Re-embarkation of our troops at Ningpo
- Squadron sails for Chapoo -- Position and aspect of the city - Re
connoissance in the Nemesis - Preparations for the attack -- 18th May,
1842 — Description of Chinese positions — Our troops land to the at
tack from the Nemesis - Positions of our ships – Heights carried
Obstinate defence of a house by the Tartars — Repeated failures -
Distressing scenes — 18th Royal Irish - Prisoners tied by their tails
-Walls of the city scaled by the 55th_Naval brigade - Anecdotes-
Great attention to the wounded Chinese — Elepoo afterwards thanks
Sir Ilugh Gough for his humanity - Notices of the Tartar city and
population - Ilabits of the Tartars — Never distort the feet of women
Devotion of children to their parents- Beautiful country round Chapoo
-Casualties - Chinese prisoners restored 313
CHAPTER XXXIV .
Overtures made by the Chinese-Exchange of prisoners - Generous
conduct of Elepoo — Anecdote – Our prisoners led through the Chinese
camp— Ilong merchants ordered up from Canton- Not received - Ren
dezvous at the mouth of the Yangtze river - Reconnoissance of Woo
sung -Junks laden with iced fish — Mandarins going their rounds
Anecdote of the Nemesis — Woosung river and its batteries described —
Dispositions for the attack - Ships all towed into action by steamers
Spirited fire of the Chinese — Positions of the ships — Modeste and Ne
mesis roughly handled — Captain Watson's gallantry_War junks and
wheel boats attacked by the Nemesis — Description — Proceedings of
the light squadron- Captain Watson lands and attacks the flank of
the long battery — Warm reception — Desperate resistance of the Tar
tars A check — The enemy give way — Sir Hugh Gough lands, and
proceeds to capture Paou - shan - Advance upon Shanghai - Descrip
tion of that city -- A wealthy commercial emporium - Remarks on the
country and character of the people -Chinese Arcadia - Amusing de
scriptions - Tea - gardens - Ice -houses - Bishop of Shanghai - His history
-Sporting - Steamers proceed up the river - Nearly reach Soo -chow
foo- Our forces are again concentrated at Woosung 336
CHAPTER XXXV .
Remarks on the great river Yangtze Kiang — Stoppage of its trade
-Hope of preventing the grain and tribute from passing up the Grand
CONTENTS . ix
Canal - Reinforcements at Woosung — French ships of war — Remarks
- Sir Henry Pottinger's important proclamation, addressed to the
Chinese - The Emperor's proclamation concerning passing events-
Reply to Sir Henry by Niew Kien, the viceroy of Nankin --- Alarm at
-
Pekin — Extent and importance of the rivers of China — Remarks on
the Amoor, or Sagalin - Sail from Woosung in five divisions —Details
-- Aspect of the country - Kiang - Yin -
.
— And Golden
— Silver Island -
Island — Falling greatness — Arrival at Chin-keang-foo — Its capture,
21st July, 1842 — Tartar garrison - List of troops engaged— Plan of at
tack - Major General Schoedde's brigade scales the walls — Spirited resis
tance of the garrison -
Lieutenant Cuddy's gallantry — Sir Hugh
Gough and the third brigade prepare to storm the west gate - Unfortunate
affair of the Blonde's boats — Warm reception - Part of them abandoned
with the guns — Attention of the Chinese people to our wounded— Captain
Peter Richards lands from the Cornwallis with Captain Watson of the
Modeste — They scale the walls near the west gate — Spirited affair -
Guard-house fired by a rocket — Tartars driven in- -Outer gate blown in
and forced by third brigade — Sharp encounter with the Tartars in the city
-Self -destruction— Horrible scenes - Death of the Tartar general 378
CHAPTER XXXVI .
Fever breaks out - Its severity — Blockade of the Grand Canal—
Description of that great work — Overflow of the river — Distress of the
people— Fleet of three hundred trading junks stopped—Activity of the
Nemesis — Visit from the mandarin of Esching — Curious scenes on board
the steamer-Coal junks stopped — Abundance of coal found in China,
Description of it and where found — The Dido and Nemesis— Mode of
procuring supplies-- Hospitality of the people at Esching - Friendly in
tercourse at one town while fighting at another — Anomalies of war
Anecdotes of Chinese visiters — Emperor's compliment to the family of
the Tartar general — Garrison left at Chin - keang -foo - Gutzlaff's Pagoda
-Cast iron building one thousand two hundred years old—Passage of the
fleet up to Nankin - Arrivalof the imperial commissioners— Attempts to
gain time — Decision of the plenipotentiary - Remarks on the city of
Nankin - Dispositions for the attack - Chinese commissioners yield at the
last moment— Interviews and negociations— Necessary delay-Remark
able report sent by Ke- ying — Exchange of visits — Sir Henry enters the
city - Signature of the treaty - Remarks on our future intercourse with
the Chinese 416
X CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXXVII .
Nankin - Porcelain tower—Description of — Portrait of the head priest
- Tombs of the kings - Colossal statues - Figures ofanimals- Antique re
mains - Remarks on the history of the Ming dynasty - Disputes with the
Japanese and Mantchous— How the Mantchous, or Tartars, came to the
throne - Institutions of China preserved after the conquest - Efficient go
vernment - Our forces leave Nankin— Dreadful sickness— Bengal Vo
lunteers — Descent of the river — Forces reassemble at Hong Kong -
Riots at Canton - Character of the people - Origin of the outbreak - Eng
lish ladies in Canton - Patriots -- Attack upon the factories - English flag
staff — Arrivalof Sir Hugh Gough — TheNemesis --- Chinese troops oc
cupy the factories - Correspondence between Sir Henry Pottinger and
the merchants - Critical position - Visit of the Prefect and the Hong
merchants to the Nemesis - Quiet restored - Departure of our forces 451
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Departure from Macao-- Voyage along the coast towards Hainan - Pi
ratical fishing -boats — Bay of Liengsoy described — Fishing village - Man
darin station - Galong bay - Good shelter - Picturesque country - Yin
lin -kan a beautiful harbour - Entrance into the Lagoon - Discovery of a
river - Excursion into the interior - Appearance of the country- ('uri
ous buffalo carts --- Cocoa -nut woods — Observations on the people — Vil
lages - Tea -shops – Interesting journey - Party of prisoners and man
darins — An inn by the road side — Stopping the mandarins' chairs and
horses — Civility of the peasants — Return to the boats — Hall's river
Coast of Cochin -China - Phuyen harbour - Description of it - Good
place of refuge- Appearance of the country - Curious burial- ground
New kind of fishing-boats — Odd contrivance — Arrival at Singapore
Malacca — Its fallen condition - Penang revisited - Moulmein - Remarks
on - Frontier of Birmah— Elephant riding - Remarkable caves — Arrival
at Calcutta—Review at Barrackpore — Conclusion 483
APPENDIX .
British Squadron in China, at the ternination of the war 511
General Regulations of British Trade in China 513
Supplementary Treaty 519
VOYAGES AND SERVICES
OF
THE NEM ES I S.
CHAPTER XXI.
Chinese fire- rafts at Canton — First alarm — Premature discovery -
-
Nemesis and boats of advanced squadron - Fire- rafts sent against the
Wellesley at the Bogue — Night engagement at Canton — Suburbs set
-
on fire-Shameen battery captured — Narrow escape of Captain Elliot
- Nemesis ordered to chase the Chinese flotilla — Destruction of thirty
five junks and fifty fire -boats by Nemesis and boats of the squadron
Discovery of the landing - place at Tsingpoo, and report thereon by
Captain Herbert, on the 22nd March — Captain Belcher's report on
the following day — Curious scene - Sailors with tails — Pillage and
Destruction of the factories by Chinese soldiers and the mob-Account
of the imprisonment of the Americans — Are carried before the criminal
judge — Removed to the ruined factories — Our troops come to their
rescue — Captain Elliot's proclamation to the Chinese people — Calls
upon them to drive the authorities and the troops out of the city
Arrangements for the advance of our forces from Whampoa.
The intense anxiety which took possession of every
one's mind at Canton , on the evening of the expected
attack upon our vessels by the Chinese, as described at
the close of the last volume, has not by any means been
VOL . II . B
2 QUICK WORK .
exaggerated . The very uncertainty of the plans of the
Chinese served to increase the interest felt, and the ex
treme darkness of the night gave the greatest cause for
apprehension of treachery.
During the early part of the evening complete still
ness prevailed ; nothing whatever betokened an imme
diate attack. It was about eleven o'clock when the
alarm was given . One of the sentries of the Modeste,
which was a little in advance of the other vessels, ' first
discovered several large dark -looking masses dropping
down with the stream . Being hailed by the sentry, the
Chinese who had charge of them immediately set fire
to the combustible materials which they contained .
The flames, bursting forth suddenly, spread the alarm ,
and pointed out the danger to the other vessels, while
it was still remote . There was a general beat to quar
ters ; steam was rapidly got up on board the Nemesis,
the fires having been lighted early in the evening; the
anchor was weighed, and, in the short space of NINE
MINUTES from the time the alarm was given, the Neme
sis was under weigh, and under command of the helm .
The premature discovery of the design, before it was
actually commenced, disconcerted the plans of the Chi
nese, and caused them to set fire to the rafts sooner than
had been intended . The derangement of a grand scheme at
its outset embarrasses all the subsequent details, and is
apt to discourage all those who are employed to carry
them into execution . The moment they cease to act in
concert, the failure of every part of the scheme is cer
tain . Thus, on the present occasion , in consequence of
2 Namely, the Pylades, Algerine, Nemesis, and Louisa cutter.
THE FIRE -RAFTS . 3
some of the fire- rafts being ignited too soon, the greater
part of the rest were not ignited at all; so that, out of
the immense number, about a hundred, which had been
prepared , not above ten or a dozen were set on fire or
sent down against our vessels at Canton. Some, how
ever, were sent adrift against the Alligator, at anchor
near Howqua's Fort.
These fire-rafts were ingeniously constructed to effect
their object, being composed of boats chained together
in twos and threes, so that, drifting down with the
stream , they might hang across the bows of a ship, so
as not to be easily got clear. They were filled with all
kinds of combustible materials. Numerous junks and
smaller boats were barely seen in the distance higher
up the river, said to have a large body of troops on
board, for the purpose of trying to board our ships
during the confusion which it was expected would take
place. But the moment they found that they were
likely to meet with a warm reception, they did their
best to get away again as fast as they could .
The Nemesis ran up at full speed towards the fire
rafts, in order to assist the boats of the squadron in
towing them away. Many of them , however, drifted
fairly on shore, and set fire to the suburbs of the town,
causing much greater alarm to the Chinese than they
did to those whom they were designed to annihilate.
It was a grand spectacle, in the sullen darkness of the
night, to see these floating masses of fire drifting about
the river, and showing by their own reflected light the
Boats of the Calliope, Herald, Modeste, Pylades, and Algerine.
B 2
1
2 QUICK WORK .
1
exaggerated . The very uncertainty of the plans of the
Chinese served to increase the interest felt, and the ex
treme darkness of the night gave the greatest cause for
apprehension of treachery.
During the early part of the evening complete still
ness prevailed ; nothing whatever betokened an imme 1
diate attack.. It was about eleven o'clock when the
alarm was given. One of the sentries of the Modeste,
which was a little in advance of the other vessels,' first
discovered several large dark -looking masses dropping
down with the stream . Being hailed by the sentry, the
Chinese who had charge of them immediately set fire
to the combustible materials which they contained.
The flames, bursting forth suddenly, spread the alarm ,
and pointed out the danger to the other vessels, while
it was still remote. There was a general beat to quar
ters ; steam was rapidly got up on board the Nemesis,
the fires having been lighted early in the evening ; the
anchor was weighed, and, in the short space of nine
MINUTES from the time the alarm was given, the Neme
sis was under weigh, and under command of the helm .
The premature discovery of the design, before it was
actually commenced, disconcerted the plans of the Chi
nese, and caused them to set fire to the rafts sooner than
had been intended. The derangement of a grand scheme at
its outset embarrasses all the subsequent details, and is
apt to discourage all those who are employed to carry
them into execution . The moment they cease to act in
concert, the failure of every part of the scheme is cer
tain . Thus, on the present occasion, in consequence of
? Namely, the Pylades, Algerine, Nemesis, and Louisa cutter.
THE FIRE-RAFTS . 3
some of the fire-rafts being ignited too soon , the greater
part of the rest were not ignited at all ; so that, out of
the immense number, about аa hundred, which had been
prepared, not above ten or a dozen were set on fire or
sent down against our vessels at Canton. Some, how
ever, were sent adrift against the Alligator, at anchor
near Howqua's Fort.
These fire -rafts were ingeniously constructed to effect
their object, being composed of boats chained together
in twos and threes, so that, drifting down with the
stream , they might hang across the bows of a ship, so
as not to be easily got clear. They were filled with all
kinds of combustible materials. Numerous junks and
smaller boats were barely seen in the distance higher
up the river, said to have a large body of troops on
board, for the purpose of trying to board our ships
during the confusion which it was expected would take
place. But the moment they found that they were
likely to meet with a warm reception, they did their
best to get away again as fast as they could.
The Nemesis ran up at full speed towards the fire
rafts, in order to assist the boats of the squadron in
towing them away. Many of them , however, drifted
fairly on shore, and set fire to the suburbs of the town,
causing much greater alarm to the Chinese than they
did to those whom they were designed to annihilate.
It was a grand spectacle, in the sullen darkness of the
night, to see these floating masses of fire drifting about
the river, and showing by their own reflected light thie
| Boats of the Calliope, Herald , Modeste, Pylades, and Algerine.
B 2
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NARRATIVE
OF THE
Roots ,
VOYAGES AND SERVICES
OF
THE
Τ NEMESIS ,
FROM 1840 TO 1813 ;
i
1 AND OF THE COMBINED
NAVAL AND MILITARY OPERATIONS IN
.
CHINA :
COMPRISING A COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF
THE COLONY OF HONG KONG,
AND REMARKS ON
THE CHARACTER AND HABITS OF THE CHINESE .
FROM NOTES OF
Cilliam ]
COMMANDER W. H ,lHAL
enn L , R. N.
n
lia
s
laWITH PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS,
?
Lil
Cal BY
W. D. BERNARD, ESQ. , A.M. , OXON .
IN TWO VOLUMES .
VOL . II .
LONDON :
HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER,
GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET .
1844 .
376162 13
! 30944
Г
.
FREDERICK SHOBERL , JUNIOR,
PRINTER TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT,
51 , RUPERT STREET , HAYMARKET , LONDON .
CONTENTS
OF
THE SECOND VOLUME .
CHAPTER XXI .
Chinese fire -rafts at Canton - First alarm — Premature discovery
Nemesis and boats of advanced squadron -- Fire- rafts sent against the
Wellesley at the Bogue — Night engagement at Canton — Suburbs set
on fire - Shameen battery captured – Narrow escape of Captain Elliot
- Nemesis ordered to chase the Chinese flotilla—Destruction of thirty
five junks and fifty fire -boats by Nemesis and boats of the squadron
Discovery of the landing - place at Tsingpoo, and report thereon by
Captain Herbert, on the 22nd March — Captain Belcher's report on
the following day — Curious scene — Sailors with tails — Pillage and
-
Destruction of the factories by Chinese soldiers and the mob - Account
of the imprisonment of the Americans - Are carried before the criminal
judge -- Removed to the ruined factories — Our troops come to their
rescue -
- Captain Elliot's proclamation to the Chinese people - Calls
upon them to drive the authorities and the troops out of the city
Arrangements for the advance of our forces from Whampoa 1
CHAPTER XXII.
Canton and its neighbourhood — City walls—Palaces of the Mandarins
-Forts upon the heights — Preparations for the advance of our troops
from Whampoa - Important general order — Browne's passage, or the
main branch the Canton river - Chinese boats collected to convey
the troops — Chinese trade stopped — Departure — Flotilla towed by
Nemesis — Right column lands at the factories Left column towed
up to Tsingpoo — Importance of iron steamers — Advantage in landing
troops — Reconnoissance by Sir Hugh Gough - False alarm — Naval
iv CONTENTS .
operations on the 24th, 25th, and 26th May, before Canton — Shameen
Fort attacked— Narrow escape of Captain Herbert and Captain Bethune
-Arsenal captured—French Fort and other works stormed 18
CHAPTER XXIII .
Engagements upon the heights of Canton - Number of men engaged
-Description of the forts — Dispositions for the attack—Chinese threaten
Tsingpoo - Defeated by a party led by Captain Hall — Forts captured
on the heights - Entrenched camp burned Morning of the 26th of
-
May — Critical moment. Flag of truce displayed, and terms proposed
by the Chinese — Preparations for the assault — Truce concluded — Dis
-
appointment — Tartar troops leave the city — Demonstrations by the
armed peasants — Tremendous storm — Critical position of the sepoys
Their rescue - Preparations to restore the forts— Our troops re - embark
on the 1st of June — Observations on the truce — The ransom -money a
-
droit of the crown - Opinion of Vatel 34
CHAPTER XXIV .
Return of all our forces from Canton - Sickness breaks out - Death
of Lung-wan and of Sir Le Fleming Senhouse-Buried at Macao — Re
marks on Hong Kong - Its extent and position — General character of
the island - Influence of the monsoons. Contrast between the islands
near the Canton River and those of Chusan — Clarke Abel Smith's
observations on Hong Kong in 1816 — Why it is preferred to Lintao
- Causes of unhealthiness - Mean temperature of July, 1843 — Re
marks on the prevailing sickness - 55th regiment
-
West- point bar
racks abandoned — Notices of the southern side of the island— Chek
chew — And Skekpywan — Comparatively healthy - Site for a naval
yard recommended — Rivalry of Macao— Wonderful progress of Hong
Kong— First land -sale — First house built September, 1841 — Descrip
tion of Victoria at the present time — Public works and institutions -
Projected fort — Question of future tenure of land — Quit- rents - Public
press of the colony 62
CHAPTER XXV .
General remarks — Future government of Hong Kong - Prospects of
the opium -trade — Sir Henry Pottinger's proclamations — Attempts of
Americans to enter China in orposition to the Mandarins — Visit to
CONTENTS. V
Chang -chow - Mutual surrender of criminals — Account of the great
Typhoon — Superstitions of the Chinese — Dreadful destruction - Dis
tressing scenes—Danger of the two Plenipotentiaries — Presence of mind
-
of Captain Elliot - Wreck of the Louisa — Imminent danger and narrow
escape -Nemesis renders assistance, after the typhoon — Narrow escape
of the Starling — Arrival of Sir Henry Pottinger and Sir William Parker
from England 91
CHAPTER XXVI.
Arrival of reinforcements - Sir Henry Pottinger's first proclamation
-Announcement to the authorities at Canton — IIis refusal to see the
Prefect — Dismay of the great man in consequence Good effect upon
the Chinese — Preparations of Sir William Parker for advance upon
Amoy - Departure of the fleet from Hong Kong - Captain Elliot and Sir
Gordon Bremer leave for England — Notices of Amoy Situation and
appearance of the town —Description of its defences — Their great extent
- Island of Kolingsoo - Attempts to negociate — Reply of the Plenipo
tentiary - General order of Sir Hugh Gough -- Orders against plunder
ing - Attack commences 26th of August - Positions of ships against the
batteries -- Landing of the troops —· Party from the Nemesis joins the
advanced guard of the 18th — Captain Hall the first upon the walls
Personal combat — The long fort captured - Kolingsoo taken - Accident
to the Nemesis Occupation of the city on the 27th - Curious scenes —
Boldness of Chinese plunderers — Evidences of infanticide — Harassing
duties—Tiger soldiers — Description of Kolingsoo - American missionaries
- Remarks on the prospect of OPENING CHINA BY MISSIONARY ENTER
PRISE — Errors to be guarded against - Garrison left on Kolingsoo
Our troops quit Amoy - Re- embarkation 113
CHAPTER XXVII .
Mercantile spirit of Amoy - Character of the people — - Enterprising
colonists — English compelled to abandon their factory, owing to extortions
- Prospects of future trade - Capabilities of Amoy — Great trade with
Formosa - Dutch once settled there — Question of an English settlement
on the Bonin Islands — Their character and position-Notices of Formosa
-The last Tartar conquest — Chinese colonization - Settlement of the
Dutch — Their expulsion from the island - Productions — Great trade
with Amoy - Probable demand for English manufactures — Wreck of the
Nerbudda and Ann - History of the unfortunate sufferers — Their cruel
vi CONTENTS .
treatment --Imprisonment - Ty -wan - foo - Inquisitiveness of the man
-
darins— Strange questions - Horrid details — Hopes raised and disap
pointed — Final tragedy 148
CHAPTER XXVIII.
-
Departure of the fleet from Amoy — Affair of the Nemesis at Sheipoo
-Curious mode of getting a good pilot - Attack upon the forts - Three
war -junks blown up - Chinese troops dispersed — Apathy of the people
generally — Inaccuracy of the surveys of the coast — Alligator Island
Interesting anecdote - Expatriated Chinese — Their wretched life - Ren
dezvous at Keeto Point - A village destroyed in retaliation for murder
Attack upon Chinhae deferred — Reconnoissance of the harbour of
Chusan Remarks on the character and appearance of the island
Its high state of cultivation - Anecdote of mountain husbandry in
Tartary - City and harbour of Tinghai, and its new defences described
Defects of the Chinese system - Reconnoissance of the Nemesis, Modeste,
and Columbine — Preparations for the capture of the defences of Chusan
Positions of our ships — Mortar battery erected on Melville Island
1st of October, 1841 – Debarkation of the troops — Hills carried by the
55th , and long battery by the 18th regiments - Capture of the city -
And measures to prevent the escape of the Chinese — General re
marks 175
CHAPTER XXIX .
Military government of Chusan—Remarks on the town of Tinghai
-The great bell—Notices of Chusan — Not adapted for commercial
purposes —A visit to the interior - Interesting observations of a Chinese
gentleman-Civility of the people — Remarks on our commercial pro
spects in China—Necessity of barter — Difficulties— Preparations for
the capture of Chinhae—Its position - Defences of the Ningpo river
Chinhae captured, 10th of October, 1841 – Military and naval opera
tions, on both sides of the river, described — Suicide of Chinese officers
The Emperor's remarks respecting the Viceroy - Public honours
Attentions of the English to the wounded Chinese - Remarks on Chinhae
and on Chinese inventions—Use of torture and cruel modes of inflicting
death — Burial of murdered Englishmen — Instrument for pounding
women to death — Humanity towards the Chinese prisoners 203
CHAPTER XXX .
Ningpo river — Reconnoissance of the City - Ningpo occupied with
CONTENTS, vii
out opposition — Panic throughout the province - Alarm at Hang -chow
foo - Remarks on the seat of operations.- Chekeang — Importance of
the Imperial Canal — Measures adopted at Ningpo — Ransom demanded
-Chinese plunderers — Bridge of boats , Excursion to Yuyow - Beauties
-
of the country - Notices of Ningpo- Prize -money - Public granaries
opened to the people — Chinese horses - Pagoda, and panorama of the
country - Aspect of the town - Chinese etiquette - Want of scientific
researches - Taste for English manufactures - Russian cloth manu
factured in England for the Chinese-overland trade - Wood - carving and
varnishing — Sporting excursions — Abundance of game , Chinese trea
chery - Anecdotes — Second visit to Chinhae — View of the battle-field
Amusing incidents — Lady shamming dead-- Infanticide— Visit to Chusan
-Return to Ningpo 231
CHAPTER XXXI.
Expedition to Yuyow - Capture of the City - Treachery - Close of
1841 -- Alarm spreads to Hang -chow -foo — People quitting the City
Expedition of boast of the Nemesis towards Fungwah- Character of the
country described - The Cornwallis at Chusan — Reinforcements begin
to arrive - Expedition to the island of Tai-shan — The Nemesis — Gallant
affair Rumours of a combined attack by the Chinese — Ningpo in
-