278
vessels.
of
the Chinese squadron
escaped owing
Crews
to a
fog; and the
of the ships destroyed
reached the shore in their boats.
The French loss was inconsiderable.
In account of this engagement
engagement Enclosure
is annexed.
5.
The prolonged inactivity
of the French forew for
some
m
months past has certainly been detrimental to the interests of - pease by encouraging the Chinese
to both active and passive resistance. The highest and most
experienced
experienced (English) authority i
in
China recently intimated his... opinion that this inactivity had -gone far towards creating Chinese mind a feeling of contempt
in the
in
for any thing that the French Fleet
(and possibly any
other foreign Heet).
could effect. To make a real
impression
on the Chinese Imperial
Authorities, - the blows of a foreign
enemy
should be sudden, sharp,
and swift, and should follow each
other rapidly at points not remote from the seat of the Imperial
Government
-