1841.
Memorial from Keshen.
109
the day, from your minister, Kwan Teenpei, the commander-in-chief of the naval forces. It reported, that all the vessels of the English foreigners had weighed anchor, during the morning of the 7th, and in distinct squadrons had proceeded to attack the forts of Shakok and Taikok, outside the Bocca Tigris: that the fire of the guns was kept up incessantly, and the contest sustained all around, from 8 a. M. till 2 P. M., during which the foreign vessels had fired above 10 [rounds of] cannon: that our forces, with all their strength and energy, responded to the attack, till about 2 P. M., when from a dis- tance some of the foreigners were seen to have fallen into the water: that, as it happened, the tide began to ebb, and the foreign vessels ceased firing, and are now anchored in the middle of the stream, between Shakok and Taikok, each side maintaining its ground: that, probably, with the making of the flood, the next morning, the con- test would recommnence; and, further, that there were four steam- vessels, which fell upon the war junks, but finding the attack res- ponded to by our vessels, drew off again without having decided the contest on either side.
+
+
:
''།
Your slave, since his arrival at Canton, has in repeated instanceș exchanged communications with the English foreigners; and hás at all times given them admonitory commands, with mildness: and as regards the several things solicited by them, though he has not been able completely to satisfy their rapacious cravings, still he has with a liberal hand granted a measure of what they desired. Yet these foreigners, on the present occasion, having, upon the 6th, sent in a foreign letter, hastily, on the morning of the 7th, without waiting for a reply, proceeded straightway to attack the forts → to such a degree has their presumptuous overbearing and unruly violence been car- ried! Some, giving their advice on this matter, express it as their opinion, that if the whole defensive and preventive guard be firmly maintained, that will suffice in time to weary them out. Or, it is said, if they only be granted commercial intercourse, a restraining cordon may then be kept around what they have. Whether or not these schemes. are worthy of confidence, your sacred majesty's wisdom and thorough knowledge will determine,-and to escape it would be impossible.
!
These foreigners, now, having dared to commence this attack, and having begun troubling and disturbing, the present quarrel is then of their own creation; in their behalf nothing can be said; and, as they would not wait for the communication prepared for them, there would be no propriety in now sending it to them.