636
Journal of Occurrences.
Nov.
these notices, from one who is evidently in a situation where he can convey accurate and full accounts of nearly all the proceedings of the expedition. We are not so anxious to get opinions and senti- ments respecting these doings, as we are to present our readers with accurate and full narratives of all that is done-the acts of both the belligerents, with faithful notices of the accompanying circumstances, localities defined, fortifications delineated, positions marked, move- ments described, dates recorded, natnes given, &c., &c., all in such a manner that every operation may be rightly judged of and appre. ciated. This done, the reader can form his own opinions.
2. From Ningpo, our information is to the 1st instant, furnished by captain Clarke, late of the Columbine, who kindly paid us a visit while in Macao on his way to Europe, in company with several of his fellow officers, returning in consequence of having been promoted. Ningpo is fully two thirds the size of Canton, and equally densely po- pulated; accordingly the number of its inhabitants could not have been less than 600,000. To destroy this city by fire, and render all its inhabitants houseless just at the commencement of winter, would be a harsh measure. We are unwilling to believe it was sir Henry's purpose to rase it. It was believed at Ningpo, when captain Clarke left that place, that some overtures were about to be made, on the part of the Chinese, for the ransom of the city or for a settlement of all British claims. It was said, moreover, that one of Keshen's for- mer aid-de-camps (captain White) had arrived at Ningpo. But no- thing had transpired, so far as we know, that could warrant any strong expectation of such overtures being soon made as would be accepted. There are rumors in Canton of an advance having been made on Hangchow-by no means an improbable event-for at that point the invaders reach the grand canal, the principal artery which supplies the capital of the empire with its life blood. There is also a rumor that Keshen has been sent again to negotiate.
3. Regarding Chinhae we can for the present only add, to what our correspondent has given, an extract from a communication written from on board the Nemesis, and published in the Canton Register.
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Early on the 10th, busily employed as usual, taking in troops; they were landed by the Phlegethon and us in two separate divisions, 55th and 18th regi- ments by the Phlegethon, and rifle corps and artillery by the Sesostris; we landed the 49th in the rear of the enemy, say five miles from the encampment, about 9 s. M.; then passed on to the admiral, who had taken up his position off the joss-house fort, distant one mile, running the gauntlet with the several batteries lining the bank of the river, giving and receiving fire from the enemy's fortifications; several shot passed over us, but, as usual, we passed uninjured; the joss-house fort suffered severely from the shelling of the Wellesley. Blonde. Modeste, and Nemesis, keeping up an incessant fire on the troops as they passed to and from the fort. No shot were fired from this fortification; 10.30 a. m. being close in shore, observed a large body of the enemy drawn out, with their banners flying, in three separate divisions; we gave them a few round shot when they retreated within the walls of the city. At this time the Blenheim came up, and poured a destructive fire into the joss-house fort; about noon the firing ceased, though just previously a man was observed waving a flag in defiance at the joss-house, and whilst observing him a shell from the Wellesley exploded immediately upon it, scattering it to the winds. At 12.30 the marines and blue jackets landed, gained the hill as the