1842.
A Chinese Chrestomathy.
157
I to close this letter without bringing to your notice the merits of lieutenant sir Frederick Nicolson, first of the ship, to whose valuable assistance I am much in- debted, and I must also beg to name to your excellency the senior mates of this ship, Messrs. Walker, Rolland, and Anderson, young officers of much promise. I have great pleasure in adding that the service was performed without loss of life on our part, although the ships have suffered considerable in their masts, sails and rigging. The captains of the Druid and Modeste speak in the highest terms of their officers and ships' companies. I inclose the report of captain Ellis of the royal marines.
(Signed)
T. Bourchier,-captain.
Inclosure in Capt. Bourchier's letter.
To Capt. Bourchier, R. N.,
H. M. S. Blonde,
Military quarters, Royal Marines, Island of
Kúláng sú near Amoy, 27th Aug., 1841.
SIR-Having yesterday received your directions to land from her majesty's ships Blonde and Druid, under your orders, the detachments of royal marines, of the
Wellesley,
ships named in the margin, and drive the enemy from the strong Blenheim, battery of Kúláng sú you had previously engaged, I have the honor Blonde,
to acquaint you, for the information of rear-admiral sir William Druid,
Parker, K. c. B., commander-in-chief, that, in furtherance of that Modeste,
object, I landed with them on a sandy beach to the right of the battery; and after some difficulty in climbing rocks and other impediments, succeeded in gaining the ridge, and the flank of the Chinese position. The enemy, before we had gained the level, opposed us courageously, attacking us with matchlocks, spears, and stones, but we soon drove them before us, cleared the battery, and dispersed them; the garrison retreating to the rear, many of whom effected their escape by boats on the beach to Amoy opposite; several men were killed in and about the battery. In following the retreating party (some of whom also were wounded), I made a detour of this large and populous island, and discovered at its western extremity a sand-bag battery of 9 guns, and a few gin. jala; they were all loaded but did not appear to have been recently discharged: no other armed party of the enemy was fallen in with. I am happy to add that in these operations no casualty happened to the detachment I have the honor to command; moreover, I have great pride in reporting to you, that all the officers, rank and file, throughout the day, conducted themselves individually, as well as collectively, with a courage, zcal, and perseverance far beyond my power to ex-
press.
(Signed)
J. B. ELLIS,-captain, royal marines.
ART. V. A Chinese Chrestomathy in the Canton Dialect. By E. C. Bridgman. Macao, S. Wells Williams. 1841. Super-royal octavo, pp. 728.
FROM us our readers cannot expect a review of this Chrestomathy; they will, however, surely excuse our giving a brief account of what