614
Stewart Mackenzie's Campaign in China
Dre.
An instance of this occurred on the Sth of January, when the squadron moved up the river to attack the batteries at the Bogue. At the moment the firing began, a flag of truce was observed coming towards the flag-ship.
The boat was manned by an old woman, having for her compagnon du voyage a man of the lowest description, who proved to be the bearer of a chop from admiral Kwán, to captain Elliot; the purport of which was to obtain grace of three days, to enable them to cominunicate with Kishen. This was acceded to, and our answer was taken in the Nemesis by lieutenant William Maitland, who had an interview with the Chinese admiral, who was most civil; and when told by lieutenant Maitland that he must desist from all further hostile preparations, replied, That he dared not surrender the forts, but if able we might come and take them. In consequence of this, all idea of hostilities was laid aside. I leave the reader to imagine, if he can, the feelings of the fleet on this occasion: to attempt to describe them would be useless." (p. 26.)
Another similar disappointment was experienced on the heights of Canton, May 27th, when firing was about to commence, preparations for escalading having been completed.
He gives some amusing particulars regarding the flag of truce—so often hoisted, and so often disregarded. Once, "the plenipotentiary, when on his way to Canton, was fired at while under a flag of truce."
On the 21st of January, 1841, at the suggestion of captain Elliot, the squadron that had been nearly two months in the river, occupying Chuenpí since the 8th, retired from the inner waters, and proceeded to Hongkong. The military secretary remained behind "to assist captain Scott of H. M. S. Samarang, governor of Chucnpí, in restor- ing the forts" to a Chinese officer. The restoration was made in
due form.
On the 27th January-the day sir Gordon Bremer took possession of Hongkong, captain Elliot had a formal interview with Kishen at Second Bar. Many officers, naval and military, with the French consul and captain Rosamel of the French corvette Danaïde, accom- panied H. B. M.'s plenipotentiary-and proceeded in the Calliope, Hyacinth, Larne, Nemesis, and Madagascar. In order to give as much éclat as possible to the meeting, the band of the Wellesley, and also one hundred picked men of the Royal Marines, commanded by captain Ellis, having under him lieutenants Stransham and Max- well, were in attendance as a guard of honor. On arriving off Chuenpi, the whole party were distributed among the two steamers, which gave and returned salutes as they passed the several forts