Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 198

184

Journal of Occurrences.

small numerically, and late in action, it has given a blow that will shake the empire to its centre. Its commanding attitude, however, must be maintained unwaveringly, till every just right be gained; and until the ratification of new arrangements, for permanent peace, shall have been signed at Peking.

The naval force at present is thus distributed: Wellesley, at the Bogue; Blenheim, in Maaco Roads; Druid, at Hongkong; Calliope, Blonde, Conway, Sulphur, Nimrod, and Columbine, at Whampoa; Alligator, Pylades, and Cruizer, at Howqua's fort, six miles east of Canton; Herald, Hyacinth, Modeste, and Algerine, in Macao Pas- sage, two miles south from Canton; Starling, Young Hebe, and Louisa, passing to and fro; the Atalanta with the advanced squa- dron; the Nemesis, at Macao. The Melville sailed for England on the 26th, the Samarang on the 29th, and the Madagascar for Cal- cutta on the 30th inst. The naval commander-in-chief, we hear, will proceed in the Queen to Calcutta this day, the 31st. The land forces and transports are in company, at various points, with the naval.

The arrival of major-general sir Hugh Gough, on the 2d instant, we have already noticed. He is an experienced officer, of high re- putation, and comes on, as we understand, from Madras, to command in chief the land forces.

Kesken, the late high minister and imperial commissioner, has been degraded, and recalled to Peking, to be put on trial for traitorous conduct towards his master. He left Canton on the 12th.

Of the new commissioners, only Yang Fang is known to have ar- rived. He is an old man of more than 70 years, deaf and doltish ; and, instead of exterminating the rebellious at the head of his 30,000 veteran troops, has been compelled to proclain, on the walls of the city, their admission to Canton, with protection for their persons and property. There is a rumor of Yihshan's arrival.

The foreign factories were approached and occupied by British arms on the 18th-just two years from the date of Lin's notable edict demanding the surrender of opium.

The foreign shipping, for months past anchored in the Roads off Macao, is proceding up the river, several sail are already at Wham- poa, and a few of the merchants in Canton, with the expectation that business will be immediately resumed.

Chusan was evacuated by the British troops, on the 24th ultimo. Some particulars respecting it, and the captivity of Mrs. Noble and others, intended for this article, must be postponed.

Early this year, a stockade belonging to the Cochinchinese on the frontiers of Camboja, was taken by the Siamese. The prisoners were released, on condition they would never again be found in artns against their conquerors.

1

A paper, purporting to be an imperial edict issued on hearing of the capture of the Bogue forts, has just reached us. The emperor, it appears from this, has sworn that he and such rebellious people as the English shall not stand together under the same heavens. He requires that they be entirely exterminated. For allowing the fall of the forts, he deprives of their rank, but retains in office, all the officers in and of Canton!