290
Journal of Occurrences.
MAY,
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ART. V. Journal of Occurrences: the war spirit; the new cabi. net; military operations at Ningpo and Chusan; murder of cap- tain Stead, and visit of the Columbine; death of Mr. Field and the loss of two British officers; pirates and fishermen; the new tsotang in Macao and his edicts; Lin's departure for Chě- keäng; punishment for talking on politics; interruption of trade at Canton; perfidy and cruelty of the government; the prefect's edict and captain Elliot's notice; the plot and attack on the British forces; seizure and release of American merchants; fires in the suburbs; rifling the factories; fire-rafts; bombardment; future operations.
WAR, and nothing but war, seems now contemplated and resolved on by the Chinese, from one extreme of the empire to the other. War against queen Victoria and her subjects is to be waged, without mercy, at all points, and by all means. Exterminate the rebels!' 'ex- terminate the rebels' are the reiterated orders that come in quick succession from the one man occupying the dragon-throne.
It is said by many of the Chinese, who suppose they know the truth of the matter, that the emperor will listen to no proposals for an amicable arrangement with the rebels, and is angry when any such are brought to his notice, while he threatens with death the man who may dare to talk of making peace with the English!
The gratification hoped for, as expressed on the 26th of January, in the address to my lords and gentlemen' from the British throne, cannot be realized it was a vain hope: her majesty's sentiments, however, deserve to be put on record, in contrast with the imperial will of her elder brother. She says,
("Having deemed it necessary to send to the coast of China a naval and mili. tary force to demand reparation and redress for injuries inflicted upon some of my subjects by the officers of the emperor of China, and for indignitics offered to an agent of my crown, I at the same time appointed plenipotentiaries to treat upon these matters with the Chinese government. The plenipotentiaries were, by the last accounts, in negotiation with the government of China; and it will be a source of much gratification to me, if that government shall be induced, by its own sense of justice; to bring these matters to a speedy settleinent by an amicable arrangement."
A new cabinet has been formed by the emperor. Keshen the 3d, and Elepoo the 5th, members of the Nuy Ko, or Imperial Cabinet, have been displaced, and Paouhinga Mantchou, and Yi- king also a Mantchou, have been placed in their stead. These new members are leading ministers of the war party; the first is distantly, and the second closely, connected with the imperial family. Concerning the fate of Keshen we have nothing as yet but We trust his life will not be required to appease the wrath of his master. The opinion has been expressed by many-officers and gentlemen-in Canton, that it will not.
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