Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 357

340

Attack on Canton.

JUNE,

18. Chreho, (X) has been so often mentioned in speaking of the vallies all around, that nothing more need be said here of its communications. It is well wooded, and moderately fertile.

Note. In the Sailing Directions for the Chusan Archipelago, commenc- ing at page 251, in our last number are the following errata, which owing to circumstances could not be corrected while the sheets were going through the press.

On page 253, line 35 from top, for or read of; p. 260, 1. 25, for line read coast; 1. 33, for eastern read eastward; p. 262, 1. 21, for or read on; 1. 33, erase not; p. 263, 1. 6, for by read of; p. 264, 1. 19, for it lies read which is; 1. 25 for 0.5 read 5; p. 265, 1. 8, for extreme read entrance; 1. 9, for 14 read 24; 1. 35, 14 read 14; p. 270, lines 15 and 16, the punctuation should be thus:.. with many villages; near to its eastern extreme the hills, &c.; 1. 22, for lies read lie; p. 271, 1. 38, for 2 read a; p. 272, 1. 26, for and Kwan shan, read Kwan shan lies.

N. B. The latitudes and longitudes in the article are given in degrees, minutes, and decimals, instead of degrees, minutes, and seconds. On p. 278, the latitude of the east islet of Chookeä tseën should be 29° 51′.7 instead of 29°5' 7".

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ART. VI. Notices of the bombardment of Canton by the British forces under sir Hugh Gough, on the 25th of May, 1841. THE bombardment of the city, and some of the events connected with it, were noticed in our last number; the further details there promised we now proceed to lay before our readers. It had been agreed, as they will remenber, that no military preparations were to be made by the Chinese, while the trade of the port was to be allowed to proceed at usual. These terms, on which the city was spared, were simple and explicit. However, not long after the arrival of the new governor Ke Kung, and the principal commissioner Yihshan, a difference of opinion was found to exist among the high officers at Canton. The advocates for war gained the ascendant; and plans accordingly were framed, and preparations made for attempting, by one grand movement, to effect the entire destruction of the 'rebel- lious English.'

Rebellious-so the Chinese term them; and it is worthy of remark, that such indeed they are, according to the statutes of the imperial court. The name of Great Britain is enrolled in the Ta Tsing Hwuy Teën, among the states that are tributary to China. National honor, and the rights of supremacy, therefore, are deeply concerned in this contest. Reproof and remonstrances have all failed, and the