Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 364

1841.

Attack on Canton.

347

posts, sand-bags were placed, rendering all most firm and complete. Your minis ter, accompanied by his colleagues, and attended by his soldiery, went round about all sides of the city, making the proper defensive arrangements. In addi- tion to all this, a Fuhkeën militia corps and a naval militia corps were formed; and rafts were prepared, and launched, and straw collected, ready to make an attack by water.

"On the night of the 21st of May, then, a great battle was fought with the foreigners off the western fort, when they were attacked by a combined move ment with fire and cannon. Five foreign boats were instantly burned; and two of the foreign guns having been destroyed, and two ships' masts shot away, they forthwith retired. At the fifth watch your minister was on the point of leading on the troops to put them all to the sword, when suddenly the foreign vessels were reinforced by the arrival of sixteen ships, eight steam vessels, and more than eighty boats; all of which pushed on together. In consequence of having fought hard throughout the night, the troops were weary and fatigued; and the guns too were few. Nevertheless, the guns were fired several tens of times in rapid succession; but the foreign ships being strong, and withal so numerous, they could not be driven back. In fine, continuing to advance, they made at sudden rush, and landed near the city, and then marched straight up to the forts flanking the great and little northern gates, and possessed themselves thereof. They now attacked the city upon three sides;-wildly flew their arrows about; on all sides fell their cannon balls; the houses of the people were in all directions on fire; and the soldiery had no place whereon to stand. By the burning of the houses, and the disabling of guns, the artillery was rendered ineffectual; and troops of all arms, including officers of rank, also suffered loss in wounded (the precise extent of which has not yet been distinctly ascertained); this condition of things compelled all to retire within the walls of the city. A whole people, weeping and wailing, sending up loud cries to heaveu, choked every pathway; and earnestly did they beg that peaceful arrangements should be entered into. Your minister, as he looked upon them, lost all heart; and bowing to their de- sires, he went to the city wall to ask the foreigners what they wanted. They all said, that the price of the opium they had delivered up, amounting to several mil- lions of taels, had not yet been given to them: and they earnestly wished that a million of taels of silver might be granted to them, when they would immediately call in their forces and retire without the Bocca Tigris; they had nothing else to ask for, and all the people would thus be left in their ordinary state of quiet. Inquiring of them regarding Hongkong, if they would give it back, they answer- ed that it had been given to them by the minister Keshen, and that of its being so given they possessed documentary evidence.

Your minister, calling to mind that the city had been so frequently troubled and endangered, that the whole people were as dead men,-thought it right tem- porarily to accede to and promise their requests. In turning the matter over again and again, in his mind, it seems to your minister, that for a solitary city thus to stand all the brunt of battle is utterly destructive of its prosperity: and that in such a position the grand army can find no opportunity for displaying its strength: he deemed, therefore, that it was his undoubted duty, to draw the enemy forth without the Bocca Tigris; and then to renew all the fortifications, and seek another occasion for attacking and destroying them at Hongkong, and thus to restore the ancient territory.

"He has to beg that he and his colleagues may be delivered over to the Board, for punishment of their offenses; and also, that Ke Kung, Eleäng, and the other high officers, may be subjected to a scrutinizing Inquiry.

"Respectfully he presents this report of the circumstances under which he yield- ed to the intreaties of the people, that he should make peaceful arrangements: with trembling awe he does it, conscious that he lacks understanding, and is most guilty. A respectful memorial."

The following proclamation, bearing date June 1st, 1841, was issued at Canton by Chinese officers, in order to preserve from injury the graves of those foreigners who had fallen in the attack on the heights in the rear of the city.