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Bengal Governmental Notifications.
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carrying guns, put them to flight, and in a very short period 13 fast-boats, 5 war junks and small craft collected, amounting to 28 in all, were in flames. Fire rafts were in readiness, on the banks of the creek, but too well secured by chains, and therefore beyond our ability to destroy during our short stay.
The whole force behaved with their usual gallantry, and the commander of the division under my direction (lieutenant Goldsmith) afforded me that steady determined support, which so particularly distinguishes him, and which caused me to ask you for his cooperation.
The enemy being posted in force on a hill above us, prevented me, in obedi- ence to your orders, from exposing my small party by an attempt to dislodge them. But I fully succeeded in effecting my reconnoitre by being hoisted to the mast head of the largest junk from whence I was able to survey the whole sur- rounding country.
From that examination I am happy to acquaint you that landing on solid ground is perfectly practicable. That the advance to the batteries situated on the hills north of Canton is apparently easy, and I have every reason to believe that our artillery will not meet with any extraordinary difficulty.
On my return I landed at the temple at Tsangpoo, where I found sand bags, and five small guns which were spiked and thrown into the sea. This temple, with other large commodious buildings, will afford ample quarters for the troops which may first be landed.
No casualties whatever occurred. I brought out with me one large fast-boat of sixty oars, the boat from which the officer escaped; and in pursuance of your separate orders collected vessels for the conveyance of 2000 soldiers.
I have the honor to enclose a list of boats and officers engaged, and am sir,
(Signed) Your most obedient servant, ED. BELCHER, commander.
No. 3.
To capt. sir H. LE FLEMING SENHOUSE, kt, K. C. H. &c., &c., Canton river.
Sir, I received your orders of the 24th instant, a little before noon on that day, and immediately proceeded with the boats and marines of the Calliope and Con- way to the Alligator off Howqua's fort, making the signal to the Herald to close and send her boats.
I ordered captain Kuper to move the Alligator up the right bank of the river past Napier's fort, where he anchored her in her own draught, and the boats were pushed up as far as possible without exposing them to the enemy's fire. A little before sunset I observed the Algerine moving down past the Dutch fort and she shrotly anchored and engaged a battery on the Canton side which she silenced; anxious to cooperate with her I went ahead with captain Bethune to reconnoitre, but was stopped by a shot through my boat from the French fort.
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I remained under cover of the point until dark, when I sent captain Bethune with a division of boats to support her, and a concerted signal having been made, I joined her with the whole force at 2 A. M.
The arsenal being secured, I reconnoitred the line of defense, and perceived that it could not be attacked with advantage without having heavier guns in posi tion than those of the Algerine. I therefore lost no time in ordering the other sloops down, and at the same time put myself in communication with major Pratt, commanding H. M. 26th in the factory.
Finding that the Modeste was the only vessel likely to be got across the har,
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