1841.
Progress of the Expedition to China.
625
The suburbs of the city had been occupied entirely as a military post, the inhabitants evidently not being allowed to enter it. The names on the streets, nay, even those on the doors in chalk, were just as we left them. The beach, however, was so altered by the exten- sive works thrown up, that no one could have possibly recognized it. As soon as Tinghae was fully occupied, various parties of troops scoured the island in all directions, and previously to the body of the expedition leaving the island, a military government was formed, and 400 men left as a garrison. Sir Henry Pottinger issued the following circular the day after taking possession of Tinghae, in which he declares his intention respecting the group.
CIRCULAR TO HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS IN CHINA.
Her Britannic majesty's plenipotentiary in China has the utmost satisfaction in announcing, for general information, that the city of Tinghae, the capital of the Chusan group of islands, was yesterday re-occupied by her majesty's forces.
During the eight months that have elapsed since this island was evacuated by her majesty's forces in February, 1841, the Chinese government appears to have exerted itself geatly to strengthen the defenses. The whole sea face of the city is now one continued line of fortifications, extending for nearly two miles, and rẻ- doubts and intrenched camps have been thrown up in every direction.
The Chinese troops made a better attempt at resistance than they have hitherto done, but nothing could withstand the intrepid valor and discipline of her majesty's combined forces, and in less than two hours, the batteries were cleared, the city escaladed, and the enemy flying in all directions.
Great quantities of ordnance (amongst which are about forty pieces of brass cannon), with other arms, and military stores of every description, besides magazines of gunpowder, and large granaries of rice, have been found; and from a variety of concurrent circumstances, it is evident that the Chinese authorities had no concep- tion that the place could be taken in such rapid and gallant style.
Arrangements will be made immediately for establishing a provisional govern. ment, and her majesty's plenipotentiary deems it advisable, after what has already happened, to intimate to her majesty's subjects and all others, that, under no eircumstances, will Tinghae and its dependencies be restored to the Chinese government, until the whole of the demands of England are not only complied with, but carried into full effect.
God save the queen.
Dated on board her majesty's ship Blenheim, in Chusan harbor, this second day. of October, 1841. (Signed) HENRY POTTINGER, II. M. Plenipotentiary.
A proclamation was also made to the native population of Tinghae a few days afterwards, of which the following translation is extracted from the Hongkong Gazette of Nov. 23d.
PROCLAMATION.
The city of Tingbae, the capital of the Chusan island and its dependencies, having been again taken possession of by the combined forces of her Britannic majesty, in conformity with the royal commands to that effect which her majesty
VOL. X. NO. XI.
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