Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 650

1841.

Trial and Condemnation of Elepoo.

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survived to tell the sad tale, no trace of the wreck remained. But it is disease, not the field of action, that has dug graves for so many of our men. Malaria, capricious in its action, and unsearchable in its nature, in a few brief months almost annihilated our small but intre- pid force. Sound was the advice of governor Lin, when he recom- mended the emperor to use no means to expel the enemy, that if the expense did not ruin, disease would destroy, us. It must now be war to the knife.' By so doing will the emperor, and people too, be convinced that England must and will have her demands. At this advanced period of the season, and with our force so divided, we cannot expect to do much more until reinforcements arrive. It is only surprising that our gallant little band have already done so much. In a few months more, and we shall probably have 10,000 men in the field. To quote the words of the Great Duke, "England never can engage in a little war."

ART. V. The trial and condemnation of his excellency, commission-

er Elepoo. Translated from the Peking Gazette by J. L. S. THE hereditary prince Hoshih, and the high minister Jinshow and others, kneeling respectfully lay their report before the throne:

In obedience to the imperial will, having assembled together to sit in judgment upon the affairs submitted to our deliberations, and having previously received the imperial instructions to institute an investiga- tion in relation to Elepoo, who formerly held the office of governor of the two Keäng provinces (Keängnan, i. e. Keängsoo and Ganhwuy and Keängse), in obedience thereto, we have had him brought before us in council assembled, and have ascertained by investigation the clear import of every circumstance; and Elepoo, bowing to the ground and knocking his head, through alarm and fear lost all com- inand of himself. It appears that Elepoo received an imperial com- mission, last year, to examine into and arrange the affairs of the bar- barians in Chĕkeäng; and after he had arrived in the province he employed skillful spies, summoned together the bravest of the militia, collected provisions, selected the most able-bodied of the troops, and' laid many plans for advancing upon and exterminating the enemy. Afterwards, he earnestly desired to order the said barbarians to repair

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