Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 313

1812

Positions of the British and Chinese Forces

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which the people will convey to him, easily be enabled to defeat all their machinations.

In the south, taken up with watching the rising progress of Hong- kong, or averse to commit themselves to measures that might require a retention here of a large force, the British authorities have perinit- ted the Chinese to rebuild their defenses; and from a little above Whampoa upwards, Canton and its approaches are now much more strongly fortified than ever before.

The foregoing observations having been prepared somewhat too late for insertion in the last number, soine more recent accounts have since reached us. At Chinhái and Chusan, several attempts to cause destruction of the shipping by fire-boats and by shallops con- taining boxes of gunpowder have been defeated (in one case with the loss of four men killed and wounded). The routed fugitives from 'Tsz'kí were met in their flight by a new commissioner, Chülahang, just arrived from Peking with violent warlike denunciations, and a large store of honorary distinctions for brave combatants. A council of war was held on his arrival, and he strongly urged renewed attacks upon Ningpò, that the enemy might be driven into the depths of the sea. Those who had already felt the effects of British prowess show- ed, however, great unwillingness again to advance, and Chülahang himself hesitated to become the leader of the new attacks he recom- mended. To fight to the last by their own posts, and not to seek death in advancing seems therefore to have been the determination with which the council broke up. Meanwhile, it has become the purpose of the British authorities, if report speak correctly, not to approach Hángchau, but to turn the flank of all this force, and by attacking the defenses that have been erected in the Yángtsz' kiáng, to throw open that river to the British forces. The reinforcements which have begun to arrive from India and England, will soon more than double the effective force.

At Amoy the rumored attack has not taken place: captain Smith in the Druid has returned from Amoy to Hongkong, and captain Nias in the Herald has taken his place at Amoy.

At Canton, Yishán has been permitted to send back some portions of his force that had come from distant provinces. Yiking, in the north, it is said has done the same, in order to conceal the fact of the numerous desertions that had taken place in his corps.