Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 362

844

Journal of Occurrences

The It.-genl. has again to congratulate his brave comrades in arms on another very brilliant achievement executed with their usual gallantry by the Chinese expe- ditionary force. Sir H. Gough's best thanks are due to all ranks, and he again has to request officers in command of corps and detachments to convey to their respective officers and soldiers his highest sense of approbation. The lieut..general com- manding cannot deny himself the melancholy gratification of recording the deep feelings of regret he has experienced at the loss of one of our brightest ornainents, lieut.-colonel Tomlinson, 18th royal Irish, who fell at the head of his corps, nobly doing his duty. His honorable remains will be conunitted to the deep to-morrow, in accordance with the express wishes of his brother officers. The licut.-general is happy to announce that licut..colonel Mountain, c. B., deputy adjutant-general, whose zealous exertions have been so frequently recorded, is doing well, as also the other wounded officers and men. (Signed) “J. B. Gough Major,

Deputy quarter-master general, acting for depy. adjt. genl. expeditionary force." G. A. MALCOLM, Secretary of Legation.

Truc copy.

6. The British reinforcements for the third expedition have for the most part arrived in the Chinese waters, and are reported to be in excellent health and spirits. It is generally reported that there will be something more than 10,000 bayonets; several companies of artillery; one of cavalry; one or two of riflemen; and more than a hundred sail, of which about twenty will be steamers, with forty or fifty other ships of war.

7. Tenure of Hongkong. Sir R. Peel, on the 15th of March, in the House of Commons, when asked what were the intentions of the government respecting the retention of the island of Hongkong, said, really, during the progress of hostilities to commit the government on such a point, he must decline.” London Mail, 4th April.

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8. Indemnity for the 20,283 chests of opium surrendered to the Chinese in March, 1839, was the subject of debate in the House of Commons on the 17th of March, 1842, Mr. Lindsay having brought forward a motion for the House to go into committee on this subject. Sir G. Staunton, sir G. Larpent, sir C. Napier, the chancellor of the exchequer, lord Palmerston, Mr. Mark Phillips, Mr. Jardine, Mr. Wynn, sir R. Peel, lord John Russel, took part in the debate; after which the house divided, and 37 members appeared for the motion, and 87 against it. Sir R. Peel said, "Captain Elliot had no authority to give pledges to the merchants, and the government was not respou- sible for thein." He recommended that the [$6,000,000] money should be applied to the vigorous prosecution of the war.

This was the way to obtain ultimate compensation, considering that the coin- pensation is to be obtained from China."

9. The emperor's finances, as appears by Gazettes, are suffering some derangement by the heavy drafts made on II. M.'s treasury, Three millions of taels have been advanced from it for expenses in Chekiáng, and a fourth ordered from the neighboring provinces.

Note. The following edict is dated at Peking, April 12th, 1842. We here give the original, and will add a translation in the next. It is the first intimation we have seen of the demise of his late majesty Mingning, if he be indeed dead.

欽奉諭旨越南國嗣阮福旋著勅封 為越南國王所有誥命書派廣西 按察使寶清查捧前往餘依議欽此