Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 408

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Letter of Wang Tinglan.

Jouy,

being seventeen thousand strong, could not be considered as few in number The money in the treasury, amounting to some millions of taels, could not be deemed an inadequate sum.

Timber was pur- chased from Kwangsi. Powder spears, and guns were brought from Kiángsí aud A ́uhwui. Thus there was no want of military stores and implements in readiness. Yet these have all been broken up, dashed to pieces, and scattered, solely because those who had the management of affairs were without rules and regulations, either for their own guidance, or for the employment of the troops. There are facts, connected with this affair, which pencil and ink cannot de- scribe, and which I dare not mention; 1 blush with shame, and am filled with indignation, at their bare remembrance.

This, sir, being your native province, no doubt you ardently desire to have a faithful account of the proceedings on the late occasion, to which this letter will be particularly confined. Regarding these pro- ceedings there are four things which are inexplicable, two which are to be regretted, and three to be lamented,

The erection of forts, at the various narrow passages on the river to Canton, well distributed in a connected line, shows that our an- cestors possessed a knowledge of local advantages, which cannot be equalled by the people of our own times. The advance of the foreign ships on the river up to Canton, was made under the pilotage and direction of native traitors, there being on our part nothing prepared to prevent this. From the very first, on, his arrival here, the minister Keshen exhibited no disposition to fight. He stood in awe of the foreigners, as much as if they had been tigers; but had he met them promptly, things would not have come to this pass. The robbers having attacked the defenses at the Bogue, the soldiers at the forts next above them were quickly scattered. So when they reached those at Howqua's folly, the forts up to the city were deserted. It was expected that our troops would not be routed, but would put their foes to flight, and not return into the city, and then talk with them of peace. Now the city has its forts for defense, as a house has its doors and gates. Yet what is the advantage of gates, if when the robbers approach they are not closed? Nay but the guilt of opening the gates, and inviting the robbers to enter, how can a hundred lips excuse? In short, even their very beds were given up by our troops for the robbers to snore upon! This is the first of the things inexplicable, and the guilt thereof will assuredly rest on the man [Lin Tsesü] who gave rise to these evils.

When the foreigners first entered the river, they did not know