Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 416

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Journal of Orenvrences

JULY.

tend the entrances of both rivers, and seem to have been sa confident of their ability to repel us, that they permitted a very close reconnuisance to be made in two ot the sinall steamers by their excellencies the naval and nulitary commanders m chief on the 14th inst; and even cheered and encouraged the boats which were sent in the same night to lay down buoys to guide the ships of war to their allot. ted positions of attack.

“At daylight, on the morning of the 16th, the squadron weighed anchor, and proceeded to take up their respective stations, which was scarcely done when the batteries opened, and the cannonade on both sides was extreinely heavy and unceasing for about two hours; that of the Chinese then began to slacken, and the seamen and marines were landed at once, under the fire from the ships, and drove the enemy out of the batteries before the troops could be diseinbarked and formed for advancing.

“Two hundred and fifty-three guns (42 of them brass) were taken in the bat. teries, most of them of heavy calibre, and upwards of cleven feet long. The whole were in unted on pivot carriages of new and efficient construction, and it was likewise observed that they were fitted with bamboo sights.

The casualties in the naval arm of the expedition amounted to two killed and twenty-five wounded, but the land forces had not a man touched. It appears al. inost miraculous that the casualties should not have been much greater, consider. ing how well the Chinese served their guns. The Blonde frigate had 14 shot in her hull, the Sesostris steamer 11, and all the ships engaged more or less. The loss on the part of the enemy is supposed to have been about 80 killed, and a proportionate nuinber wounded. On the 17th of June some of the lighter vessels of the squadron advanced up the Wúsung river, and found a deserted battery, mounting 55 guns, of which 17 were brass,

“On the 19tk, two inore batteries close to the city of Shanghái, opened their guns on the advanced division of the light squadron, but on receiving a couple of broadsides, the Chinese fled, and the batteries, which contained 48 guna (17 of them brass) were instantly occupied, and the troops took possession of the city, where the public buildings were destroyed, and the extensive government granaries given to the people.

"His excellency the admiral proceeded up the river Wasung with two of the small iron steamers on the 20th inst., about 50 miles beyond the city of Shanghái, and in this reconnoisance two additional field works, each mounting four heavy guns, were taken and destroyed; bringing the total of ordnance captured in these operations up to the astonishing number of 364, of which 76 are of brass, and chiefly large handsome guns; many of the brass guns have got devices showing that they have been cast lately; several of them have Chinese characters signify. ing 'the tainer and subduer of the barbarians,' and one particularly large one is dignified by the title of the 'Barbarian.'

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The Chinese high officers and troops are supposed to have fled in the direction of the cities of Súchau, Hángchau fú, and Nanking. The same high authorities have made another indirect attempt to retard active operations, by an avowed wish to treat, and have also given a satisfactory proof of their anxiety to conciliate by the release of 16 of H. M.'s subjects (European and natives of India) who had been kidnapped; but as the overtures were not grounded on the only basis on which they can be listened to, they were met by an intimation to that effect.

(Signed)

GOD SAVE THE Queen.

"Dated_on_board the steam frigate Queen, in the Yángtsz' kiáng river (off Wúsung) the 24th day of June, 1842.

“HENRY POTTInger, H. M. Plenipotentiary." We very much regret that it is not at present in our power to give maps of the places we have to describe. The coast, or southeasterly bank of the Great river, at the place we are now speaking of, runs nearly from the north- west to the southeast, and the river which flows down from beyond Sháng- hái is represented as cutting this line of coast nearly at right angles. The river which flows by Shanghái, is not the Wúsing, which is a small stream till it reaches this larger one near its mouth, and gives to it its name. On this arger river the steamers careving admiral sir William Parker, proceed.