Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 528

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Journal of Occurrences,

SEP.

ART. VII. Journal of Occurrences: sir Henry Pottinger's procla mation to the Chinese; his circular to British subjects regarding the capture of Chinkiáng fú; and his circular containing the pro- visions of a treaty of peace; progress of the expedition from Wu- sung up the Yangtsz' kiáng; arrangement of the ships and troops ; attack and capture of Chinkiáng fú; progress to Nanking; ar. rangements for peace; anniversary of the Morrison Education Society; meeting of the Medical Missionary Society; earthquake in Macao.

Jots with us, Christian readers, in giving thanks to our most merci- ful Father in heaven, for that he has graciously pleased here to stay the scourge of war, and has opened, partially at least, (and for great good, we trust) the ancient land of Sinim. Our last notice of the expedition left it off Wúsung, July 6th. Its progress up the river was slow. Several sinal defenses of the Chinese were destroyed; the Grand Canal blockaded; Chinkiáng attacked and destroyed; and the combined forces collected before the ancient “southern capital,” from whence are our last dates, August 31st. A treaty of peace had then been signed, the Chinese agreeing, among other stipulations, to pay $21,000,000 indemnity, to open five ports, and to cede Hongkong.

Of these proceedings we will give, first such official notices as have been made public by authority, and then such further particulars as we have been able to collect from other sources.

Before proceeding from Wúsung, the plenipotentiary issued a pro- clamation in Chinese, the “literal English version" of which we copy from the Hongkong Gazette, of the 15th inst.

Pottinger, her Britannic majesty's plenipotentiary, &c., &c., makes this clear exposition for the information of all the people of the country.

Under the canopy of heaven, and within the circumference of the earth, many are the different countries: of the multitude of these, not one is there that is not ruled by the supreme heavenly Father, nor are there any that are not as brethren of one family. Being then of one family, very plain is it that they should hold friendly and brotherly intercourse together, and not boast them- selves one above another. But England, coming from the utmost west, has held intercourse with China in this utmost east, for more than two centuries past; and during this time the English have suffered ill treatment from the Chinese officers, who, regarding themselves as powerful and us as weak, have thus dared to commit injustice. The English, unwilling to enter into contest with them, had borne such treatment for many years till in the year 189, the emperor of China, having determined to prohibit effectually the importa- tion of opium, sent a special commissioner, Lin Tsesii, to conduct the arrangements for that purpose; and that officer, finding himself unable to