Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 533

1342.

Journal of Occurrences.

515

potentiary, &c., purposely refrains from any detailed expression of his own sentiments as to the surpassing skill, energy, devotion, and valor, which have distinguished the various grades, from the highest to the lowest of all arms of her majesty's combined forces, during the contest that has led to theзe mo- mentous results. The claims which have been thus established will be doubtless acknowledged by the highest authorities. In the meantime, H. M.'s plenipotentiary congratulates her majesty's subjects in China on the occasion of a peace, which, he trusts and believes will, in due time, be equally benefi- cial to the subjects and interests of both England and China.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

Dated on board the steam frigate Queen, in the Yangtsz' kiáng off Nanking, this 29th day of August, 1842.

(Signed)

HENRY POTTINGER. H. M.'s plen potentiary.

Our readers will remember that, while the British forces held Ning- po, the head-quarters of the Chinese army were kept at Hángchau, its right wing extending to Shauhing, and its left resting on Kiáhing, not many miles from Chápú. Ningpo was abandoned by the British the 7th May; Chápú was taken on the 18th, and abandoned on the 23d of that month. June 18th, the defenses of Wúsung were carriod, and those of Shanghái on the 15th. For several days the expedition remained off Wúsung.

How these, and subsequent operations, were reported to the emperor, has been exhibited in Art. II. of this number.

The principal officers deputed by the emperor to direct the imperial army, and to conduct the war, were the generalissimo Yi- king, and the two joint commissioners, Te-1-shun and

Wan Wei; I'lípú the old commissioner; and Ki- ying the new commissioner; and Niú Kien, governor of the two Kiang. Among the "great men" were crowds of satellites. On the 27th of June, while the plenipotentiary and chiefs of the expedition were still of Wúsung, “corporal White,” formerly known as "captain White," appeared for the fourth time at head quarters, since the taking of Chápú, accompanied by the linguist Achau, they being the bearers of a ietter from I'lípú and Kiying. What may have been the tenor of these communications from the Chinese, we know not; but from all we do know, war and extermination were still the order of the day.

We may here mention, in passing, that we have been told that Kishen has not been at the scene of these recent operations, having been retained at Chángkiá kau, in the northwest of Chili.

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We may also add here, that one of the steamers, in proceeding beyond Shanghái, reached the lake, called Tienshán hú ; he direct distance run by this steamer, the Medusa, was 38 miles, S. 60° W. Assuining the Jesuits' position of Sú chau to be correct