1842.
Journal of Occurrences.
No. 2.
Gl
"Major-general sir Hugh Gough having so lately thanked the troops under his command, for their conduct on the 1st of October, will only now observe, that their promptitude tand gallantry at the capture of the fortified heights and citadel of Chinhái, on the 10th instant, justified his warmest anticipations. The major-general again requests, that the commanding officers of columns and corps, and heads of departments, will communicate this expression of his satisfaction to all under their respective command, and acquaint them that he will have much gratification in bringing their praise-worthy conduct to the notice of the governor-general and commanderin-chief in India, and to general Lord flill. By order. (Signed) A. S. H. MOUNTAIN,
Lt.-col, Dep. Adj. General."
4. This series of imperial rescripts, borrowed from the Hong- kong Gazette of the 1st instant, affords additional particulars regard. ing the taking of Chusan, Chinhải and Ningpò. The abstract of these documents was made by Mr. Morrison. They are particularly valuable, inasmuch as they show the condition into which the war has brought the Chinese.
No. 1.
Liú, the governor of Chekiáng, having reported, on the 5th of October the fall of Tinghái, and requested that detachments from the best troops of the neighboring provinces might be sent for the defence of Chánú and Hángchau, received the imperial autograph reply, in these words: "Our pleasure shall im mediately be declared." "And, the same day, he received a dispatch from the Great (or Privy) Council, covering an imperial rescript, delivered to the cabinet on the 12th of October. The purport of this rescript is, to reprehend the high commissioner, Yukien, and the commander-in-chief, Yu Puyun, for having been so little able, during half a year of cooperation, to provide against attack, and to command the Board of War to determine with rigor what should be the penalty inflicted on them; while the governor, Liú Yunkò, having been this year more especially charged with the defence of Hángchau alone, is declared less culpable than his predecessor (Urkungah) was last year, and is merely placed at the bar of the Board to be judged without rigor.
In a second rescript of the same date, the emperor informs the governor, that he has already commanded the respective governors of Húpi and Kiángsí, to send for his disposal a thousand men from each of those provinces. His majesty speaks of Chápu, and another place somewhat to the westward of it (a jutting- out headland), called Tsienshán, as most important posts of defence; and ex- presses the fear, that, taking advantage of this moment of general alarni of war, the rebellious barbarians' will be breaking out in every direction. He urgently enjoins the governor to recruit his local forces with volunteers, and especially to collect an extensive body of water-braves' (seafaring men).-and to hand the people together, encouraging them with the assurance, that 'to exert themselves for their country is the sure way to defend themselves and their families; that if they will fortify themselves with oneness of determination, no enemy can stand against them. In this, the emperor is simply giving back to the governor the words of the latter's own propositions. His majesty desires that no attack be made, till the grand army be assembled.
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No. 2.
On the 17th of October, the governor, Liú Yunkò, received an express from the Board of War, addressed to the late high commissioner, Yükien, which he opened, and found it to give cover to the emperor's autograph reply to the high commissioner's memorial.-as also to an imperial rescript, of date the 11th of October, transmitted by the Great Council. The autograph reply is: Our feel- ings of indignation and wrath cannot in words be expressed Our pleasure sball forthwith be declared.' And as a marginal note on the statement that 'for six days and nights they had fought with heavy toil, are these autograph words:
We read it with fast-falling tears.'
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