Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 82

64

Journal of Occurrences.

together with the subordinate appointments already detailed, in the translation of extracts from imperial edicts.—This communication from Hú Cháu was received at Hángchau on the 29th of October.

Shortly after, a second imperial rescript arrived, ordering Hú Cháu to change his route, and repair, with 1000 of the troops he had with him, to Tientsin,—for which, as a place immediately adjoining the imperial abode, the emperor began to feel alarm. The remaining 1000 of the Shensí troops under Hú Cháu's command were ordered to continue their route to Chekiáng'; but of the further reinforce- inents from Shensí, advancing at a later period in that direction, 1000 were to turn aside and join their commander-in-chief at Tientsin. Hú Cháu was meanwhile to associate himself with Nárkinge, the governor-general of Chilí, in arranging the defences of Tientsin and its neighborhood. It was between the 18th and 20th Oc- tober, that Kishen was ordered to be released, that he might repair to Chekiáng. He was to leave, in the suite of the generalissimo, on the 30th of October. Two joint commissioners, and an officer of the Board of Revenue bearing a separate civil commission, had been appointed to Chekiáng;-and a noble of the first order has been sent with a detachment of the imperial guards. The civil commissioner was to leave Peking, with two subordinate officers, on the 26th Oct; the generalissimo, with Kishen and another high officer, and ten subordinate officers, was to leave on the 30th. The officer appointed to succeed Yükien, as governor-general of Kiangsu, A'nhwui, and Kiángsí, was to leave about the same time, bringing with him 1000 of the Honán troops.

6. A manufactory of gunpowder was blown up in Canton on the 12th, at about 8 P. M., causing great destruction of life and property.

7. Five new forts have been recently built, four between Canton and Howqua's folly, and one in the Macao Passage. Another is be- ing raised midway between the foreign factories and the old western fort. These works have been raised with much more dispatch and skill than are usual among the Chinese.

8. Numerous cannon for these forts have recently been cast, weighing from 1000 to 6000 catties each.

9. Heavy contributions, for the expense of these forts and guns, and for new levies of militia, have been solicited by the rebel-quelling generalissimo, at a recent public dinner, given to all the rich men of Canton. The militia, it is said, now number 30,000 strong.

10. Foreigners, dressed in Chinese costume, are aiding in these new measures-unless rumors and reports are false.

11. The French ship of war, Erigone, has proceeded to the Bogue, and her commander to Canton, where we dare say the Chi- nese authorities will seek an interview, and perhaps ask him to be- come mediator between themselves and the English.

12. The return of Sir Henry Pottinger from the north is an- nounced in Macao: his excellency came down in the Blenheim; what may be his particular objects, and how long his stay in this neighborhood, we do not know. We do not as yet learn that he brings from the north any intelligence later than had preceded him hither. There seems to be a general belief prevalent, that the Chi. nese are preparing for a desperate and final struggle, and that cor- responding measures are in progress under the direction of the com- manders of the British military and naval forces. The fate of the greatest empire in the world is at stake, and the issue of the struggle will doubtless change the aspect of the whole eastern hemisphere.

¡