that it is now the general superstition of all the lower
classes, and its showy temples and gilded images abound
throughout the land. Confucius, on the other hand, was
simply a political and moral philosopher, and in his tem
314 NINGPO .
as Hang -chow -foo, Soo -chow -foo, and others which bor
der upon the Imperial Canal, there is every reason to
believe that an extensive trade will soon be opened
there.
Ningpo lies at the distance of only fifty miles from
the trading town of Chapoo, which possess a monopoly
of the whole trade with Japan and Corea. Hence there
is reason to believe that our manufactures will soon find
their way into these latter countries (which have hitherto
excluded the foreigner more pertinaciously even than
the Chinese) indirectly by way of Ningpo ; and that, in
a few years, many articles expressly adapted for the
Japan market will be ordered to be manufactured in
this country, and sent to Chinese merchants at Ningpo.
This city is famous for its silks, which are very beautiful
of their kind ; and the shops are elegant, and well sup
plied with all kinds of Chinese manufactures. It is a
wealthier and much handsomer town than Amoy, and is
much superior in commercial importance to Foo-chow
foo, another of the newly -opened ports. Large junks
are even built on the Ningpo river, and the people have
always shown a great disposition to trade with foreigners.
Indeed this is the case in every part of China where the
people have not been held back by their mandarins.
Mr. Gutzlaff, in one of his early voyages, obtained a
list of all the foreign ships which had formerly visited
Ningpo, and found their number to be considerable ;
and it was stated to him that some of the very old
people still retained a very faint recollection of the fo
reigners. The Portuguese traded at this place in the
sixteenth century , and the English had a factory there
NINGPO . 315
as late as the middle of the last century. It was finally
pulled down in 1759, and all foreign trade was then
absolutely prohibited , by express orders from Pekin.
The principal objection made by the government at
that time to permit trade at Ningpo was simply " the
loss of the imperial revenue, accruing from the overland
carriage of tea and other goods to and from Canton.”
Add to this the great extortions of the local officers,
who here, as well as at Chusan , demanded such exorbi
tant fees and bribes, that it was found impossible to
carry on trade with any chance of profit.
It was at Ningpo that the Jesuit missionaries first set
foot in China ; and thence, making their way to Pekin,
succeeded by good policy, scientific acquirements, and
conciliatory demeanour, in winning the good-will of the
people, and the toleration of the government. This was
towards the end of the seventeenth century. For a time
they possessed great influence; and sanguine expecta
tions were entertained of the valuable results of their
labours, and of the rich fruits which would ripen to
maturity, as soon as the tree of Christianity which they
planted in China should spread its roots throughout the
land . Various causes conspired to produce their down
fall in China, principally connected with the political
state of Europe at that time. But it has been well ob
served by Sir George Staunton, in his preface to the
translation of the Penal Code of China, that “ the ex
tinction of the order of Jesuits in that country caused
the adoption of a plan of conversion more strict, and
probably more orthodox, but in the same proportion
more unaccommodating to the prejudices of the people,
316 NINGPO .
and more alarming to the jealousy of the government.
Generally speaking, it threw the profession into less able
hands, and the cause of Christianity and of Europe lost
much of its lustre and influence. The Jesuits were ge
nerally artists or men of science, as well as religious
teachers.”
Ultimately, the teaching of Christianity at Pekin was
strictly prohibited, and particular objection was made
to the printing or translation of books into the Chinese
and Tartar lunguages ; and in 1805 all books of this
kind were ordered to be seized and destroyed , and the
Tartar subjects were specially exhorted to attend to the
language of their own country, and the admonitions of
their own government; and, above all, to practice
riding and archery, and to study the works of the
learned and virtuous, and particularly to observe all the
social duties.
Thus we observe that Ningpo, which is now at
length for ever opened to the commerce and the inter
course of all foreigners, has already figured in past ages
as a place of vast importance, and has become distin
guished by many interesting associations.
To return from this digression . On the 7th of May,
1842, the city of Ningpo was given up, as it was im
possible to spare a garrison for so large a city. Neither
was it any longer necessary to retain possession of it, for
the occupation of Chinhae at the river's mouth would
command the whole trade of the city. Some of the
principal inhabitants, merchants, and others were assem
bled by Sir Hugh Gough, and into their hands the cus
tody of the city was given over, in the absence of all
NINGPO . 315
as late as the middle of the last century. It was finally
pulled down in 1759, and all foreign trade was then
absolutely prohibited , by express orders from Pekin .
The principal objection made by the government at
that time to permit trade at Ningpo was simply “ the
loss of the imperial revenue, accruing from the overland
carriage of tea and other goods to and from Canton.”
Add to this the great extortions of the local officers,
who here, as well as at Chusan , demanded such exorbi
tant fees and bribes, that it was found impossible to
carry on trade with any chance of profit.
It was at Ningpo that the Jesuit missionaries first set
foot in China ; and thence, making their way to Pekin,
succeeded by good policy, scientific acquirements, and
conciliatory demeanour, in winning the good -will of the
people, and the toleration of the government. This was
towards the end of the seventeenth century. For aa time
they possessed great influence ; and sanguine expecta
tions were entertained of the valuable results of their
labours, and of the rich fruits which would ripen to
maturity, as soon as the tree of Christianity which they
planted in China should spread its roots throughout the
land . Various causes conspired to produce their down
fall in China, principally connected with the political
state of Europe at that time. But it has been well ob
served by Sir George Staunton, in his preface to the
translation of the Penal Code of China, that “ the ex
tinction of the order of Jesuits in that country caused
the adoption of a plan of conversion more strict, and
probably more orthodox, but in the same proportion
more unaccommodating to the prejudices of the people,
318 BRITISH FORCES .
force was divided into three columns : the right, com
posed of the 18th and 49th regiments, each being from
four to five hundred strong, together with aa few sappers
and miners, in all about nine hundred and twenty men
and forty - eight officers, was commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Morris. The centre, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Montgomerie, (Madras Artillery) was composed of a
small detachment of the Royal Artillery, (twenty-five
men only) with the Madras Artillery and sappers, and
the Madras Rifles (one hundred men ) in all about four
hundred and sixty men, ( including lascars) and fifteen
officers. And the left, composed of the 26th and 55th
regiments, (the latter only half the strength of the
former) together with twenty -five sappers, in all eight
hundred and twenty men , and two hundred and thirty
officers, was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Schoedde.
On the 13th the ships of war, the Cornwallis, Blonde,
Modeste, Columbine, Starling, Algerine, and Plover,
with the troop-ship Jupiter, and several transports, got
under weigh with a light breeze ; they soon passed the
hill of Chinhae, (the Pelican being at anchor in the
river) and afterwards neared the Teshan Islands, and
then, hauling up to the westward, made the remarkable
hills about Chapoo, and anchored in seven and aa half
fathoms water, seventy- five miles from land . Chapoo
itself is in reality situated in what may be called an
open roadstead (with a shallow dry harbour close to the
town) on the northern side of the large deep bay, into
which the river which flows down past Hang-chow -foo,
called the Tshen -tang river, empties itself. The tides
there are remarkably rapid at all times ; and on the
CHAPOO . 319
following day a strong breeze setting in from the north
east with hazy weather, it was impossible to move from
the anchorage. The next day there was still no im
provement in the appearance of the weather, and it was
not until the 16th that a reconnoissance of Chapoo
could be made by the General and Admiral on board the
Phlegethon and Nemesis steamers.
No information upon which reliance could be placed
had been obtained, as to the actual strength of the Chi
nese force at Chapoo, but the general belief was, either
that a very large body of troops would be found there,
or that the place would have been abandoned altoge
ther by the enemy, for the purpose of concentrating
their forces for the protection of Hang -chow -foo. This
question was soon set at rest.
The view of Chapoo and the adjacent hills from the
sea as you approach the coast is very remarkable .
The town and its extensive suburbs are situated near
the western extremity of a small promontory, stretching
east and west for the distance of between four and five
miles. The suburbs, which appear to be the principal
resort for merchants and traders, and contain the most
wealthy shops, run along the edge of the beach, partly at
the foot of the hills which rise up on either side, and
partly occupying a low flat between them. The actual
walled town stands about half a mile in the rear, and
the nature and extent of its defences could not be accu
rately ascertained.
As the steamers were running in , so as to get near
enough to observe the nature of the Chinese defences,
and the works thrown upon the adjacent hills, a large
318 BRITISH FORCES .
force was divided into three columns : the right, com
posed of the 18th and 49th regiments, each being from
four to five hundred strong, together with aa few sappers
and miners, in all about nine hundred and twenty men
and forty -eight officers, was commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Morris. The centre, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Montgomerie, (Madras Artillery) was composed of a
small detachment of the Royal Artillery, (twenty-five
men only) with the Madras Artillery and sappers, and
the Madras Rifles (one hundred men) in all about four
hundred and sixty men, ( including lascars) and fifteen
officers. And the left, composed of the 26th and 55th
regiments, (the latter only half the strength of the
former) together with twenty -five sappers, in all eight
hundred and twenty men , and two hundred and thirty
officers, was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Schoedde.
On the 13th the ships of war, the Cornwallis, Blonde,
Modeste, Columbine, Starling, Algerine, and Plover,
with the troop-ship Jupiter, and several transports, got
under weigh with a light breeze ; they soon passed the
hill of Chinhae, (the Pelican being at anchor in the
river) and afterwards neared the Teshan Islands, and
then , hauling up to the westward , made the remarkable
hills about Chapoo, and anchored in seven and a half
fathoms water, seventy -five miles from land. Chapoo
itself is in reality situated in what may be called an
open roadstead (with a shallow dry harbour close to the
town) on the northern side of the large deep bay, into
which the river which flows down past Hang -chow -foo,
called the Tshen-tang river, empties itself. The tides
there are remarkably rapid at all times ; and on the
CHAPOO . 319
following day a strong breeze setting in from the north
east with hazy weather, it was impossible to move from
the anchorage. The next day there was still no im
provement in the appearance of the weather, and it was
not until the 16th that a reconnoissance of Chapoo
could be made by the General and Admiral on board the
Phlegethon and Nemesis steamers.
No information upon which reliance could be placed
had been obtained, as to the actual strength of the Chi
nese force at Chapoo, but the general belief was, either
that a very large body of troops would be found there,
or that the place would have been abandoned altoge
ther by the enemy, for the purpose of concentrating
their forces for the protection of Hang -chow -foo. This
question was soon set at rest.
The view of Chapoo and the adjacent hills from the
sea as you approach the coast is very remarkable.
The town and its extensive suburbs are situated near
the western extremity of a small promontory, stretching
east and west for the distance of between four and five
miles. The suburbs, which appear to be the principal
resort for merchants and traders, and contain the most
wealthy shops, run along the edge of the beach, partly at
the foot of the hills which rise up on either side, and
partly occupying a low flat between them. The actual
walled town stands about half a mile in the rear, and
the nature and extent of its defences could not be accu
rately ascertained .
As the steamers were running in, so as to get near
enough to observe the nature of the Chinese defences,
and the works thrown upon the adjacent hills, a large
320 DEFENCES OF CHAPOO .
fishing-boat was brought-to, to get information , and three
of the fishermen , being brought on board the Nemesis,
were questioned as to the number of Chinese troops, &c.,
on shore .. One of these men stoutly denied that there
were any soldiers there at all ; but, upon a threat that
they would all be hanged if they were found to conceal
the truth , the other two men declared that there was a
large force assembled for the defence of the place.
On a nearer approach it was observed that there were
three principal hills extending along the coast to the
eastward of the suburbs, for the distance of full three
miles, and two or three small islands lying off a little
bay at their eastern extremity, and contributing to
shelter it, and to make it a good landing -place for our
troops. Upon the heights above, several breastworks
were thrown up, particularly along the slopes between
the hills. Upon the side of the hill nearest the town
were two small batteries, mounting five and seven guns,
and upon a low hill in front of the suburbs there was a
circular battery of twelve to fourteen guns. Along the
shore, a little further westward, a masked battery was
commenced , but apparently not yet completed. The
steamers ran in close enough to be able, with aa glass, to
observe the mandarins despatching messengers along
the heights, upon which a great number of troops were
posted , but they did not fire at the steamers, although
they came within range. Indeed the Chinese seemed
disinclined to commence an action, and thus provoke a
contest .
Soundings were taken along the shore without any
interruption ; and Captain Hall landed with a boat's
ATTACK ON CHAPOO . 321
crew upon a low beach, to see if it was adapted for land
ing troops. The anchorage was more completely sur
veyed by Commanders Kellett and Collinson, who care
fully sounded along the whole coast at night, thus ena
bling the Cornwallis, Blonde, Modeste, and the other
vessels before named, to take up advantageous positions
against the enemy's works, and to cover the landing of
the troops, which it was decided should take place in
the bay to the eastward before mentioned. From that
point it appeared to the General that the heights could
be turned, and the enemy cut off before they could
make good their retreat upon the walled city.
At daylight, on the 17th, the whole of the men-of
war and transports got under weigh, and stood in to
wards Chapoo, with a light breeze from the southward, the
Nemesis and Phlegethon leading, and giving the sound
ings by signal to the Cornwallis, the Algerine having
dropped astern , owing to the light wind . At eight, a.m. ,
they came to anchor about four miles off shore, it being
nearly calm and high water. The positions had already
been assigned to the respective ships, and particularly to
the steamers, who were to land the troops. The fleet got
under weigh again soon after one o'clock, with a fresh
breeze from the south-west, and beat in towards the
anchorage of Chapoo, which they reached in the evening,
when each ship took up its allotted position without
any obstacle. The Nemesis anchored close in shore, in
three fathoms water, and from her deck every move
ment of the Chinese could be seen , even without the aid
of a glass. The transports were anchored near the
islands, off the little bay to the eastward, where the
VOL . II . Y
322 ATTACK ON CHAPOO .
troops were to land, under cover of the Starling, Colum
bine, Plover, and Algerine. The Cornwallis and Blonde
took up positions against the small batteries upon the
hill-side next the suburbs, upon the top of which there
was a temple, or joss-house, occupied by a large body
of the enemy, and the Modeste was placed nearer the
suburbs, to act against the works in front. The Neme
sis, Phlegethon, and Queen steamers were in the first
instance to land the troops from the transports, assisted
by the boats, while the Sesostris steamer was anchored
in shore, to shell the Chinese as they retreated before
our advancing troops.
The sun set clear and brilliant on that evening, the
last which many a brave man on both sides was doomed
to look upon. It was little thought that any serious
loss would be sustained on our side, and every heart
beat high that night, in expectation of the morrow. Our
gallant officers and men who fell were perhaps the least
fearful of the result, and counted on the glory, forgetful
of its price. The Chinese were on the alert during the
night, and brought down some large ginjals, which they
planted upon the hill-side, abreast of the Nemesis, but
did not make use of them.
At daylight next morning the Nemesis went along
side the transports, to take in the 18th Royal Irish,
under Colonel Tomlinson, and, having landed them in
the appointed bay, returned immediately to fetch part
of the 55th, together with the rifles; the remainder of
the 55th, with the 26th, 49th, and Artillery, being
landed by the Queen and Phlegethon, assisted by the
boats of the squadron, the whole under the direction of
ATTACK ON CHAPOO . 323
Commander Charles Richards, of the Cornwallis. Sir
Hugh Gough landed with the first or right column
from the Nemesis, and at once occupied a height wbich
commanded the landing -place, without meeting with
any opposition. As usual , the Chinese had neglected
their flauks, as if an enemy could only think of attack
ing them where they were most prepared to defend
themselves.
As soon as the whole of the troops were formed ,
Colonel Schoedde was directed to move with the 26th
and 55th regiments, forming the left column, and Colo
nel Montgomerie, with the Artillery and Rifles, forming
the centre, as rapidly as possible round the base of the
heights, in the rear of which there was a broken valley,
leading up in the direction of the walled town, from
which, by this means, the retreat of the Chinese would
be cut off. Sir Hugh Gough moved with the left column,
composed of the 18th and 49th regiments, under Colo
nel Morris, along the crest of the heights, driving the
enemy before him from one point to another. As soon
as the advance was sounded in that quarter, the ships
of war opened fire upon the enemy's right flank , near
the town, and after a few rounds, the Chinese fled from
their field -works, and from the joss-house upon the
summit of the hill.
The Nemesis, in the mean time, having united her
fire to that of the other ships, was signalized to close
the Cornwallis, for the purpose of protecting the landing
of the battalion of seamen and marines under Captain
Bourchier, who was accompanied by the Admiral him
self, who never shrunk from fatigue or danger, ashore
Y 2
324 TERRIBLE SCENE .
or afloat. The enemy's right flank was now turned ,
and their principal works were fortunately carried before
the Chinese bad time to spring the mines which they
had prepared. The enemy was soon in full flight.
The Sesostris threw some shells in upon the Chinese
centre, as our troops advanced upon them from their
left; but, owing to the rapid movementof the left column
round the base of the hills, and the dangerous direction
of the line of fire of the steamer, there was at one time
more chance of danger to our own men than to the
Chinese. The sides of the hills were covered with a
great number of tombs, which, together with the broken
nature of the ground, afforded shelter and rallying
points for the enemy, behind which they occasionally
made a stand, and suffered severely in consequence.
Many of the Tartars were even seen deliberately cut
ting their own throats, as our men were advancing upon
them .
But the most terrible scene, and the point at which
the greatest loss on our side occurred , was a large house
partly enclosed with a wall, situated at the end of a little
valley, about a mile from the walls of the town. About
three hundred resolute Tartar soldiers, finding their
retreat cut off, took refuge in this building, determined
to sell their lives as dearly as possible, expecting no
quarter from their enemy. The defence of this large
building was no part of their original design ; but, as
they were driven into it, one after another, without any
means of escape, they were forced to defend themselves.
Then umber who might be inside was not at first known ;
and two small parties of the 18th and 49th, under Lieu
TERRIBLE SCENE . 325
tenant Murray, of the former corps, and Lieutenant and
Adjutant Browne, of the latter, attempted to follow them
in, but were unable to effect an entrance. Of the 49th
party, Lieutenant Browne and Michell were the only
two who escaped untouched. One man was killed and
the rest wounded .
This little check was now reported to Lieutenant
Colonel Stevens of the 49th, who soon came up. Per
ceiving that there were a great many of the enemy
in the house, and that they were firing from the windows
and doors, he ordered our troops to be withdrawn under
cover, until the guns were brought up. Colonel Tom
linson, of the 18th, having overheard some injudicious
remarks which he thought reflected upon himself, in
stantly put himself at the head of a few of his own
regiment and of the 49th, and rushed in at the door
of the joss-house. Scarcely a second had elapsed when
he fell a corpse into the arms of his men, having re
ceived two balls in his neck . In fact, every man who
attempted to enter was either wounded or killed, as he
became exposed to the steady aim of the Tartars, in the
narrow doorway, the light being full upon him, while
the Tartars were themselves concealed from view.
The failure of this second attempt to enter the build
ing, added to the not unnatural exasperation occasioned
by the death of Colonel Tomlinson, rendered it very
difficult to restrain the men from recklessly exposing
themselves. Just at this time, one 6-pounder gun was
brought up by Major Knowles, and some rockets were
also thrown into the house, but did not succeed in setting
it on fire. The field -- piece made very little impression
326 TERRIBLE CONTEST.
upon the walls ; but it was important that the place
should be destroyed and the Tartars captured . In the
mean time, it was blockaded by two companies of the
18th Royal Irish.
While this was going on , Sir Hugh Gough had
marched on towards the city wall, and was joined there
by Sir William Parker with the naval brigade. As soon
as the Admiral had landed, Captain Hall, with three of
his officers (including the surgeon ), and sixteen men,
(eight seamen, and eight of the Bombay artillery ), also
landed as volunteers, and, after clearing a hill in their
front of some straggling Chinese soldiers, they ad
vanced directly up the hollow, at the extremity of
which stood the large building just mentioned. Already
Colonel Tomlinson was killed and several other officers
wounded ; both the rockets and the small field -piece had
failed to clear the house of its defenders. Captain
Pears, the Field Engineer, had also come up, and pro
posed to endeavour to blow in a portion of the outer
wall by means of a bag of powder.
Seeing a small side-door open , Captain Hall, followed
by Lieutenant Fitzjames and one of his own men, got close
to it and fired into it, wounding a Tartar mandarin, but
it was too bazardous to try to force a passage in ; and,
as the defenders kept up a smart fire from the windows
above, it was necessary to retire under cover. An
attempt was then made to set fire to the building, by
throwing combustibles in at the principal door ; and Cap
tain Hall rushed in towards it, with a bundle of straw in
one hand and his sword in the other, followed by several
of his men and one or two officers. Scarcely had he
TERRIBLE CONTEST. 327
reached the doorway, when a smart fire was opened
from within, by which two men were shot dead close by
his side, but he himself escaped as if by a miracle.
The bodies were instantly removed to a place of
safety, and this attempt failed, as the others had done.
Three or four of the Tartars now made an attempt to
escape, by rushing out of the doorway, and ran the
gauntlet of ten or a dozen shots directed at them. They
ran for their lives and escaped, although, from the
traces of blood, it was thought that more than one of
them must have been wounded .
Captain Pears at length got a powder- bag fixed to the
northern wall of the building, which blew it in ; and a
small party of the 18th again attempted to enter it,
but one of them was killed, and two wounded, and the
rest withdrew . In fact, it was so dark inside the build
ing, and the space was so narrow , that it was impos
sible to make a rush at it.
It was next proposed to set the place on fire, for on
one side the upper part of the building appeared to be
built of wood. Another powder -bag was fixed to that
side of the house, just below the wood -work , in the
hope that it would knock it all down together, or else
set it on fire. The explosion was so powerful that it
not only destroyed part of the wall, but brought down
the wood-work above it, and thus many of the Tartars
above became exposed, of whom some were shot, and
others succeeded in getting down below. But, wherever
a Tartar showed himself at a window in any part of the
building, several muskets were levelled at him ; and, on
the other hånd, so well did the Tartars take aim with
328 CHAPOO TAKEN .
their matchlocks, that one of the Royal Irish, who would
persist in merely peeping round the doorway “ just to
see if he couldn't pick off a Tartar,” received a shot in
his knee, before he had himself time to fire.
The fragments of the wood -work, which had tumbled
down , were now collected into a heap by the sappers,
and set on fire, which soon communicated to the rest
of the building. Gradually, as it spread, the match
locks of the Tartars (probably of the fallen) were heard
to go off, and loud cries were uttered . The rest of the
defenders must evidently surrender ; and, on entering
the doorway, the poor fellows could now be seen strip
ping off their clothes to avoid the flames, and running
about in despair from one side to the other. About
fifty were taken prisoners, but two or three, who tried
to escape, were shot; and so exasperated were the 18th
at the loss of their colonel and some of their comrades,
that it was not without difficulty they were prevented
from putting several of the prisoners to death . These
were now tied together by their tails, in parties of eight
or ten , so that they could not well run away all together ;
and they were marched off, under an escort, to the walled
town , which had already been taken possession of.
The walls had been scaled near the east gate, by the
grenadiers of the 55th, without opposition ; and the
other gates of the town were soon occupied by passing
round the ramparts . There were few guns, or even
ginjals, mounted on them ; and the Chinese, having
been once driven from the heights, and cut off from the
city, were dispersed all over the country, a large body
of them taking the direction of Hang-chow -foo.
HORRIBLE SCENE. 329
Between Chapoo and that city there is a good canal
communication, supposed to be connected with the
grand canal itself ; and, in addition to that, the com
munication by land , along a good causeway, broad
enough for artillery, gave many facilities for an im
mediate advance upon the capital. It was said also
that a curious Chinese map of the road and of the
adjacent country had been obtained ; but, with so
small a force, it was not thought advisable to march
further inland .
If the loss of the Chinese was great on this day, so
was it on our side much greater than on any previous
occasion. The high spirit of the Tartar soldiers, the
descendants of the conquerors of China, and soldiers by
birthright, could not brook a total defeat ; and, when
they were also stimulated by the excitement of opium,
their self-devotion and stubbornness tended to increase
their loss. When they could no longer fight, they could
die ; and the instances of mad self -destruction, both
within the city and without, were perfectly horrible.
Many of the Tartars were with difficulty prevented
from cutting their throats, which they attempted to do
with apparent indifference. On visiting the large build
ing, or joss-house, which had resisted so long and had
cost so many lives, a number of dead and wounded men
were found huddled together in a horrible manner, in
one of the outbuildings attached to it. The ruins of
the house were still smoking, and our object was to
drag out the wounded and put them under cover until
they could be properly attended to, for, on all occasions,
the Chinese wounded received every attention that
330 THE WOUNDED CHINESE .
could be shown them from our medical officers. Just
as our men began to move aside the dead bodies, a
Tartar soldier, who had until now concealed himself
among them, literally rising from the dead, stood up
suddenly and drew his sword. But, instead of making
a dash for his life, or giving himself up as a prisoner,
he began deliberately to hack his own throat with the
rusty weapon, and inflicted two wounds upon himself
before his hand could be stopped. Another man was
found concealed in a deep hollow in the earth, where
there was a sort of oven, and could not be got out
until some men were sent to dig him out, and he was
then found to be wounded . Altogether, the scene at
this house was quite enough by itself to appal any man
with the horrors of war. Many of the wounded were
dreadfully mutilated, and the dead bodies were charred
and disfigured.
A large building in the city was specially set apart
for the Chinese wounded, and the great kindness and
attention they received at Chapoo produced important
effects afterwards upon the authorities, and induced
them to treat our prisoners with kindness, instead of
torturing them to death, as had frequently been the
case. The veteran Elepoo, who was, in fact, at that
time governor of Chapoo (having been partially restored
to favour by the Emperor), expressly thanked the
General and the Admiral for their humanity, in a letter
>
written about a month after svards . “ On inquiry,” said
he, “ I found that you gave the hungry rice to eat, and
allowed to the wounded medical attendance, and we
feel obliged for your kindness and courtesy.” But this
TARTAR POPULATION . 331
was not the only mark of their gratitude, as we shall
presently relate.
Too much praise cannot be given to the super
intending surgeon , Dr. French (often mentioned in the
despatches) , and the other medical officers, for their
constant attention to the Chinese wounded, whenever
they had an opportunity. Occasionally, however, the
Chinese refused all assistance.
Among the Tartar population, who were here for the
first time met with, living entirely separate from the
Chinese, and preserving their own habits and privileges,
it is admitted by all that the most shocking scenes
were witnessed ; and the similar barbarities which were
afterwards observed at the Tartar city of Chin -keang
foo confirm all that has been said of the cruel and
revolting practices of that remarkable people in time
of war . All accounts concur in giving their testimony
to the fact of the self -destruction of whole Tartar
families ; the women destroying their children, drown
ing them in wells, and throwing themselves in after
wards ; the husbands hanging and poisoning their
wives, and deliberately cutting their own throats.
Every effort was made to put a stop to these barba
rities, and every means were used to pacify and soothe
the people ; but as the greater part of the Tartar popu
lation had abandoned the Tartar portion of the city,
the Chinese rabble set about plundering it, and frightened
the few who remained, even more than our own people.
In fact, Chapoo was exposed to plunder by both sides ;
but the people themselves were uniformly treated with
consideration .
332 TARTAR POPULATION .
The Tartar town, which was separated from the other
by a wall enclosing about one-fourth of the space within
the city, presented its peculiar aspect. The houses were
disposed something after the manner of tents in an en
campment, one of the last traces of the wandering pas
toral habits of the race ; to each hut was attached a
small bit of open ground, with a bamboo fence round it,
and a few trees within ; and the vine was not unfre
quently seen twining itself among the bamboos. Their
scanty furniture was more rude than that of the Chinese ;
and the bow, with its quiver full of arrows, the spear,
the sword, and the matchlock, seemed to be the most
cherished ornaments of their abode. They alone are
permitted to retain their weapons in their own charge.
Indeed, the Tartar here lives as a conqueror, and glories
in the emblems of conquest which he still has around
him. In other respects, they are all subject to the same
laws, and wear the same dress, but differ a good deal
in their countenance and expression. Commonly the
Tartars are a fairer people than the Chinese, and some
of them much resemble Europeans.
It is worthy of remark , that the conquerors imposed
upon the conquered the practice of shaving the head, ex
cept the back part, with its long tail ; but they themselves
took care never to adopt the absurd Chinese custom of pre
venting the growth of the female foot, and even deform
ing it, in such a way as to render it nearly useless to its
owner . From the Emperor's court to the lowest sol
dier's wife, no Tartar woman ever has her foot tortured
into deformity. At Chusan, I remember seeing a Tartar
woman walking about with her natural undeformed feet,
ENVIRONS OF CHAPOO . 333
and she was looked at as a curiosity by the Chinese
inhabitants, who stared and smiled as if they thought it
a strange innovation .
The attention of children to their parents, for which
the Chinese as well as Tartars are remarkable, was shewn
in many instances, even amid the trials of war, at Cha
poo.. The aged and infirm were of course unable to fly
from the city, and many of these were found in the
Tartar houses, carefully tended by their daughters, who
staid behind, and braved the expected horrors of an
enemy's approach, rather than abandon an aged parent.
There were some touching scenes of this kind ; and
when they found that they were not treated harshly,
their fears, which at first were distressing, gradually
disappeared. It is to be hoped that the example of
humanity and of forbearance, which was set on all occa
sions by the new conquerors, will serve greatly to
modify the barbarous ideas of war which they appeared
to entertain, and cause them to respect and admire the
principles of the advanced civilization of Europeans, as
well as to dread their power.
The country about Chapoo is perhaps one of the
richest and most beautifully cultivated spots in the
world . It nearest resembles some of the prettiest parts
of Devonshire. The low hills immediately adjoining
the town, the rich, luxuriant, well-watered plain be
yond, interspersed with numerous hamlets and villages,
with their curiously-shaped blue tiled roofs, and inter
sected by canals and causeways, formed a very attrac
tive panorama, and served to indicate the means by
which so dense a population is supported. But even
334 KILLED AND WOUNDED .
there the horrors of war were still to be traced ; dead
bodies floating along the canals (probably of wounded
who had been carried away and had died) ; parties of Chi
nese plunderers, hastening across the country, laden
with every kind of property ; and perhaps occasionally
a little quiet European foraging party , hunting out
ducks, and fowls, and pigs, for which, however, it is
but justice to say that the peasants were generally
very well paid .
It was not the object of Sir Hugh Gough to occupy
the city longer than was necessary for the purpose of
destroying the Arsenals, and property belonging to the
government, including of course the iron guns, gin
jals, &c. The brass ones, some of which were very good,
were sent over to Chusan, as were also our own wounded
men . Several horses, or rather ponies, which had be
longed to mandarins, were captured by our officers ;
and one of these, a stout grey, was carried up to Cal-.
cutta in the Nemesis, after the war was over.
The number of Chinese engaged at Chapoo has been
estimated at between seven and eight thousand men , of
whom about one - fourth were Tartars. It is difficult to
estimate the number of their killed and wounded, but
it must have been very great ; it has been estimated
that nearly one-sixth of them suffered more or less.
On our side, two officers, one sergeant, and ten men
were killed, including three of the naval brigade, of
which two belonged to the Nemesis ; six officers, one
sergeant, and about forty -five men were wounded, many
of them severely. The following were the names of
the officers killed and wounded : Killed - Lieutenant
GUNS TAKEN . 335
Colonel Tomlinson, 18th Royal Irish, and Captain Colin
Campbell, 55th regiment, died two or three days after,
from a severe wound in the head. Wounded — Staff,
Lieutenant-Colonel Mountain, C.B., Deputy -Adjutant
General, severely (three balls in his back) ; Lieutenant
A. E. Jodrell, 18th ; Lieutenant A. Murray, 18th,
Captain T. S. Reynolds, 49th, Lieutenant and Adjutant
W.P. K. Browne, 49th, and Lieutenant J. G. Johnstone,
Madras Sappers and Miners .
There were ten brass guns taken, together with
eighty-two iron ones, and aa number of ginjals, &c. The
Chinese prisoners were all sent back before our force
left the place, and a certain sum of money was given to
each of them, as will be particularly mentioned in the
next chapter. And this fact, coupled with the kind
ness which the wounded had received, led to the resto
ration of all our kidnapped prisoners shortly afterwards,
with similar or larger presents, conferred upon them by
the orders of the Chinese authorities.
336 EFFECTS OF
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Overtures made by the Chinese — Exchange of prisoners — Generous con
duct of Elepoo - Anecdote - Our prisoners led through the Chinese camp
-Hong merchants ordered up from Canton-Not received — Rendez
vous at the mouth of the Yangtze river — Reconnoissance of Woo
sung -Junks laden with iced fish - Mandarins going their rounds
Anecdote of the Nemesis — Woosung river and its batteries described
Dispositions for the attack—Ships all towed into action by steamers—
Spirited fire of the Chinese— Positions of the ships — Modeste and Ne
mesis roughly handled — Captain Watson's gallantry - War junks and
wheel boats attacked by the Nemesis Description — Proceedings of
the light squadron - Captain Watson lands and attacks the flank of
the long battery - Warm reception - Desperate resistance of the Tar
tars — A check—The enemy give way—Sir Hugh Gough lands, and
proceeds to capture Paou -shan - Advance upon Shanghai - Descrip
tion of that city-A wealthy commercial emporium - Remarks on the
country and character of the people - Chinese Arcadia — Amusing
descriptions — Tea -gardens - Ice-houses -Bishop of Shanghai -His
history - Sporting - Steamers proceed up the river - Nearly reach
Soo -chow - foo—Our forces are again concentrated at Woosung.
The results of the capture of Chapoo, and of the
total defeat of the best troops the Chinese had yet
brought against us, were very remarkable. On the one
hand, the people more than ever dreaded our power,
while they also wondered at our forbearance ; and, on
the other hand, the tone of the government began evi
BRITISH LENIENCY . 337
dently to change, and overtures were now made (pro
bably with a view to gain time,) to induce our military
and naval commanders -in -chief to suspend hostilities.
Advances of a similar kind had been made at Chinhae,
but did not appear to be founded upon sufficient autho
rity to permit them to be entertained . They were
renewed at Chapoo, but in an equally unsatisfactory
manner ; and the agent of the Chinese on both occa
sions, and also on subsequent ones, was a mandarin of
low degree, the very sending of whom was sufficient to
point out that their object was merely to sound our
disposition, and blind our credulity. Sir Henry Pot
tinger was still at Hong Kong, which place he did not
leave until the beginning of June, so that under any
circumstances the only result at present could have
been a temporary suspension of hostilities.
At Hang-chow-foo, the people were so much alarmed
that they openly expressed their dissatisfaction to the
High Imperial Commissioner Yih-king, who was also
generalissimo of the forces, a member of the imperial
cabinet, and a relation of the Emperor. But, above
all, the generous treatment of the Chinese prisoners, by
the orders of Sir Hugh Gough, the attention shown to
their wounded, and their being at last all given up
before our forces left Chapoo, each of them receiving a
present of money, (about three dollars for each man)
all these humane proceedings together produced a most
powerful impression upon all classes of the Chinese.
When the Chinese prisoners were sent back from
Chapoo, a letter was at the same time addressed to
VOL . II . z
338 ELEPOO.
Elepoo,' in reply to the overtures which had been
made. It was to the effect, “ that hostilities could not
be suspended until the Chinese government were dis
posed to negociate on the terms offered by the British
Government, through the medium of Her Majesty's
Plenipotentiary , who was then daily expected at
Chusan .”
Elepoo was determined not to be outdone in cour
tesy, and before our fleet entered the Yangtze river, he
sent a very important and remarkable letter addressed
to our commanders-in-chief, styling them , the “ Ho
nourable General and Admiral.” He talked a great
deal about good faith and sincerity, and thanked them
for sending back the prisoners, and for the attention
and kindness shown to the wounded . He proceeded to
inform them , that he had in return sent back all our
>
prisoners to Chapoo, who had been previously kept at
Hang -chow -foo ; but that, on their arrival there, it was
found that the fleet had already sailed, in conse
quence of which they were obliged to be taken back.
He further added, curiously enough for a high Chinese
authority, when we consider what had hitherto been
the tone of all their proclamations, " that he was de
* At this time, the venerable and high-minded Elepoo, who was Lieute
nant General of Chapoo, was partially restored to favour by the Emperor
after being disgraced and deprived of the government of the two Keang
provinces which he formerly held. This is the same officer who, when
he was sent down as Imperial Commissioner to the province of Chekeang,
for the purpose of “ arranging affairs with the barbarians, " nobly gave
up all our prisoners, including Captain Anstruther, Lieutenant Douglas,
and Mrs. Noble ; but was disgraced and punished by the Emperor.
ELEPOO . 339
sirous to negociate and make arrangements, in order to
protect the lives of the people of both countries.”
Neither the prisoners nor the letter were, however,
received for some time afterwards; for, on finding
that none of our ships were left at Chapoo to receive
them , they were taken back to Hang -chow -foo, at the
end of three or four days, where they were now ex
tremely well treated. By Elepoo's orders thirty dollars
were afterwards paid to every white man, and fifteen
dollars to every native of India, or, as they called them,
to every “ black man ;" thereby marking their sense of
the distinction between them . Altogether there were
sixteen prisoners restored by the Chinese, two of whom
belonged to the Nemesis, one being an English seaman,
the other a negro lad, who had been a slave at Macao,
but had escaped and came on board the Nemesis, where
he turned out a very smart useful lad. They had been
kidnapped at Chusan, and thence carried over to the
mainland .
After having been brought back to Hang -chow -foo
from Chapoo, the prisoners remained there five days,
and were well fed and taken care of. They were then
put into sedan chairs, and carried through the whole
Chinese army encamped to the southward of that city.
The camp appeared to be of immense extent, and full of
soldiers, who crowded round the sedan chairs with eager
curiosity, but without attempting to offer any violence.
They appeared particularly amused at the appearance
of the black men. It was remarked, that about one in
ten of the soldiers was armed with a matchlock , the
rest having only spears, swords, and bows and arrows,
ጊ 9
340 ELEPOO .
the latter of which they seemed to be most proud of.
The danger they ran of having their clothes set on fire
by the match, particularly when wounded , or by the
ignition of the powder, always made them more or less
afraid of arming themselves with the matchlock.
After travelling for several days, partly in sedans
and partly along canals, during which they passed a
large town called Chow -king, apparently as large as
the capital itself, the prisoners arrived at Yuyow, on the
11th of June, whence they were conveyed to Ningpo,
and after a very short halt proceeded down the river to
Chinhai, were they were most joyfully received on
board H. M. brig Pelican, by Captain Napier.
Communications subsequently took place, between
Elepoo and our military and naval commanders -in
chief. In one of these Elepoo says, that he is sur
prised to learn that the fleet of our “ honourable coun
try had sailed up the Woosung river, firing guns and
stirring up a quarrel ; and then expresses his regret that
the war had already lasted so long, and that many lives
had been lost, and unspeakable misery produced . Is it
not far better to enjoy the blessings of peace, than to
fight for successive years, and to fill the land with the
bodies of the slain ?” This, however, was merely an
attempt to lull the activity of our commanders, and to
delay their measures by pretence of negociation .
The reply of Sir Hugh Gough and Sir William
Parker was characteristic ; namely, “ that they were
thankful to Elepoo for having sent back the British
subjects who were prisoners, begged to assure him that
they gladly recognised in this act the good feeling
ELEPOO . 341
which should always subsist between civilized nations.
In respect to the other letter, they added that with the
utmost desire to lessen the calamities of war, it was
their duty to proceed with hostilities, until they were
assured that a functionary duly authorized by his Im
perial Majesty should be prepared to negociate a peace,
and to meet those just demands which had been re
peatedly submitted to his Imperial Majesty. With
every respect for his exalted position and acknowledged
probity, the high British officers must remind his Ex
cellency that they have not yet been apprised that he
iş, authorized to treat, on the conditions promulgated
by the British Government.”
The high tone of these letters must have rather
surprised both the veteran Elepoo and the Imperial
Cabinet. They had been so long accustomed to com
municate with foreigners only through inferior agents,
that they could hardly bring themselves on a sudden
to adopt the practice of conducting negociations upon
a footing of perfect equality. The ingenious expedient
was therefore resorted to, of sending to Canton, to
order up some of the Hong merchants to act as me
diators. The aged Howqua excused himself on account
of his infirmities, but sent his only surviving son in his
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