Major -General Schoedde, 55th.
Captain C. B. Daubeney, 55th, Brigade-Major.
55th Regiment ... Major Warren .
6th M.N.I. ... Lieutenant- Colonel Drever.
2nd M.N.I. Lieutenant- Colonel Luard.
Rifles of 36th M. N.I. Captain Simpson.
Total ...60 officers. 1,772 other ranks.
THIRD BRIGADE.
Major -General Bartley, 49th.
Captain W. P. K. Browne, 49th, Brigade-Major.
18th Royal Irish ..... Major Cowper.
49th Regiment Lieutenant - Colonel Stevens.
14th M. N. I. Major Young
Total ... 68 officers. 2,087 other ranks.
GENERAL STAFF .
Aides-de-Camp to the General Commanding- in-Chief:
Captain Whittingham , 26th regiment.
Lieutenant Gabbett, Madras Artillery.
Adjutant-General, Lieutenant-Colonel Mountain , 26th .
Assistant ditto, Captain R. Shirreff, 2nd M.N.I.
Deputy Assistant do. Lieutenant Heatly, 49th.
Deputy Quarter -Master -General, Major Gough.
Field Engineer, Captain Pears, M. E.
Commissary of Ordnance, Lieutenant Barrow .
On the evening of the 20th , all the arrangements
were completed for the attack upon the city and upon
the encampments beyond it , to take place on the fol
lowing morning at daylight. It has been already
stated, that it was not proposed that the ships should
bombard the town ; and the only vessel which fired into
it was the Auckland steamer, which covered the land
PLAN OF ATTACK . 401
ing, and threw a few shot and shells into the city. But
a body of seamen and marines of the squadron (as will
presently be described) took an active share in the work
of the day, under Captain Peter Richards and other
officers ; and Sir William Parker himself accompanied
the General, and forced his way with him through the
city gate.
The plan adopted by Sir Hugh Gough was to endeavour
to cut off the large body of Chinese troops encamped
upon the slope of the hills; for which purpose the first
and third brigades, together with part of the artillery,
were to be landed in the western suburbs of the city,
opposite Golden Island , near where a branch of the
Grand Canal runs close under the city walls ; Lord
Saltoun with the first brigade was to attack the en
campments ; while Sir Hugh Gough in person, with the
third brigade and the rest of the artillery, proposed to
operate against the west gate, and the western face of
the walls.
The second brigade, under Major -General Schoedde,
was to land under a bluff point somewhat to the north
ward of the city, where there were two small hills which
commanded the walls on that side. The object was to
create a diversion , and draw the attention of the enemy
towards that side, while the real attack was to be made
upon the western gate, which was to be blown in by
powder-bags. General Schoedde was directed to use his
own discretion, as to turning his diversion into a real
attack , should he think proper to do so.
There was found to be more difficulty in landing the
troops than had been expected, many of the transports
VOL . II . D D
402 ATTACK ON THE CITY .
lying at a considerable distance, and the great strength
of the current rendering the operation troublesome and
protracted. Had the Chinese possessed sufficient force
and skilful officers to lead them , they might have
opposed the landing, and inflicted severe loss upon
our troops, before aa sufficient body of men could have
been concentrated to drive them back, and hold good
their ground. However, the first brigade, under Lord
Saltoun, succeeded in driving the enemy completely over
the hills, after receiving a distant and ineffectual fire as
they advanced, but they met with a more determined
resistance from a column of the enemy, who were in
great danger of being cut off. Several casualties occurred
on our side, in this encounter. Upon the walls of the
town itself, few soldiers showed themselves, and the resist
ance which was soon experienced was not at all expected .
General Schoedde, with a portion of the second bri
gade, took possession of a joss-house, or temple, upon
the hill overlooking the northern and eastern face of
the walls, near the river ; and there awaited the land
ing of the rest of his brigade, being received by a
spirited fire of guns, ginjals, and matchlocks, which was
opened from the city walls ; this was returned by a fire
of rockets.
As soon as a sufficient force had been collected, the
rifles, under Captain Simpson, descended from a small
wooded hill which they occupied, and crept up close
under the walls, keeping up a well sustained fire upon
the Tartars. Major-General Schoedde now gave orders
for escalading the wall , although, from its not having
been part of the regular plan of attack, only three
ESCALADING THE WALLS . 403
scaling ladders were provided. The grenadier com
pany of the 55th, with two companies of the 6th Madras
Native Infantry, advanced to the escalade, under the
command of Brevet-Major Maclean of the 55th. The
first man who mounted the walls was Lieutenant Cuddy
of the 55th , who was almost immediately wounded
in the leg by a matchlock ball, but remained sitting
upon the wall and assisting the others to get up with
remarkable coolness.
The 55th and the 6th Madras Native Infantry vied
with each other in gallantly mounting the ladders, toge
ther with the rifles; but the Tartars fought desperately.
As they retreated along the wall, they made a stand at
every defensible point, sheltering themselves behind the
large guard stations and watch-boxes, which are found
at intervals upon most of the Chinese walls.
Many anecdotes are told by those who were present,
of the desperate determination with which the Tartars
fought. Many of them rushed upon the bayonets. In
some instances, they got within the soldiers' guard , and,
seizing them by the body, dragged their enemies with
themselves over the walls ; and in one or two instances
succeeded in throwing them over, before they were
themselves bayonetted. The Tartars were fine muscular
men , and looked the more so from the loose dresses
which they wore. They did not shrink from sword
combats, or personal encounters of any kind ; and had
they been armed with weapons similar to those of our
own troops, even without much discipline, upon the top
of walls where the front is narrow, and the flanks can
not be turned, they would have probably maintained
DD 2
404 CAPTURE OF THE CITY .
their ground for a much longer time, and perhaps even
until they were attacked by another body in the rear.
Major Warren and Captain Simpson were wounded, as
well as Lieutenant Cuddy.
As soon as the wall was scaled, one body of our
troops proceeded to clear the walls to the right, and
the other to the left ; and the latter, as they scoured the
walls, afterwards fell in with the third brigade, with the
General and the Admiral at their head, who had just
forced their way in at the gateway. While these import
ant successes had been gained by General Schoedde with
the second brigade, two other operations had been con
ducted at the western gate, one by the third brigade,
and the other by a small body of marines and seamen
under Captain Peter Richards. These are now to be
detailed.
Sir Hugh Gough, as soon as he had been joined by
the 18th and the greater part of the 49th , with the 26th,
which had not accompanied Lord Saltoun's brigade,
gave orders to blow in the west gate with powder -bags.
The canal which runs along the walls on that side was
found not to be fordable ; and this was ascertained by
four officers who volunteered to swim across it to ascer
tain the fact.. Sir Hugh Gough was at this time with
the third brigade, under Major-General Bartley, at
about midway between the south and west gates, but
determined to storm the latter, because the suburbs
afforded shelter for the men to approach it, with little
exposure . A few Tartar soldiers only appeared upon
the walls at this point, as the main body had probably
been marched off to reinforce those who were opposed
CAPTURE OF THE CITY . 405
to our troops, after the escalade of the walls on the
northern side.
Two guns , under Lieutenant Molesworth, were placed
so as to command the approach to the gate, and to cover
the advance of a party of sappers and miners, under
Captain Pears, who were to fix the powder-bags against
the gate. This operation was perfectly successful; and
the General, putting himself at the head of the 18th,
who had just come up, rushed in over the rubbish , the
grenadiers forming the advance, and entered a long
archway which led into what might be called an out
work , from which there was a second gate, conducting
into the town itself.
It appears that in Chinese fortifications, as before
described , there are always two gateways ; the outer
one placed at right angles to the main wall of the town ,
so as to be flanked by it, and leading into a large court,
surrounded by walls similar to the walls of the town,
and in which there are commonly cells for prisoners,
&c . The second gate and archway leads from it di
rectly into the body of the place, and is surmounted by
a guard -house
use upon the top of the gateway, to which you
ascend by a flight of stone steps on either side.
All resistance at the gateways had been already
overcome, the Chinese guard at the inner gate having
given way before the advanced party of the 55th regi
ment ; and the open court, or space between the two gate
ways, having been just occupied by a party of marines
and seamen under Captain Peter Richards and Captain
Watson, who had escaladed the outer wall very near the
gateway.
406 PROCEEDINGS OF
As no detailed account of this interesting part of the
day's work has yet appeared, and as some misapprehen
sion has prevailed with regard to the affair of the boats
of the Blonde in the Canal, I have taken pains to ascer
tain the particulars from two officers who were present,
and who were both wounded on the occasion . The fol
lowing condensed statement of what took place may
therefore be relied on for its accuracy .
The boats of the Blonde, which vessel was at anchor
off one of the principal southern branches of the Grand
Canal running under the city walls, having been em
ployed in landing the Artillery Brigade during the early
part of the morning, were ordered, about ten o'clock, to
re-embark part of the Artillery and Gun-Lascars, with
two howitzers, for the purpose of assisting in the attack
of the west gate, and to create a diversion in favour of
the troops. At all events, whatever the object of the
movement might have been , it is certain that the guns
were put on board the boats of the Blonde, and that
there were altogether about one hundred men embarked .
The boats consisted of the launch, barge, pinnace,
cutter, and flat of that ship, together with two boats
belonging to transports.. They proceeded up the canal,,
which took a winding direction through the suburbs for
some distance, until they came suddenly in sight of the
west gate of the city, which until then had been ob
scured by the houses. The whole of these boats were
under the command of Lieutenant Crouch, of the
Blonde, having Messrs. Lambert, Jenkins, and Lyons,
midshipmen , under his orders.
On coming in sight of the gate, the barge, cutter,
THE NAVAL FORCES . 407
and flat were a little in advance of the other boats,
and proceeding in single line towards a spot pointed
out by Major Blundell, of the Madras Artillery, as well
adapted for the landing of the guns. Suddenly a heavy
fire of ginjals and matchlocks was opened on them from
the whole line of the city wall, running parallel with
the canal ; and, as the height of it was little less than
forty feet, the small gun of the barge could not be
elevated sufficiently to do any service, and the fire of
musketry which was returned was inefficient.
The Chinese opened their fire with deadly effect upon
the advancing boats, and , in the course of about ten
minutes, sixteen seamen and eight artillerymen were
wounded ; Lieutenant Crouch himself was hit in three
places, and one midshipman ( Mr. Lyons) and two officers
of the Artillery were also wounded. Under these cir
cumstances, the men were got out of the boats as quickly
as possible, and placed under cover of the houses in the
suburbs, on the opposite side of the canal. At this
time these three boats were considerably in advance of
the rest, and, as soon as the men were all landed, the
boats were abandoned and the guns left behind. The
launch and pinnace, who were behind them , as soon as
they saw the disaster, and that to advance further
would only expose themselves to a destructive fire,
without the possibility of returning it with effect, stop
ped under cover of some buildings which sheltered them
from the city walls.
The officers and men who belonged to the advanced
boats, having many of their comrades wounded, were
now in a trying predicament. The only alternative left
408 PROCEEDINGS OF
was to endeavour to join the other boats which had re
mained under cover ; to do which they had to pass across
an open space by the side of the canal, exposed to the
whole fire of the enemy from the walls on the opposite
side. This was, however, effected without further loss,
although a heavy fire was opened on them (but of course
at a greater distance than when in the boats). Some
of the wounded were necessarily left behind, and were
kindly treated by the Chinese people in the suburbs,
who showed no hostility .
As it was evident that nothing further could be at
tempted at present, they all returned down the canal
in the launch and pinnace, and reported the circum
stances to Captain Richards, of the Cornwallis, to which
ship the rest of the wounded were immediately removed .
On receiving the information of what had happened,
Captain Peter Richards lost not a moment in landing
with two hundred marines, at the entrance of the canal,
where he was joined by about three hundred men of the
6th M. N. I., under Captain Maclean , of that corps, and
then pushed through the suburbs towards the city walls ;
at the same time the whole of the boats of the Cornwallis,
under the command of Lieutenant Stoddart, advanced
by the canal, in company with the remaining boats of
the Blonde, to bring off the boats and guns which had
been left behind . They were also to endeavour to check
the fire of the Chinese at the west gate, when Captain
Richards advanced through the suburbs to escalade the
wall.
As soon as Captain Richards had landed, he was
joined by Captain Watson and Mr. Forster (master), of
THE NAVAL FORCES. 409
the Modeste, with a boat's crew and a small body of
marines belonging to that vessel. On reaching the foot
of the walls, a heap of rubbish was luckily found to have
been left by accident not far from the gate. Upon this
the ladders were planted by Captain Peter Richards
and Captain Watson, under cover of the fire of the Ma
rines, in face of a large body of Tartars who lined the
walls, and appeared determined to defend their post to
the last . These two officers, together with Lieutenant
Baker, of the Madras Artillery, and a private marine of
the Modeste, were the first to ascend the ladders. As
they got upon the wall (with much difficulty) they were
directly exposed to the cross fire from the guard -houses
over the outer and inner gateway, by which the marine
was killed , and Captain Watson and Lieutenant Baker
were wounded ; the former having one of the buttons
of his jacket driven into his side, and three balls passing
through his jacket. The marine was killed by several
shots passing through his body, and another marine
(also belonging to the Modeste), who followed after
wards, was severely wounded.
With great difficulty and exertion about a dozen men
got upon the wall ; and Lieutenant Fitzjames, having suc
ceeded in bringing up some rockets, lodged one of them
in a guard -house over the gateway, which immediately
caught fire, and threw the enemy into such consternation
that they then gave way . Captain Richards (who had,
as if by a miracle, escaped being wounded ) was now
able to dash down , at the head of his men , into the
open space between the two gateways ; and, just after
wards, the outer gate was blown in, as before described,
410 CAPTURE OF THE CITY .
by powder-bags. The advanced guard of the 55th had
in the meanwhile come round along the walls from their
north-eastern angle, where General Schoedde’s brigade
had escaladed it, and had now reached the inner gate
way .
The third brigade, under Major-General Bartley, ac
companied by Sir Hugh Gough, and also by Sir William
Parker, dashed in over the ruins of the gate, and, to their
great disappointment, found that the walls had been
already carried ; but, within the city itself, the resistance
of the Tartars was by no means overcome. Part of the
18th and 49th regiments, under Major-General Bartley,
were now ordered to march along the western face of the
walls, and they threw out a line of skirmishers as they
advanced along some ditches and old houses below the
wall. As the brigade filed along the walls left in
front, they suddenly received a heavy fire from a body
of Tartars, by which two officers were killed and two
wounded , and several men struck down. The lead
ing division of the 49th immediately dashed down the
ramparts upon the enemy's left, while the 18th pushed
forward to turn their right. They were soon dispersed ,
although many of them fought with great determination.
One company of the 18th pursued them into the Tartar
city. In this spirited affair the 18th had one officer killed
and one wounded, with about twenty men killed and
wounded. The loss of the 49th was one officer killed,
one wounded , and about twenty -four rank and file killed
and wounded .
In the mean time, the Admiral , having put himself at
the head of the seamen and marines with his usual gallan
THE TARTAR TROOPS . 411
try, marched some way along the walls where they had
been already cleared by the 55th, and, as the heat of
the sun at this time (past noon) was almost insupport
able, he had directed the men to take shelter for a little
while, in one of the watch-houses upon the ramparts.
The heat was quite overpowering, and the men being
already much fatigued, several of them died from sun
stroke. Here it was that the gallant Major Uniacke,
R.M., fell from the effects of the sun , and in the list of
casualties of the day no less than sixteen men are in
cluded who died from the same cause.
Having rested something less than an hour in the
guard -house, a heavy firing was heard within the Tartar
city, and the men were instantly formed , and advanced
in the direction of the firing, under Captain Richards
and Captain Watson . On passing through a narrow
street in the Tartar part of the city, a sudden fire was
poured upon them by a body of Tartars drawn up
across the street, behind a small gateway, where they
seemed prepared to make a most determined stand.
Several men were wounded , and it was necessary to
advance with caution, taking advantage of shelter when
it could be found . Here Lieutenant Fitzjames was
wounded while endeavouring to get a rocket off.
Captain Watson was now sent round by a side lane,
to endeavour to turn the flank of the Tartars, but there
also the latter were prepared for them, behind a tem
porary barricade. However, a cheer, and a sudden
rush from both divisions at once, upon the front and
flank of the Tartars, carried the point, and the enemy
were driven back with heavy loss, after showing indi
412 SELF - IMMOLATION OF
vidual instances of the most desperate valour, in several
hand -to -hand encounters. When the brave Tartars at
length saw that their utmost efforts were of no avail,
then began the scenes of horror, and the tragedy of
self-immolation, which make one's very blood run cold
to hear of. The Admiral himself was a witness of what
took place. Some of the Tartars kept the doors of
their houses with their very lives, while others could be
seen within, deliberately cutting the throats of their
women , and destroying their children, some by strangu
lation , and others by throwing them into the wells. In
one house in particular, a Tartar was found in the act
of sawing his wife's throat with a rusty sword, as he
held her over the mouth of the well into which his
children had been already thrown. He was shot before
the deed was completed , in order to save the woman ,
who was immediately taken care of, and had the wound ,
which was not severe, tied up. Yet the first use she
made of her tongue, as soon as she could speak, was to
utter the most violent imprecations upon the heads of
the victors. The children who were in the well (in
which there was little water), were all got up, and re
covered .
In other houses numbers of poor creatures were found
dead, some by their own hands or the hands of each
other, and the rest by the hands of their husbands. In
one house no less than fourteen dead bodies were dis
covered, principally women ; in others the men began
to cut their own throats the moment they saw any of
our soldiers approaching ; while in other instances
they rushed out furiously from some hiding -place,
THE TARTARS . 413
and attacked with the sword any one who came in
their way.
Several of our officers had to defend their own lives
with the sword , long after all systematic opposition had
ceased . An officer of the 14th M.N.I. had a sword
combat with three Tartars who rushed out upon him
sword in hand , and by retreating so as to endeavour to
take them singly, he was able to cut down two of them
just at the moment when a fatal blow was about to be
aimed at him by the third , who was fortunately shot at
the very critical moment by a soldier who was coming
up to his officer's assistance.
It is impossible to calculate the number of victims to
the barbarous practice of self-immolation and wholesale
murder, which met their voluntary doom . Chin -keang
foo was a Tartar stronghold considered by them as im
pregnable ; they could not brook defeat, or the desecra
tion of their hearths, by the tread of the unknown but
thoroughly -hated barbarian ;; every house had its victims;
and to add to the horrors of the day, and the desolation
of the city , the Chinese plunderers flocked in from the
country in multitudes, pillaging in all directions. They
even set fire to the streets in some parts, to enable
them to carry on their work with less interruption in
others.
On our side, although the place had been taken by
storm , and not without heavy loss, the strictest orders
were given to prevent the pillage of the town as much
as possible. Measures were taken, not only to control
our own men (who, according to European custom ,
might have expected to be allowed to pillage a town
taken by assault), but also to arrest the violent proceed
414 PLUNDER OF THE CITY .
ings of the Chinese rabble, who, in this as in other in
stances, were the worst enemies of their own countrymen.
The authorities and nearly all the respectable inhabi
tants had fled ; and the Tartar general (who had com
plained bitterly to the Emperor of insufficient means for
defence) had set fire to his own house, and buried him
self and part of his family in its ashes.
Notwithstanding all the attempts to prevent the de
struction of property, it was impossible altogether to
arrest it in so large a city. Plunder was sometimes
taken from the Chinese thieves outside the town , and
occasionally articles of value were thrown over the walls,
because they were not allowed to be carried through the
gates. In this way, plunder was sometimes obtained,
and many ingenious devices were adopted to endeavour
to secure a few valuables ; but nearly all the mischief
was done by the Chinese themselves.
The public offices were taken possession of by our
troops, and all the arms and warlike stores which were
found were destroyed. Only sixty thousand dollars
worth of Sycee silver was found in the public coffers ;
but a little addition was made to the prize fund by
the sale of articles which were taken from plun
derers, when they were discovered trying to carry pro
perty out of the gates. The waste and destruction of
property was however enormous. When more valuable
objects were discovered, those of smaller value were
left in the streets ; costly furs lay strewed in all direc
tions; silks and satins lay about in such profusion that
the only difficulty was to choose among them . So little
had the inhabitants expected that their stronghold
would fall, that valuables of all kinds, gems, and
PANIC . 415
gold ornaments, and curiosities of every description, and
in some instances even money, were left in the ward
robes of the best houses, at the mercy of the first comers.
Under these circumstances, it is surprising that so little
plunder was carried away from a city taken by assault.
Terrible as was the downfall of Chin -keang -foo in the
eyes of the Chinese, and great as was the desolation
throughout the city in every direction, it cannot be
doubted that the loss of this important Tartar stronghold,
and the panic created by it (the whole trade of the country
being at the same time suspended), tended very mate
rially to produce in the mind of the Emperor and of his
ministers the conviction that a speedy peace, on any
terms, was preferable to a continuance of the war.
NAMES OF OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED AT CHIN - KEANG - F00 .
H. M.'s 49th regiment, Lieut. T. P. Gibbons, Sub. Ass.Com. Gen., killed.
18th Captain Collinson, killed .
6th M. N. I. Lieut. Col. Drever, fell dead from sun -stroke.
WOUNDED .
Royal Artillery .
Lieut. J. N. A. Freese, slightly.
Madras Artillery Lieut. Waddell, severely.
. Assistant Surgeon , severely.
H. M.'s 49th Lieut. Baddeley, dangerously.
Lieut. Grant, slightly .
18th .
Lieut. Bernard, slightly.
26th .
Ensign Duperier, slightly.
55th Major Warren , severely.
Lieut. Cuddy, severely.
2nd M. N. I. • .
Lieut. Carr, Adjutant, slightly.
Ensign Travers, slightly.
36th M. N. I. Rifles Capt. Simpson, severely.
About 150 rank and file killed and wounded .
N.B. The names of officers wounded in the naval branch have been
mentioned in the narrative.
416 CHOLERA AND FEVER.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Fever breaks out — Its severity — Blockade of the Grand Canal —
Description of that great work — Overflow of the river — Distress of
the people—Fleet of three hundred trading junks stopped - Activity
of the Nemesis — Visit from the mandarin of Esching — Curious scenes
on board the steamer - Coal junks stopped — Abundance of coal found
in China — Description of it and where found — The Dido and Nemesis
-Mode of procuring supplies — Hospitality of the people at Esching
— Friendly intercourse at one town while fighting at another
Anomalies of war - Anecdotes of Chinese visiters — Emperor's com
pliment to the family of the Tartar general — Garrison left at Chin
keang - foo - Gutzlaff's Pagoda—Cast iron building one thousand two
hundred years old - Passage of the fleet up to Nankin - Arrival of
the imperial commissioners — Attempts to gain time— Decision of the
plenipotentiary — Remarks on the city of Nankin — Dispositions for
the attack — Chinese commissioners yield at the last moment - Inter
views and negociations — Necessary delay — Remarkable report sent
by Ke-ying - Exchange of visits — Sir Henry enters the city -
Signature of the treaty — Remarks on our future intercourse with
the Chinese.
Although the Tartar troops had proved themselves a
formidable enemy at Chin -keang -foo, and the loss sus
tained on our side had been much greater than in any
previous encounter, a far more dangerous enemy soon
began to show itself. Cholera and low marsh fever
now made their appearance, and carried off a great
many men , particularly among the new comers. The
LOSSES OF THE BRITISH . 417
98th regiment, recently arrived from England, suffered
perhaps more severely than the rest ; but, in reality, every
ship, whether a man of war, or belonging to the transport
service, had numerous sick on board ; and some of the
transport ships were at length scarcely manageable,
owing to the shortness of hands. Nor was the sickness
limited to one part of the river more than another ; for the
North Star, and the French frigate, Erigone, which were
at anchor at Woosung, were quite as much afflicted by
it as the rest of the squadron higher up the river. Nor
did it begin to diminish until cool weather set in, and
the fleet gradually withdrew out of the river, after the
peace. Many a brave man too suffered from its effects
for months after leaving the country ; and the officers
were not more exempt than the men .
The total loss our forces sustained on the 21st of
July, at the capture of Chin -keang-foo, was as follows.
Killed, three officers, two sergeants, twenty -nine
rank and file. Total, thirty -four.
Wounded, fourteen officers, one warrant-officer, four
sergeants, eighty -seven rank and file, one follower.
Total, one hundred and seven . Missing, three men ..
Grand total in the military arm, killed, wounded, and
missing, all ranks, one hundred and forty -four.
Of these, one officer (Lieutenant-Colonel Drever), and
sixteen rank and file, of H.M. 98th and 49th regiments,
were killed by sun-stroke.
In the naval arm of the expedition , one officer of
marines and two privates were killed, and two pri
vate marines wounded . Four officers of the Royal
Navy and fifteen seamen were wounded.
VOL . II. Е Е
418 THE GRAND CANAL.
Grand total in the naval arm , 24.
Grand total of casualties during the day, one hundred
and sixty -eight.
We will now pause for a moment to inquire what was
being done elsewhere by the naval branch of the expedi
tion, particularly by the advanced squadron higher up the
river, during these operations at Chin-keang -foo. The
great object in view was to stop the entire trade through
that part of the country, which, having numerous
branches of the Grand Canal passing through it, or at
all events being intersected by several canals having
communications with the great one, may be considered
as a centre of commercial intercourse with some of the
most important provinces of China. The annual grain
junks had already passed up the canal towards Pekin ;
but the importance of this great commercial highway
(if a canal may so be called in a country where the only
means of transport is by water) may be estimated from
the fact, that in the course even of a few days no less
than seven hundred trading -junks were stopped ; by
which means no less panic was created throughout the
country, far and near, than by the successes of our
arms .
There are at least three principal communications
between the Yangtze-Keang and the southern portion
of the Grand Canal, of which, perhaps, the largest
passes along the western side of the walls of Chin
keang-foo, through the suburbs of that city. It runs
very near the west and south gates, where it is crossed
by stone bridges, which, of course, impede the naviga
tion for large junks. In its narrowest part, where it is
THE YANGTZE RIVER . 419
contracted by stone buttresses, it is about twenty feet
broad ; but, in other parts, it varies from seventy to
eighty feet in breadth, with very high, steep banks, and
with aa depth of water varying from nine to fifteen feet.
These observations were made by Captain Grey, of the
Endymion.
The communications on the northern side of the
Yangtze-Keang are much more numerous, and the main
canal becomes much larger and finer. The principal
branch of communication opens about a mile above
Golden Island ; but there are, in fact, so many open
ings, and such numerous cross-lines running from one
branch to the other, that the whole of this part of the
country resembles a network of water-courses. It is,
in reality, so little above the level of the river, that it
is entirely laid out in paddy-swamp3, which are only
separated from the various canals by embankments
artificially made, and which form the only roads or
footways.
The main canal itself, on that side, varies from eighty
to one hundred yards in width , and has a fine towing
path, running along upon the top of the embankment
by which its waters are confined . A few junks had
been sunk at its entrance, and barriers had also been
formed in other branches, in order to impede the naviga
tion, in case our small steamers should attempt to
ascend them . At the time our forces were in the
neighbourhood, the waters were evidently much higher
than usual ; the paddy- fields were deeply inundated ,
although the rice was being cut ; and some of the
villages and courts of the joss-houses were flooded.
E E 2
420 TIIE GRAND CANAL.
Shortly afterwards, while our squadron was lying off
Nankin, the river overflowed its banks so extensively,
that the Chinamen were obliged to move about in
boats from house to house in the suburbs ; and great
distress arose , both from this cause, and from the entire
stoppage of trade in the river.
A country so subject to inundations, and intersected
as it is by canals in all directions, cannot but be at
times extremely unhealthy ; and it is not to be won
dered at that sickness should have broken out exten
sively, among a body of foreigners long confined on
board ship. We shall presently allude to the sickness
prevailing among the Chinese themselves in the neigh
bourhood of Nankin, which may, in some degree,
account for the great falling off in its population.
From what has been said of the numerous openings
and communications of the Grand Canal, it is evident
that it would require a considerable force to establish
an efficient blockade. But not only was it necessary
to stop the trade, but also to take measures, at the
same time, to prevent the panic among the people from
reaching such a pitch as to drive them away from their
homes, and leave the country at the mercy of the
rabble, and of the lawless plunderers who flock into the
towns from all parts, causing uneasiness even to the
government.
The Blonde and Modeste, together with the Proser
pine, were placed so as to blockade the two principal
entrances of the canal immediately above Chin -keang
foo , two or three days before the town was taken ;
while the Nemesis and the Queen steamers, having the
PANIC AMONG THE JUNKS. 421
Plenipotentiary and Captain Bourchier on board, pro
ceeded some miles higher up the river, until they sud
denly discovered a large fleet of not less than three
hundred trading -junks. These were all ordered to
drop down immediately to Chin-keang, where they
could more easily be prevented from making their
escape. A
A number
number of
of papers written in Chinese were
distributed among the captains of the junks, telling
them that no harm would be done to them, but their
vessels must be detained. The plenipotentiary imme
diately returned to Chin -keang -foo, and the Nemesis
was left to hasten the departure of the junks, which
were made to get under way at once. A grand scene
of confusion followed, as they were crowded together,
>
and all were glad to be allowed to get away from the
steamer without molestation. They were afterwards
brought-to, in one of the branches of the southern
canal, just above Golden Island , and, for some time,
were under the charge of the Proserpine steamer, Com
mander Hough.
A few miles up the branch of the canal near the
mouth of which this large fleet of junks was discovered,
was situated the third - class town called Esching, dis
tant about twelve or fourteen miles from Chin-keang.
The approach of the Nemesis, and the detention of the
junks, caused so much consternation, that in the even
ing a respectably-dressed Chinaman, who, from the
authority he was afterwards found to possess, must
have been a mandarin of some rank, came down to the
steamer, bringing a few trifling presents of tea, &c. ,
as a means of introduction. His object evidently was
422 CHINESE VISITERS.
to ascertain whether there was any intention of taking
possession of the town1 ; and, if so, to endeavour to avert
the calamity by the offer of a ransom .
Supplies of fresh provisions were at this time greatly
wanted in the fleet. Many ships, particularly trans
ports, had not been able to procure fresh meat or vege
tables for a considerable time, and the sick were, con
sequently, deprived of what was almost essential to their
recovery. This opportunity of procuring suppl
not to be neglected . The Chinese gentleman and his
attendants were conducted over every part of the
steamer, with which they were evidently much surprised ,
but above all with the engines, which would have asto
nished our own fathers scarcely less. He was soon
made to understand that if he promised to send down
abundant supplies, all of which would be equitably paid
for, no harm whatever would be done to the town or its
inhabitants ; but that no trading -junks could on any
account be permitted to pass up the river, or through
that branch of the canal.
A demand for twenty bullocks was made, and they
were to be delivered on the following day. This was
declared to be impossible—so many could not be found ;
however, he was quietly told that they must be forth
coming, and that ten dollars would be paid for each of
them . Late in the evening the party of Chinamen re
turned to the town, apparently quite satisfied with the
civility they had received, and equally convinced of the
formidable character of their new visiter.
On the following morning, the 19t!, the same people
aguin caine on board very early, bringing with them
CHINESE VISITERS . 423
vegetables and fruit, and remained some hours, while
the Nemesis was chasing the junks, which were con
tinually coming into view as she proceeded, and were
naturally trying to make their escape. There were
two interpreters (Chinamen from Canton) on board, who
hailed them to bring-to, telling them that they would
receive no molestation if they went quietly down the
river . But some of them continued to persevere in
their attempt to escape, and , when two shots across
their bows failed to bring them to, a third was inva
riably fired into them, which soon had the desired effect.
One or two Congreve rockets frightened them still
more, and at last they were all brought-to in great con
sternation. The Chinese visiters, who were on board all
this time, were perfectly astonished and bewildered,
but were not prevented from making a good breakfast,
nevertheless.
A short distance further up the river, they fell in
with several junks laden with coal, but abandoned by
their crews. Some of them were soon driven on shore at
different points, where they could not easily be got off,
in order to serve as coal depôts for the steamer, and
one of the largest of them was lashed alongside and
taken in tow, while the Nemesis still continued her pur
suit of the other junks up the river ; one part of her
crew being occupied in “ coaling” from the junk, and
the other at quarters, occasionally firing a shot across
the bows of any junk that refused to bring -to.
It is here worth while to remark that coal is found in
great abundance in China. Indeed it is difficult to say
what is not found there : gold, silver, iron, copper, zinc,
>
424 COAL IN CHINA.
coal, in short, all that is most requisite for a commer
cial and manufacturing people. Coal is known to exist
in abundance in the gulf of Pechelee ; it is found in the
province of Che-keang, and in almost every town visited
by the expedition it was exposed for sale in greater or
less quantity. At Nankin immense heaps of it were
found stored up by the river-side, and divided into three
qualities, separated from each other. That which an
swered best for steaming purposes bad аa less promising
appearance than the other qualities. It looked slaty ,
but was found to burn better than the Indian coal, and
our steamers all found it to answer well. Probably, if
the mines were worked to a greater depth , a better de
scription of coal would be found.
About a mile and a half above the lower branch of
the canal leading up to Esbing, another larger branch
was discovered , which joined the first one a little below
the town . On the evening of the 19th, the Dido and
Childers arrived, and joined the Nemesis ; the former,
commanded by the Honourable Captain Keppel, who
was now the senior officer, was stationed off the upper
branch, while the latter blockaded the lower one. Cap
tain Hall immediately presented to Captain Keppel the
Chinese gentleman, or, in reality, mandarin, who had
| Dr. Smith makes particular mention of coal as being commonly
seen in China during Lord Macartney's embassy. Pits of coal were
found near the Poyang lake above Nankin . He says that the coal
found in the province of Pechelee was a species of graphite ; that which
was seen near the Yangtze river was like Kennel coal, and that observed
near the Poyang lake resembled covey coal. Other coal found at Chow
chow-foo contained much sulphur, and was used in the manufacture of
sulphate of iron in the neighbourhood of that city.
A CHINESE GENTLEMAN. 425
hitherto been so polite and attentive ; and the assu
rances previously given were reiterated, that no harm
would be done to the town or the neighbouring country,
if abundant supplies were brought down. The same
evening they went up the canal in three boats to the
town, where they were very politely received by the
same Chinaman, who appeared to possess great autho
rity over the people, who obeyed every direction he
gave. At first they looked on in half stupid wonder,
but were evidently reassured when they were told that
nothing would be demanded but supplies of meat and
vegetables.
On the following day, the Chinaman again came down
to the Nemesis, bringing with him all the gentlemen of
his family, in order to show his confidence, and at the
same time invited Captain Keppel and other officers to
visit him at his house in the city, and proposed to give
them an entertainment at a joss-house ashore. He even
hinted that he would introduce them to his wife.
Arrangements were now made for establishing a re
gular market in the courtyard of the large joss-house,
which stood close to the landing-place at the mouth of
the canal. The man scrupulously kept his word, sup
plies in great abundance of every description were
brought down for sale, and the sight of dollars soon
overcame all the Chinamen's fears. In fact, they reaped
a good harvest. These supplies were all sent down to
the fleet at Chin-keang as fast as they could be procured,
Chinese boats or small junks being employed to convey
them , escorted by a boat alternately from the Dido and
the Nemesis, to ensure their safe delivery. Such was
426 INTERCHANGE OF CIVILITIES .
the result of conciliating the good-will, and pacifying
the fears of the Chinese.
For a moment the fears of the people were awakened
by the accidental burning of some buildings at the
mouth of the lower branch of the canal, where the
Childers was stationed. But fortunately the Admiral
came up in person, on board the Pluto, in the afternoon,
to examine the river, and the assurance of protection if
abundant supplies were provided being circulated among
the people by a written paper or chop in the Chinese
character, they resumed their former confidence, and
did not conceal their delight. This was the evening be
fore Chin-keang was taken .
The next day, the 21st July, the Chinese gentleman
and his attendants, according to previous invitation,
came down to conduct the officers to his house in the
city, situated four or five miles up the canal. It is not
a little singular, that while one party of our country
men were partaking of Chinese hospitality, upon the
most friendly terms, in the centre of a considerable
town, the rest were engaged in deadly hostility, fighting
for hearth and home, in a city only a few miles distant.
Although the distance from one to the other by the
river cannot be less than twelve or thirteen miles, it
must be very much less in a direct line by land, as
the firing was distinctly heard. This was one of the
anomalies of the war ; at one place we traded , at ano
ther we fought; here we extended the right hand of
fellowship, while there we crossed our swords in deadly
fight . This was the evident result of making war upon
the government, and not upon the people, and of en
A CHINESE LADY . 427
deavouring to make it fall as heavily as possible upon
the former, and as lightly as possible upon the latter.
So far from being a cruel war, we ought rather to say
that it would be impossible to point out any instance of
European warfare carried on with so little hardship and
so much mercy to the people.
On coming on board to fetch the officers who were
invited to the entertainment at his house, the unhappy
Chinaman burst into a flood of tears, and soon made
them understand that his wife bad run away from him ,
the moment it was announced that they were coming to
pay her a visit . Probably tidings had already beeir
brought of the commencement of the attack upon Chin
keang ; nevertheless, on reaching the town, there were
no indications of alarm among the people ; they crowded
round in all directions, out of mere curiosity ; the shops
were not closed, and business did not appear to be in
terrupted .
A proclamation was distributed as the party pro
ceeded , announcing to the inhabitants that all supplies
would be scrupulously paid for, and that no injury
would be done to the city. The best interpreter was
found to be a little Chinese boy, only ten years old,
who had been several months on board the Nemesis,
having been almost adopted by her commander, after
the death of his father, who was killed at Chusan . In
this short time he had picked up English in an astonish
ing manner. His extreme youth was a guarantee for
his honesty ; and, at last, the Chinese gentleman carried
ou all his conversation through this interesting little
boy, declaring that the little fellow spoke truth and
428 CHINESE HOSPITALITY .
could be depended on, but that the two Canton interpre
ters perverted what was said, by purposely translating it
wrongly, to suit their own purposes, and with a view to
extort money. This will clearly show how much we
were sometimes at the mercy of scheming and dishonest
native linguists, whose little knowledge of broken Eng
lish was often extremely limited.
The Chinese gentleman's house was situated in the
very heart of the city ; it was a very respectable mansion,
with courts and buildings of great extent, ornamented
with carved wood -work , similar to most other respectable
houses of its class. All the relations and friends of the
family had been invited on the occasion , refreshments
were handed round, but no females made their appear
ance . At length , the master of the house was resolved
to drown his sorrows for the loss of his wife, by the
delicious enjoyment of his opium-pipe, which soon
revived his drooping spirits.
The return of the party through the streets towards
the boats was the occasion of greater movement among
the people than before. As an additional mark of
respect, two well -dressed persons accompanied each of
the officers, one on either side, fanning them as they
went, for the day was extremely sultry. Altogether,
it was a most interesting scene. Another entertainment
was also given to them in the joss-house, at the mouth
of the canal, where the market was held ; and, in short,
nothing was omitted on the part of the Chinese, to show
their confidence, and their wish to cultivate our good
will ; this too on the very day of the capture of Chin
keang .
THE TARTAR GENERAL . 429
On the following day, the surveying vessels, Starling,
Plover, and Medusa, having on board the masters of the
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