narrative-of-the-voyages-and-services-of — Page 1

NARRATIVE
hoof ,
OF THE



VOYAGES AND SERVICES
OF




THE
Τ NEMESIS ,
FROM 1840 TO 1843 ;

AND OF THE COMBINED


NAVAL AND MILITARY OPERATIONS IN

CHINA :
COMPRISING A COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF


THE COLONY OF HONG KONG ,
AND REMARKS ON



THE CHARACTER AND HABITS OF THE CHINESE .

FROM NOTES OF
[illian ]
m




COMMANDER W. H , eHALL , R. N.
lia




[ nry }
Lil




WITH PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS,
as
all




BY



D. BERNARD , ESQ. , A.M. , OXON.
IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL . I.


LONDON :
HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER, >


GREAT MARLBOROUGII STREET .

1844. 60
 FREDERICK SH OBERL, JUNIOR,
PRINTER TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT,
51 , RUPERT STREET, BAYMARKET , LONDON .
 PREFACE.


<p><p><p>&nbsp;<span></span></p><!--more--><p></p>
The design originally proposed, when the following
work was undertaken, has been somewhat departed from ,
during its progress towards completion. Not only did
the interest awakened by the various subjects treated of
greatly increase, as the Author proceeded in his attempt
to describe the scenes in which the Nemesis bore so
distinguished a part, but the introduction of much col
lateral matter seemed to be called for, in order to
enable him fully to illustrate the current of passing
events. Hence the narrative of the adventures of the
Nemesis gradually expanded itself into a complete his
tory of the origin, progress, and termination of all the
recent interesting occurrences in China, including a full
and accurate account of all the operations of the war,
and of the complicated difficulties from which it origi
nated, as well as of the peculiar features that marked
its progress .
In addition, therefore, to her own interesting tale,
the Nemesis supplied a valuable foundation upon which
to build up a more enlarged History. The Author had
long taken a deep interest in all that concerned our
relations with China ; and , with a view to study per
sonally the character of the people, and to obtain
accurate information by observation on the spot, he
paid a lengthened visit to that country in 1842. He
there had the good fortune to fall in with the Nemesis,
 1




iv PREFACE .


and, through the kindness of Captain Hall, he sub
sequently proceeded in her to Calcutta, in the begin
ning of 1843 . He has thus been enabled to add to
the history of the operations copious notices of the
various places visited by the expedition ; and has given
a full description of the New Colony of Hong Kong,
with remarks upon its vast importance, as a possession of
the British Empire, upon the threshold of China.
Incidental observations have been introduced upon the
character of the Chinese people, and the new prospects
which have been opened to us, through the extraordinary
changes which have taken place in our intercourse
with them , in a social, moral, mercantile, and reli
gious point of view. These will be met with, accord
ing as they were suggested by particular occurrences,
or prompted by localities described in the work . The
Maps and Illustrations will also contribute to give in
terest to the Narrative .
The Author owes some apology to naval and military
readers, for the apparent presumption with which he
has ventured to handle so many details of a professional
character ; nor indeed would he have undertaken the
task, without the able advice and correction of officers
who were themselves actors in the scenes described .
The valuable assistance and co -operation of Captain
Hall, who was actively employed in China, during the
whole period of the war, and whose services in com
mand of the Nemesis need no extraneous encomium ,
were indispensable to the completion of the work. The
Author also gladly avails himself of this opportunity of
acknowledging the kindness of Captain Sir Thomas Her



1
 PREFACE .


bert, R. N., K.C. B. , who obligingly permitted him
to have access to his plans and documents ; and to
numerous other naval and military officers the best
thanks of Captain Hall and himself are due.
Those readers who are alive to the important progress
t
of Steam Navigation cannot fail to take a deep interest
in the History of the first Iron Steamer that ever
doubled the Cape of Good Hope. In the narrative of
her curious and protracted voyage will be found many
notices of the places she visited, and, in particular, of
some of the Portuguese slave settlements on the East
Coast of Africa, at Delagoa Bay, at Mozambique, &c.
The description given of the Comoro Islands will pro
bably be quite new to most readers.
At the end of the work will be found an account of
a visit to some of the Harbours of the important Island
of Hainan, which must acquire greater importance
through the progressive increase of our commercial in
tercourse with China ; and in the appendix to the
second volume have been added the new regulations
concerning trade in China, and an abstract of the sup
plementary treaty recently concluded .
With much diffidence, but entertaining a hope that
the numerous subjects touched upon in these volumes
have not been hastily or crudely handled, the Author
commits his Narrative to the kind indulgence of his
Readers .
W. D. B.
Oxford and Cambridge Club,
March, 1844 ,
 ILLUSTRATIONS .



VOL . I.

ENGRAVINGS.
1. Portrait of the Chief Priest of the Porcelain Tower . Frontispiece.
.




2. The Nemesis to face page 1
3. Houchung, in the Broadway River 384


WOODCUTS ,
4. Plan of a Temporary Rudder 34
5. Plan of Lee -board 37

6. New Method of strengthening Iron Steamers 77

7. Plans of Repairs of Nemesis 79
8. Plan of Naval Operations before Canton, 18th of March 413


MAPS .

9. Track Chart, England to China 128

10. Canton River, and its branches , with Plan of Operations at
Canton End of the Vol.

VOL . II .
ENGRAVINGS.
11. Tombs of the Kings, and sculptured Monsters Frontispiece.
12, Sheipoo to facepage 182
13. Battle of Woosung 352


WOODCUTS.
14.
Chinese Caricatures of the English 225
15 . } 232
16. Bridge of Boats at Ningpo
MAP.

17. Hong Kong 66
 CONTENTS

OF



THE FIRST VOLUME.




CHAPTER I.

Introductory remarks — First visit of a British Admiral to China
Difficulties — Disturbance at Canton - Preparations in England - Iron
Steam Vessels to be tried — Nemesis, the first of the kind which crossed
the Line — England's “ Iron Walls” —Description of the Nemesis — Her
peculiarities — Moveable Keels Correction of the Compasses — Pro
fessor Airy's method Nemesis leaves Liverpool - Accident against a
-

rock through errors of the Compasses - Leak stopped — Proceed to
Portsmouth-Recent improvements — Clears out for Odessa — Departure
from Portsmouth- Public curiosity — Mystery concerning her — First
night at sea — Cape Finisterre—Island of Madeira — Rapid change from
winter to summer Approach to the island - Harbour of Funchal—
Coaling a Steamer 1


CHAPTER II .

Funchal - Excursion into the interior of Madeira — Voyage continued
-Princes' Island — Kroomen - Port St. Antonio-Fuel to be obtained
there and at Fernando Po — The “ Mystery ” — Island of St. Thomas's—
St. Anne de Chaves the principal town - Productions — Kroomen — Their
character - Resemble Abyssinians - Are never slaves-Governor's house
-Interview with his Excellency - Black Aide-de -camp - Request not to
fire a salute— “ Badly off for powder”-Secret trading-place for slaves—
Major Sabine's observations- Cross the Line — Experiments with one
engine and one boiler Rudder carried away New contrivance
Compelled to stand out to sea under sail — Adaptation of aa lee-board
Voyage continued - Arrival at the Cape of Good Hope 19
viii CONTENTS ,


CHAPTER III .

Table Bay — In the Winter months — Nemesis visited by the Governor
– Curiosity of the people at an iron vessel — Trip round the Bay
Scenery – Table Mountain - Crowds of natives — Cape Town — Depart
ure from — General remarks on the coast — Cape Lagullas — Proposed
Lighthouse on it — Different routes to the eastward — Mozambique
Channel Orders to proceed through it - Cleared for Port Essington
66
– More “ mystery ” —Tremendous gale in the Mozambique Channel
Serious accident — The vessel begins to split in two - Wheel carried
away-Weather moderates Port Natal-Dangerous state of the vessel
— Temporary repairs -- Gale increases—Cape Vidal- Iron plates continue
to split - Almost hopeless condition - Exertions of the crew , -Modera
tion of the gale — Providential Escape — Anchors in smooth water 42


CHAPTER IV .

Anchors off Cape Inyache - Delagoa Bay — Slave Settlement of the
Portuguese - English River — Alarm of the people at the approach of a
Steamer - Portuguese Fort - Hostile preparations — Salute — Awkward
mistake --- Aide-de-camp's Visit — The Governor's civility — Openly en
couraging the Slave-trade- Slaver in the River - Parsee Merchant as
interpreter — Poisonous atmosphere White man dies where the black
man thrives — Trade in ivory and gold-dust -- Governor afterwards
removed for abetting the Slave- trade— Threat — Presents from Governor
-Description of English River— The Temby — Dundas — And Mattoll
-

- Character of the country and origin of pestilence -- Native tribes in
the neighbourhood — Hollontontes — Thievish propensities Nemesis
-




hauled on shore - Plague of locusts — Sky darkened by them — Came
by a North-east and went away by a South -west wind — Native feast
-




of locusts — Dance and song 63


CHAPTER V.
Repairs commenced Description of the accident — Plans — Mode
in which a recurrence of it is prevented — Description of the repairs —
Completed in twelve days — Curiosity of the Native Chiefs at Delagoa
Bay — Annual visit to the Governor - Trading speculations in slaves and
ivory - Bad feeling between the natives and the Portuguese — Horrible
tale of cruelty — Natives flogged to death - A Chief with seven hun
dred men visits the settlement—Curious costumes - Native war-dance
 CONTENTS . ix


Violent excitement and gestures A warrior's speech - Passions of the
savage — Tattooing the face — Savage tortures — Cutting the hair into
ornaments - Native Chief and his Wife on board the Nemesis - Great
preparations — TheKing's fool — Plays the Pan -pipes- Description of the
Queen - African standard of Beauty-Mass of iron a mine of wealth
Present of the King's arms 75


CHAPTER VI .

Story of distressed seamen on the Coast of Africa - American schooner
wrecked - Pestilence among the crew—Attempt to reach Delagoa Bay by
land-Joined by natives —Treachery — Quarrel — A white man killed —
Two savages killed — Cannibalism Roasting the captain Horrible
situation — Escape of the survivor - Hides himself in the bush-Is dis
covered -Natives promise to eat him for supper — Give him food to
keep him alive, supposed to be human flesh —· Escapes by night — re
joins the schooner - Party proceeds to Delagoa Bay - Rescue in boats
Two of the men enter on board the Nemesis — Harsh treatment of native
women by the Portuguese — Interesting tale — Nemesis ready for sea —
Excursion up the river - Three branches — Dundas — Buffaloes — Zebras
-Native birds --Herds of Hippopotami— Appearance and habits - Fine
sport — Difficulty of killing - Manner in which the natives hunt them
Traps — Return of party — Governor's grand entertainment — Dance of
native women - Native chiefs the great abettors of the slave-trade 90


CHAPTER VII .

Departure from Delagoa Bay – - Uncertainty of the Compasses --
Arrival at Mozambique - No danger from lightning to iron vessels
Alarm of slave-traders—Measures of the governor — Determined to put
down the trade - Visit to the Nemesis- Description of Mozambique
Remarks on its inhabitants — Slave -dealing — Curious law- Coal found
Future advantages Best place of call on the coast — Arrival at the
Comoro islands - Johanna - Character of its inhabitants 106


CHAPTER VIII .

Comoro Islands — Sultan Alloué - His father Abdallah - Treaties for
suppression of the Slave- trade — Faithful to their engagements — Suf
ferings — Former presents from the East India Company - Queen of
Madagascar — Her cruelty - Missionaries put to death — Persecutions
х CONTENTS .


-Chiefs take refuge in Johanna — Story of Raymanytek Double
dealing - Secret traffic in slaves — Remonstrances produce rebellion
Arms his followers and slaves — The Sultan, being pressed, applies for
assistance to the English — Arms sent from the Cape - Emissaries ar
rive at the Mauritius — Correspondence of Sultan Alloué — Intrigues
Sultan applies for aid to
of the slave -traders — Difficulties increase
Calcutta — Arrival of the Nemesis at Johanna — Critical moment
Interview - The Sultan's inquiries Excursions into the interior
Aspect of the island — Entertainment at the palace — Sultan superin
tends the “ cuisine " — Another entertainment - Ladies of the court
Conference on public affairs — Sultan's distress — Application to Ray
manytek - Danger averted - English flag hoisted - Departure of the
Nemesis 129


CHAPTER IX .

The Maldive Archipelago — Island of Feawar — Trade with India—
Arrival at Ceylon 66
Mystery ” at an end Notices of the Island
- Columbo Fishing boats Curious contrivance Departure
Penang — Spice productions — The “ Gem of the East” — Picturesque
character — Projected naval depôt — Singapore — Advantageous posi
-




tion for commerce Importance of free ports — Increase of trade
-

Chinese population — A colonizing people — Aspect of town— Depar
ture — Pedra Branca — Its dangers — Good site for Lighthouse to the
memory of Horsburgh — Monsoons — Island of Manilla — Spanish Colo
nies - Lieu-chew Islands — Basil Hall's description — Arrival of the
Nemesis at Macao — Surprise of the People — Visit to the Governor
Joins the squadron under the Honourable George Elliot the houth
of the Canton river 151


CHAPTER X.

General review of events which preceded the arrival of the Nemesis
Origin of our difficulties -Lord Napier Captain Elliot — 1838
Execution of criminals — Chinese mob — Foreigners unprotected — No
tices by Captain Elliot against the opium trade — Remarks thereon
Resources of China - Political crisis at Pekin — Movement — Party in
China - Led by the Empress - Her ability, attractions, and power
Her fall, and death – Revival of old prejudices — Hatred of foreigners
called “ Patriotism " - Stringent measures against opium — Lectures of
the Emperor — Death of the Emperor's son — Official smugglers — -
 CONTENTS . xi

Opium -mania - Revulsion of feeling against it — Persecutions — The
traffic still thrives — Mode of smuggling
-
Arrival of Commissioner
Lin at Canton - His character - Contrasted with that of Keshen and
-




Elliot — Governor Tang— His character — His son a smuggler — Suspi -




cions of Lin 174


CHAPTER XI .

Trade in opium almost stopped before Lin's arrival - Lin is said to be
the people's friend - And the foreigner's enemy - His energy - Demands
what arms the foreigners possess at Canton Threatens to set the

" mob " upon them — Calls for the surrender of the opium, both in the
inner and outer waters Offers a bond for signature — Prohibition to
leave Canton or Whampoa — - His impatience - -
— Emperor's orders -
- -

Concession of one demand produces another- Threats - No English
vessel of war to protect the English — Insult at the “ Bogue” - Elliot
demands passports for the English — Is a prisoner at Canton Lin's
triumph — Expected arrival of American ships of war— Provisions re
fused to foreigners— Demand for opium received - Bond signed by the
foreign community Opium to be delivered up , under conditions
-




Lin surprised at his own success - Breaks his own agreement Sixteen
gentlemen detained - Destruction of the opium at the Bogue — Captain
Elliot sends intelligence to Calcutta and Bombay - Captain Elliot
prohibits trade-Lin's irritation — Loses his revenue from it - Wishes
the English to trade, in spite of the order - Drives the English out of
Масао . -
- And threatens to poison them at Hong Kong - Unable to
control his own people — Arrival of the Volage - Notice of blockade
Chinese yield -- Hyacinth and Volage attacked by Chinese war - junks
- Occurrences at Macao - Captain Smith's proceedings Lin's sham
fight at the Bogue - Arrival of Rear-Admiral Honourable George Elliot,
with reinforcements 193


CHAPTER XII .

Canton river, description of, below the Bogue—“ Outer waters” —Lin
tao-Capsingmoon passage-Urmston's Bay - Force assembled in China
in 1840 - Rewards offered for its destruction -Rear - Admiral Honour
able G. Elliot and Captain Elliot, joint-plenipotentiaries — Squadron
moves to the northward - Expedition to the Peiho— Hostility of the
authorities at Amoy Refusal to receive Lord Palmerston's letter at
Ningpo—Blockade of the coast — First capture of Chusan - Plenipoten
 xii CONTENTS .

tiaries at Tientsin — Answer from the Emperor - Keshen sent down to
supersede Lin—Truce at Chusan-Flag of truce fired at from Chuenpee
-Keshen's arrival at Canton-- Sir Gordon Bremer becomes commander
in - chief — General review of occurrences in 1840— Threatened attack
upon the English at Macao —- Decisive measures of Captain Smith
Attack on the barrier-Order in council — Remarks on hostility of the
Chinese - Kidnapping - General alarm at our proceedings - Preparations
for hostilities on both sides - Nemesis at the Bogue — Description of
217
Chuenpee, and of the defences of the Bogue--. Tiger Island

CHAPTER XIII .

Keshen's negociations Gains courage as he gains time — General
remarks Influence and character of the Empress — Emperor's eulogy
of her-Agitation in China — Heu Naetze's memorial — Reference to
Tang and his colleagues–Predictions of a former Emperor- Memorials
on the opposite side — Choo Tsun and Heu Kew - Reformation of morals
Death and funeral of the Empress — Character of the present em
peror— Ascended the throne in 1820— Observations- Further remarks
on the character of Lin English books translated for him - His
letters to the Queen of England - - Character of his successor, Keshen
- An astute and polished courtier -- Severity of his punishment -
Commencement of 1841 Hostilities Attack on Chuenpee and Ty
cocktow, on the 7th of January — Details of forces engaged Remarks
on the action - Services of the Nemesis - Sufferings of the wounded
Chinese—Burnt by ignition of their own clothes 242


CHAPTER XIV .

Destruction of Chinese squadron in Anson's Bay - Nemesis and boats
– Description of Chinese position — River at the bottom of the bay —
Explosion of a junk — Chinese trying to escape - Junks abandoned
and set on fire - Nemesis proceeds up the river - Captures two more
junks at a town — Killed and wounded on the 7th January Number
of guns taken - Admiral Kwan loses his button of rank - New Chinese
boarding -nettings — Novel application — Description of new kinds of
war- junks— With English guns — Wheeled boats O ers of the Em
peror to build ships on European models- Official report of the actions
to the Emperor by Keshen - Degradation of Admiral Kwan - New plans
to destroy the English ships - Preparations to attack the Bogue forts—
Disappointment— Truce — Cession of Hong Kong — Restoration of the
 CONTENTS . xiii

forts — Remarks on Captain Elliot's measures -
Troops ordered to
withdraw from Chusan 268


CHAPTER XV .

Conference between Keshen and Captain Elliot at the second bar
Keshen sensible of his own weakness—But driven to extremities by
orders from Pekin—Preparations for the conference — Nemesis the first
steamer which ever passed the Bogue-Arrival of a French Corvette
Salute from the Bogue forts — Tiger Island — Aspect of the Canton river
-Pagodas - Arrival at place of conference — Guard of marines — Hong
merchants arrive, but not admitted to an audience—Captain Elliot and
suite received by Keshen - Entertainment-Keshen inspects the marines
- Private conference between the high functionaries-- Nothing definitely
settled— Captain Elliot dines with the Prefect of Canton-Keshen does
not return his visit in person—Nemesis returns to Hong Kong - Keshen's
report to the emperor of this meeting — Is superseded — Appoint
ment of three commissioners in his place—Suspicious circumstances
Elliot demands explanation - Proceeds to the Bogue in the Nemesis
Second interview with Keshen Curious facts — Delay of ten days
agreed to - Remarks thereon - Force unwillingly resorted to — Prepa
rations for defence' still continue at the Bogue—Suspicions of Captain
Elliot and Sir G. Bremer-Nemesis sent to the Bogue with the treaty
Waits four days without any answer - Reconnoissance by Captain Hall
Discovery that Chuenpee was an island - Also Tycocktow – Boat fired at
from Wantung_Nemesis returns to Macao without the treaty—Sir G.
Bremer orders our forces to move up to the Bogue-Intercepted de
spatches from Keshen to Admiral Kwan 292


CHAPTER XVI .

Keshen's description of the “ outer - waters ” and of the Bogue Forts
–His report to the Emperor of the inefficiency of the defences, and
doubtful character of the people — No hope of victory — Begs the Em
peror to grant Captain Elliot's requests—Is degraded Advanced
squadron at the Bogue — Captain Elliot waits there one hour in the
Nemesis — No communication — Junks captured — First hostile act on
our side — Chinese fired first shot - Nemesis and boats under Captain
Herbert destroy a masked battery at the bottom of Anson's Bay
Proceed up the river to the back of Anunghoy - Fort and rafts de
stroyed— The Commodore joins at the Bogue with three line-of -battle
xiv CONTENTS .


ships — Description of the Bogue Forts -- Chain and rafts — Prepara
tions for the attack - Howitzer -battery, erected in the night on South
Wantung, covered by the Nemesis -Disposition of our forces— 26th
February, 1841_Capture of the Bogue — Simultaneous attack on Anung
hoy and North Wantung — Dead calm — Wantung shelled by howitzers
- Troops land on Wantung — Marines under Sir Le Fleming Senhouse
take possession of Anunghoy - Chinese refuse quarter — Attempts to
save them—Capture of Little Tycocktow under Lieutenant Maitland
Number of Chinese prisoners killed and wounded—Admiral Kwan killed
by bayonet-wound in his breast - Total number of guns captured
Blockade of river raised . 319


CHAPTER XVII .

General alarm caused by the fall of the Bogue forts — Removal of the
great chain --The light squadron under Captain Herbert proceed up the
river - Remarks on the latter — Whampoa — Junk Island — Channels of
the river unknown — Policy of the Chinese — Nemesis leads up, giving the
soundings — Approach to the first bar — Description of the fort and raft
-English ship, the Cambridge, purchased by the Chinese - War junks
- Nemesis begins the action at the first bar — Madagascar follows — Sul
phur and the rest of the squadron arrive -Marines and seamen land
under Captain Herbert — Fort taken — Attack upon the Cambridge
Lieutenant Watson drags a boat across the raft - And with Captain Hall
and others boards the Cambridge — Description of the vessel-Ordered to
be blown up - Captain Elliot's coolness and courage,Nemesis and boats
proceed up to Junk river - Boats of the Wellesley and Sulphur - Fort
captured — Sir Gordon Bremer joins from the Bogue - Howqua's folly
Prefect of Canton arrives — Truce for three days— Arrival of Sir Hugh
Gough from India, 2nd of March - Force arrives from Chusan— Neme
sis dicovers a passage into the Broadway river—Captain Elliot's reward
for a pilot — Truce expires—Panic at Canton-Captain Elliot's proclama
tion to the Chinese 345


CHAPTER XVIII .

Expiration of the truce— Napier's Fort - Rafts across the river - Pre
parations for its capture - Sulphur - And Nemesis—Chinese abandon
the fort – Nemesis returns down Fiddler's Reach-New works of the
Chinese – Scenery of the river - Operations again suspended — Sir
Hugh Gough returns to Wantung - Keshen leaves Canton for Pekin
 CONTENTS . XV



in disgrace — Chinese hostility - Notices by Captain Elliot - Expedi
tion up the Broadway or Inner Passage under Captain Scott - Nemesis
with boats of Samarang and Atalanta -- Entrance to the Inner Passage
-Nemesis attacks Motow -- — War - junks in
- Capture of Tei- yat-kok -
sight - Stone Fort, and river staked across (Houchung) — Field -work
( Tei-shu -kok ) – War - junks destroyed — Pass through large town
(Heong Shan)—Apathy of the people— Masked battery -Sheong Chap
-Narrowness of the channel —Kong-How Battery — River staked
across Mode of removing the piles — Assistance volunteered by the
peasantry - Military station destroyed -- Custom House and war -junk
fired — Tam-chow - Military station at Tsenei destroyed with war
junks, &c.—Channel leading into the river at Second Bar—Nemesis
joins the advanced squadron at Whampoa — Reflections — Remarks on
the Ladrones - Fishermen turn smugglers and pirates . 371


CHAPTER XIX .


Capture of the Macao fort, on the 13th of March-Advanced ships
only two miles from Canton—Nemesis proceeds towards Canton with
a flag of truce — Letter to the Imperial Commissioner — Is fired at from
the Birdsnest Fort-Preparations to resent the insult-Captain Elliot's
communications -Want of interpreters-Attack upon the defences of
Canton on the 18th of March, 1841 -Flotilla of men-of-war's boats
Flotilla of Chinese boats - Forts in the Macao passage carried - War
junks dispersed - Boats destroyed-Captain Elliot with a flag of truce
on board the Nemesis Fired at by the Chinese — British flag planted
upon the factory - Notifications by Captain Elliot - Temporary settle
ment—Trade opened 402


CHAPTER XX .

Suspension of hostilities – Rumours of preparations—Sir G. Bremer
leaves for Calcutta — Captain Elliot's assurances — Proclamation of the
Prefect - Captain Elliot's address to the people of Canton-New pass
ports issued — Captain Elliot's measures against the opium trade
-




Report of Keshen's punishment — Its severity - Accusations against
-




him—The Emperor threatens to put himself at the head of his army
-Arrival of troops at Canton- Projects for destroying our ships
Utility of iron steamers - Expedition to Amoy suspended - Troops
prepare to advance upon Canton, under Sir Hugh Gough — Captain
-
xvi CONTENTS .


Elliot returns to the factory with Mrs. Elliot — Afraid to remain
Warnings to the merchants — Anxious moments Treachery - Fo
reigners leave Canton— Ominous suspense — Night of the attack by
the Chinese 422


APPENDIX .
Mohilla and Johanna -- Additional Observations 447

Further remarks respecting the Equipment of the Nemesis 449
Nominal List of Officers who served on board the Nemesis, during the
period referred to in this work 450




ERRATA.

Page 5, line 24, for merchant steamer, read private steamer.
Page 9, for Airey, read Airy.
Page 17, bottom, for western side, read near the Loo Rock .
Page 168, 169, for Pedro Branco, read Pedra Branca.
Page 170, near the bottom . The Lieu-chew islands here referred to
are not the same islands which were visited by Captain Basil Hall. The
latter are situated much further to the northward .
Page 221 , bottom, for Mosson, read Mason .
Page 225, probably it should be three millions instead of thirty.
Page 256, for Trentsin, read Tientsin.
Page 289, in the heading, for China, read Chusan.
1
!
:
 ONE
100




Nemesis
The

,H844
.1London
Colburn
enry
 .




VOYAGES AND SERVICES
OF




Η Ε
ΤTHE NE MESI S.


CHAPTER I.

Introductory remarks — First visit of a British Admiral to China
Difficulties - Disturbance at Canton - Preparations in England - Iron
Steam Vessels to be tried — Nemesis, the first of the kind which crossed
-

the Line - England's " Iron Walls” —Description of the Nemesis —
Her peculiarities — Moveable Keels — Correction of the Compasses—
Professor Airey's method Nemesis leaves Liverpool Accident
against a rock through errors of the Compasses — Leak stopped —
Proceed to Portsmouth - Recent improvements — Clears out for Odessa
-Departure from Portsmouth — Public curiosity - Mystery concern
ing her - First night at sea- -Cape Finisterre - Island of Madeira
-

Rapid change from winter to summer -- Approach to the island
Harbour of Funchal - Coaling a Steamer.

Many of the circumstances connected with the pro
gress and conclusion of the late events in China must be
still so fresh in the memory of the reader, that it will
require but little effort to carry back his recollection
to the close of the year 1839 , and the commencement
of 1840 . Public attention was at that time beginning
VOL . I. B
 .


1




1
2 THE BRITISH AND CHINESE ADMIRALS . !
.


to be more vividly directed than heretofore towards the
current of events in that remarkable country ; and, in
deed , for some time previously, there had been felt a
growing interest in our anomalous relations with its
government, arising, in a great degree, from the abolition
of the exclusive privileges of the East India Company,
and from the complicated difficulties which had become
inseparable from the new and unsettled state of our com
mercial intercourse.
Without recurring, for the present, to more remote
events, it will be sufficient here to recollect that a British
admiral (Sir Frederic Maitland ) had, for the first time,
made a short visit to China in 1838, and had then tried
every means , through Captain Elliot, to explain to the
Viceroy of Canton the “peaceful purposes of his coming
there."
At this period, much more stress seems to have been
laid upon the question of direct official intercourse than
upon any difficulties connected with the trade in opium ,
which, in reality, had become far more a source of quar
relling and bitterness among the Chinese themselves,
than between them and the English community. In
tercourse “ upon a perfectly equal footing ” was still
refused . The Chinese grew more arrogant, and in some
measure insulting, even to the Admiral, for which an
apology was demanded and exacted ; nevertheless, Ad
miral Kwan and Admiral Maitland at length became
very good friends, wrote civil letters to each other, and ,
at last, Sir Frederic Maitland, in order, as he said, “ to
mark his feelings towards him ," sent him a present of a
few bottles of wine .
 COMMISSIONER LIN . 3


Immediately after this, the English Admiral left the
river of Canton, and sailed back again to the East In
dies ; and it was not long after his departure that the
first serious disturbance took place between the foreign
community, and the people, as well as the authorities,
of Canton . The famous Commissioner Lin had come
upon the stage ; and now the curtain may be said to
have been raised, preliminary to the opening of the
great Chinese drama which was henceforth to be enacted .
The year 1839 will long be remembered by all those
who have taken any interest in Eastern affairs. The
harsh and unwarrantable measures of Commissioner Lin ,
the imprisonment of Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and
all other English subjects, and the wild but brief career
of uncontrolled violence which marked his reign, called
imperatively on our part for stronger measures than had
yet been resorted to ; and such measures were at once
adopted by the Court of Directors of the East India
Company, as well as by the government of the country,
their direct object being to ensure the speedy departure
of an adequate force for the protection of British sub
jects and British trade in China, and to demand proper
reparation for the violence and insult offered to Her
Majesty's representative.
It was scarcely to be expected that, under these cir
cumstances, hostilities could be altogether avoided ;
and, as the principal scene of them , if they occurred ,

| This alludes to the attempt of the authorities to execute a criminal
in front of the factories, and the interference of the foreign community
to prevent so great an outrage to their feelings, followed by the collec
tion of a mob and a riot.
B 2
4 IRON STEAMERS .

would be in rivers and along the coasts, attention was
particularly directed to the fitting out of armed vessels,
which should be peculiarly adapted for that particular
service. Iron, as a material for ship -building, had been
already tried, and found to answer ; and this was con
sidered an extremely favourable opportunity for testing
the advantages or otherwise of iron steam -vessels ; and
the numerous rivers along the coast of China, hitherto
very imperfectly known, and almost totally unsurveyed,
presented an admirable field for these experiments. If
successful there, it might be readily inferred that their
utility in the fine rivers and along the shores of Hin
dostan, and other portions of the Company's territories,
would be demonstrated , and by degrees a very powerful
steam fleet would become an invaluable addition to the
already vast resources of the Indian government.
Orders were therefore given for the immediate building
of several stout iron steamers, to be constructed with
peculiar reference to their employment in river navi
gation. They were all to be adequately armed and
manned , and no reasonable expense was to be spared in
fitting them out in a manner best adapted to the parti
cular object sought to be attained by them. No iron
steamer had ever yet crossed the Line, and visited the
southern hemisphere ; their qualities, therefore, remained
yet to be tested in the stormy seas about Southern
Africa ; and various questions respecting the errors of
the compasses, the effects of lightning, &c . , upon ves
sels of this description, remained still imperfectly solved ,
particularly in reference to those tropical regions, where
the great phenomena of nature are exhibited in a more
 THE NEMESIS . 5

intense and dangerous degree. In fact, no experience
had yet been gained of their capabilities for the per
formance of long and perilous voyages ; and it was a
bold conception which suggested that they should be
sent round the Cape, to the eastward, in the very worst
season of the year, when even the stoutest and largest
wooden ships trust themselves as little as possible in
that stormy region.
The equipment and destination of the Nemesis, how
ever, was kept a profound secret, except to those who
were personally concerned in it, and even they (with the
exception of the authorities) had little notion of the pre
cise service upon which she was to be employed . What
ever may have been the reasons of this extraordinary
secrecy, it only served, as is usually the case, to make
all the world more anxious to penetrate the veil. Con
jectures were numerous, some partially correct, some
strangely improbable, and all equally uncertain . While
some asserted that she was destined to root out the
slave-trade, others imagined she was just as likely to
be employed for the purpose of carrying on this very
traffic with greater efficiency .
The Nemesis was at length finished, and sent to sea
as a merchant steamer, although heavily armed ; but she
X




was never commissioned under the articles of war, al
though commanded principally by officers belonging to
the Royal Navy ; neither was she classed among the
ships of the regular navy of the East India Company.
In short, the Nemesis was equipped under very pecu
liar circumstances, which, together with the novelty of
her construction, caused her to become an object of
 6 THE NEMESIS .


very general interest. The “wooden walls ” of England
had, in fact, been so long identified with her proudest
recollections, and had constituted for so many centuries
her national “ boast," that it seemed an almost unna
tional innovation to attempt to build them of iron . In
X deed , it was rather looked upon as one of the dangerous
experiments of modern days. Moreover, as the floating
property of wood, without reference to its shape or
fashion , rendered it the most natural material for the
construction of ships, so did the sinking property of
iron make it appear, at first sight, very ill adapted for
a similar purpose. It was sometimes forgotten that
even wooden ships are composed of wood, iron, and
copper together, and that the bulkiness of these neces
sary materials greatly diminishes the buoyancy of the
wood .
A minute and scientific description of the structure
of the Nemesis will be found in the United Service
Journal for May, 1840, and it will therefore be suffi
cient, in this place, merely to notice one or two peculi
arities, in which it differs from that of wooden ships
in general. With the exception of the great paddle
beams, across the ship, and the planks of the deck and
the cabin -fittings, together with one or two other parts,
the names of which would be only intelligible to the
scientific reader, the whole vessel was built of iron .
Credit is due to Mr. Laird, of the Birkenhead Iron
Works, Liverpool, for the admirable manner in which
she was constructed, and for the elegance of her form
and model , which fully answered every purpose required
of her.
 THE NEMESIS . 7

Her burden was about 700 tons, and her engines of
120 -horse power, constructed by Messrs. Forrester and
Co. , also of Liverpool; and with twelve days' supply of
coals, together with water and provisions for four
months, and stores of all sorts for two years, with dupli
cate machinery, &c., and all her armament complete,
her mean load draught of water was only six feet. But
commonly, in actual service, she drew little more than
five feet. Her length over all was 184 feet, her breadth
29 feet, and her depth 11 feet. Her keel-plate was laid,
and the vessel built and launched, in the short space of
three months.
Strictly speaking, the Nemesis has no fixed keel, but
the lower plate of iron, which connects the two sides
of the ship together along its middle, is called the
keel-plate. She is, therefore, almost perfectly flat-bot
tomed ; and , in order to obviate, as much as possible,
the disadvantages attendant upon this peculiar con
struction, there are two sliding or moveable keels,
capable of being raised, or lowered to the depth of
five feet below the bottom of the vessel. Each of these
keels is about seven feet in length, one being placed
before and the other abaft the engine-room. They are
each enclosed in a narrow case, or tank, one foot wide,
running from the bottom of the vessel up to the deck,
and which, of course being open below, allows the water