port brought from the northward by the Columbine,
Captain Clarke, of the preparations which were being
carried on by the Chinese, and of the refusal of the au
thorities of Chekeang to receive from that officer a
despatch which he had been ordered and sent expressly
to deliver, tended to confirm every previous impression.
1 The despatch was believed to relate principally to the supposed
death of Captain Stead , of the Pestonjee Bomanjee transport, who had
been attacked, and was supposed to have been murdered, near Keeto
Point, on one of the islands near Chusan, after the restoration of that
island to the Chinese. He landed to make inquiries, being in ignorance
of what had happened, and surprised to see Chusan harbour in posses
sion of the Chinese.
CHINESE PREPARATIONS . 435
Nor was this all . Information was brought from Can
ton, that, on the 30th April, no less than forty boats
had passed in front of the Factories, having on board at
least two thousand troops ; that they proceeded aa little
lower down, and landed at a short distance from the
Dutch Folly, and thence marched into the city.
An explanation of this circumstance was demanded ,
and an evasive reply was sent by the Kwang -chow-foo,
or Prefect, to Captain Elliot. A few days afterwards
it was distinctly reported that the English at Canton
were to be suddenly attacked , and all their property
destroyed. And , on the 8th May, no less than seventy
more boats passed before the Factories, bringing down
full three thousand troops to the city, and these were
said to be the advanced guard of a large army. It was
known also that a vast number of fire- rafts were being
prepared, and several hundred divers were said to be in
training, who were to go down and bore holes in our
ships at night ; or even, as the Chinese privately reported,
to carry down with them some combustible material
which would burn under water and destroy our vessels.
While all these rumours of hostilities were circulated,
it is not wonderful that there should have been “ a very
feverish state of the public mind within the city ;” nor
that considerable anxiety should have been felt on our
side as to what even a day might bring forth .
The Nemesis was, during all this time, incessantly
employed in carrying letters and despatches, as well as
officers, from one place to another. Constant commu
nications were kept up ; Sir Le Fleming Senhouse and
Captain Elliot were continually on board the Nemesis,
FF 2
436 SERVICES OF THE NEMESIS .
passing and repassing to and from different points within
the river, frequently up to Whampoa, or even to the
neighbourhood of the very Factories at Canton. Day or
night made little difference ; she was always ready.
This is merely mentioned to show how valuable a steamer
of her dimensions and small draught of water becomes,
when operations are being carried on along a coast
abounding in rivers imperfectly known . Being con
structed of iron, and built in water-tight compartments ,
or tanks, the mere running ashore was a matter of very
little moment, and the mere chance of it did not deter
her indefatigable commander from pushing on boldly ,
into every creek and corner where any service was
likely to be rendered , or any discovery made. More
over, she was at all times fit for service, even of the
most trying kind , such as towing ships, or hauling off
those which might be aground, conveying and landing
troops, & c. &c. Being infinitely stronger than any
wooden vessel of the same tonnage, she required only
the most simple and trifling repairs, when wooden
steamers were constantly injured with less severe trials
of their strength, and in continual need of repairs, which
necessarily created delay, and rendered their efficiency,
even with every exertion of their excellent commanders,
less perfectly to be depended on.
At the same period, arrangements for the complete
settlement and government of Hong Kong were being
continued without intermission . Officers were ap
pointed , a magistrate's court formed , proclamations
issued , and establishments of various kinds commenced .
In short , it seemed very evident that we had no inten
APPROACHING CRISIS . 437
tion of restoring the island to the Chinese, whatever
might be the reply of the Emperor to Keshen's treaty.
It is a curious circumstance that this very treaty was
highly disapproved of by the governments of both coun
tries, the English no less than the Chinese..
Preparations had already been commenced at Hong
Kong for the advance of our force upon Amoy, under Sir
Hugh Gough , with aa view to carry on hostilities further to
the northward ; but they were now temporarily sus
pended, in order to meet the approaching crisis at Canton.
If any thing had been wanting to confirm the rumour,
not only of the extensive preparations of the Chinese
government to recommence the attack, but also to indi
cate the disposition of the people of Canton towards us,
it was to be found in a curious address, or chop, publicly
circulated in the city, and even posted upon its walls.
It purported to express the sentiments of the people
themselves ; or to be an address from that portion which
claimed to be most patriotic, to the other portion which
might possibly be less so. It was intended to inflame
the public mind against us, but it was not sealed or ap
parently sanctioned by the government. It first called
upon the imperial troops “ to brandish their lances” at
the English ; and told the people that the “ cup of the
2
wickedness of the latter was now quite full.” It went
on to say, “ We have solemnly sworn your destruction,
even though we are stopped for the moment by the pa
cific intentions of our high officers. We have already
more than half of us moved our wives and children else
where, but we have vowed to destroy you . Our am
buscades shall be such as neither gods nor devils can pro
vide against; therefore you had better tremble and obey ."
438 MRS . ELLIOT AT CANTON.
All this was designed, of course, to frighten the bar
barians ; and although it professed to be a mere ebulli
tion of the spirit of the people, there is little doubt
that the government were cognizant of it. This is ren
dered more probable by the circumstance that only a few
days afterwards the prefect of the city issued distinct
orders to the elders of the people, that they should cause
them to remove their wives and children , with all their
moveable property, from the neighbourhood of the river.
At length even Captain Elliot himself began to catch
a glimmering of the truth, which seemed to steal but
slowly upon his unwilling eyes. On the 10th of May
he resolved to go in person to Canton in the Nemesis,
and , in order the better to impress the Chinese with the
opinion which he still wished them to believe he re
tained of their good faith, he even took up Mrs. Elliot
with him ; probably the first time an English female had
set foot in Canton .
The next morning the Nemesis was moved down to
the Macao, or Broadway Passage, about three quarters
of a mile from the Factories. Captain Elliot, as soon as
he landed at the Factory, sought an interview with the
Kwang -chow -foo, or prefect, and demanded certain ex
planations from him , which evidently embarrassed him
not a little. The answers were evasive and unsatisfac
tory ; previously lurking suspicions were more than
confirmed, and Captain Elliot left the factory that same
evening, preferring to sleep on board the Nemesis.
No time was now to be lost in seeking a conference
with the naval and military commanders-in -chief, who
were then at Hong Kong ; and, accordingly, on the
following morning, the 12th, the Nemesis was ordered
THE CRISIS AT HAND . 439
to convey him with all speed down the river to that
place, a communication being made on his way down to
Captain Herbert, commanding the advanced squadron
at Whampoa, who was already prepared for an ap
proaching crisis. The result of the conference held at
Hong Kong the same day was that the expedition to
Amoy was to be positively postponed, and the whole
disposable force moved once more towards Canton.
Hong Kong was now the scene of general bustle and
activity, a new disposition of the forces was made, and
every measure adopted for their speedy junction as near
as possible to Canton. By the judicious exertions of
Sir Le Fleming Senhouse, and the hearty co -operation
of all his officers, eager once more for active employ
ment, the whole fleet of men -of-war and transports,
with all the troops on board, were ready to sail in five
days. Every man that could be spared, except the in
valids and convalescents, was embarked. And every
ship of war except the Druid, which was left for the
protection of the harbour, was under orders for the
Canton river .
On the 18th and 19th , having been a little delayed
by calms, they all got away in admirable order, full of
high hope and promise, that now at length they were
to become masters of the great southern emporium of
foreign commerce.
Captain Elliot now once more proceeded to Canton,
as usual in the Nemesis, which took him up there in a
very few hours. He returned to his quarters in the
Factory ; but, so incontrovertible were the evidences of
the hostile intentions of the Chinese, and so strong the
440 CHINESE TREACHERY .
apprehension of the momentary bursting forth of some
treacherous plot, that the Nemesis, which was the only
vessel at hand, was kept cleared for action, with the
guns loaded, steam up, and the cable in readiness to slip,
although no immediate danger was visible. In fact, there
was an evident agitation at Canton, and an appearance
of alarm and excitement on every side, an apprehension
of some danger, without exactly knowing what.
Captain Elliot now very properly advised the mer
chants, by public proclamation, to make their arrange
ments, so as to be prepared to leave Canton at a
moment's notice. On the following day, the 29th, the
Nemesis was moved close up to the Factories, or a little
above them, for the protection of the whole foreign
community. It was already discovered that the western
battery above the city at Shameen had been repaired
and armed at least ten days before ; that a large en
campment had been formed to the eastward of the town,
for some of the newly-arrived troops ; while new works
had also been erected on the river-side in the same di
rection , that is, below the town , in the rear of the French
Folly. Troops were still pouring into the city in great
numbers, even the redoubtable “ Tartars of the Lion
Heart,” while the citizens themselves were hastening
out of it with precipitation . Goods and chattels of all
kinds were being carried away ; confusion was evident
where every thing is usually so orderly ; and it is said
that soldiers were even seen moving about with match
locks, and their slow matches ready lighted in their
hands.
Our own forces were by this time on the way up, the
CIIINESE TREACHERY . 441
troops from Hong Kong had already past the Bogue,
and the light squadron had begun to move from Wham
poa. Still Captain Elliot was in the Factory, and still a
great portion of the merchants remained at their posts,
ready to decamp at a moment's notice, yet anxiously
devoting every doubtful moment of delay to the pur
pose of arranging as well as they could their compli
cated affairs.
The Chinese, finding that their plans were now fairly
discovered , were at once placed in the predicament of
hurrying on the execution of them more rapidly than
they had intended. But still the authorities resolved
once more to try the effect of a proclamation to lull
suspicion. Having found themselves on several occa
sions so successful in their art of duplicity, they hoped
still to catch the unwary foreigners slumbering in their
net ; and there is some reason to believe they intended
to take the whole foreign community by surprise, and
seize them in their Factories, something after the fashion
adopted by Commissioner Lin.
Nevertheless, fearful of being prematurely driven into
the exposure of their designs, the prefect thought proper
to issue on the 20th (only the day before the attack ac
tually commenced ) a proclamation to the following
effect, under his official seal. He stated that “ he issued
this edict in order to calm the feelings of the merchants,
>
and to tranquillize commercial business .” That “ it
was to be feared that the merchants, seeing the gather
ing of the military hosts, would tremble with alarm , not
knowing where these things would end ." That, “ in
stead of being frightened out of their wits, so as to
442 CHINESE TREACHERY .
abandon their goods, and secretly go away, they ought
to be assured that the Imperial Commissioner and ge
neral pacificator of the rebels, with the other higher
officers, would manage things with due consideration, so
that the obedient shall be protected from all injury, >
and their goods preserved in safety .” He concluded
by saying “ that the foreign merchants ought also to re
main quiet in their lawful pursuits, continuing their
trade as usual, without alarm or suspicion . ”
Perhaps a more barefaced specimen of cool calcula
ting hypocrisy was never before practised ; all this in
the face of incessant preparations, carried on day and
night, for the resumption of hostilities, and for the
treacherous annihilation of every thing belonging to
foreigners within their grasp ! and the very day before
the explosion.
But, in order to see upon good authority what their
preparations and designs really were, let us turn for a
moment to the actual account given by the General
Yihshan , concerning these preparations, and the purpose
for which they were intended. He says, “ that he had
adopted means, in concert with the other two commis
sioners, for forming new defences along the whole shore
>
line, ” ( contrary to the treaty or truce !) He enumerates
several forts he had erected, and fenced round with
double lines of sand -bags, supported by beams of wood
and heaps of stones, with pits dug in the ground, to
enable the soldiers to screen themselves from the enemy's
fire. He went round about all sides of the city, making
the proper defensive arrangements. He added, 66 that a
naval militia corps had been formed , fire -rafts prepared
CHINESE TREACHERY . 443
and launched, and straw collected ready to make an at
tack by water.” In another memorial he mentions the
very places where these fire-rafts were built, and where
the straw was collected, and how they were floated down
the river. He further regrets, as Keshen had done
before him , that the “ creeks, inlets, and outlets, are
very multifarious, that during the floods the whole
country is under water, and that there is no important
pass where a garrison might be placed for defence.”
He had discovered that the hills on the north command
the city, so that people may look down and see every
thing going on within , and that the foreigners were
constantly in the habit of prying cunningly about, and
that “ it was, forsooth , no easy matter to prevent them . ”
Thus , he says, “ all our plans were found out, and the
foreigners drew the sword .”
That the real design was one of treachery, and secret
preparation for destruction, is further shown by the re
port which was sent to Pekin, even after the city had
surrendered, and the troops had marched out, (as will
be next described .) On that occasion it is said that
the “ requests of the foreigners were temporarily acceded
to, and that it became his duty to draw the enemy forth
without the Bocca Tigris, and then to renew all the
fortifications, and seek another occasion for attacking
>
and destroying them at Hong Kong.”
There could be no doubt, therefore, that the real
scheme of the Chinese authorities was to pounce upon
the whole of the foreign, or, at all events, upon the
English community, just as the hawk pounces down
upon his unsuspecting prey. Unfortunately for them,
444 ELLIOT ALARMED .
they found their victims little disposed to trust either
to their proclamations of assurance, or their promises
of protection ; on the very next morning, the 21st,
Captain Elliot himself thought that any longer delay in
quitting Canton would be followed by the most disas
trous consequences . It is said that he even received
intimation , through some of the attendants of the Hong
merchants, that a grand attack of some kind or other
was meditated that very night.
It was of course known to the authorities that our
forces were already moving up the river ; their own
plans, therefore, were necessarily hastened, in the hope
that by a simultaneous attack by fire-rafts on our ship
ping at different points, as well as on the Factories, they
might get completely the upper hand of us before our
forces could be concentrated upon the city. Early in
the morning, therefore, Captain Elliot recommended , in
strong terms, that all foreigners should leave Canton
before sunset .
During this whole day the consternation among the
Chinese in the neighbourhood of the Factories increased
every hour ; shops were closed, goods removed , and se
veral of our officers, who went on shore to see what was
going on, were prevented, by guards of Chinese soldiers,
from passing through any of the usually frequented streets
beyond the immediate proximity of the Factories.
The crisis was now at its height. Many of the mer
chants had withdrawn to Whampoa several days before,
and in the course of this day all the rest (except two
American gentlemen) got away in boats. The small
party of marines which were with Captain Elliot in the
THE CRISIS . 445
British Factory, were withdrawn by orders of Captain
>
Herbert, who had come up from Whampoa as com
mander of the advanced squadron ; and before sunset
Captain Elliot himself, with his suite, once more aban
doned the factory, and came on board the Nemesis .
Captain Herbert, however, removed on board the Mo
deste. And now the proud flag of England was finally
lowered at Canton, where it was never again hoisted
until long after the conclusion of peace ..
In the mean time, the Pylades and Modeste, together
with the Algerine, had been moved closer up to the town,
for mutual protection. The Nemesis still remained a little
above the Factories, together with the Louisa, Captain
Elliot's own cutter, and Mr. Dent's schooner, the Au
rora. A dull and ominous suspense reigned on every
side ; a general stagnation of ordinary intercourse ;
and that noble river, usually so busy with the hum of
men, and as it were alive with the innumerable boats of
every shape and fashion which ply upon its surface, and
that active, busy, almost countless population , which
make their home upon its friendly waters, and seem
happy in their thrifty industry , all now were dull, and
almost still with a portentous dreariness.
The sun at length set gloomily. The darkness of the
night was remarkable; and one better adapted for sur,
prising an enemy could hardly have been chosen. But,
although the precise nature of their plans, or mode of
attack, was not known, yet enough had been clearly as
certained to render every possible precaution necessary.
The Modeste lay somewhat higher up the river than the
Nemesis, and was likely to be the first to discover the
446 THE CRISIS.
approach of an enemy in that quarter, whatever might
be their design .
On board the Nemesis no precaution was omitted ;
double sentries were placed ; the men below were all or
dered to lie down ready equipped for instant service ;
even the fires were laid and lighted in the furnaces, so
that steam could be got up in a few minutes, if requi
site. All who could be spared retired to rest, but not
to sleep. The feeling of excitement was too general to
permit repose. Captain Elliot laid himself down in his
cloak upon the quarter-deck, while Captain Hall,ever
on the alert, stretched himself upon the bridge between
the paddle-boxes, ready at a second's warning to give
the necessary orders. Captain Herbert, also, who was
at that time on board the Modeste, had fully impressed
every one with the necessity of omitting no precaution
against the impending danger.
Equal activity and similar precautions were adopted
on board all the other ships ; and already the Herald
and Calliope had been moved up the river to within a
short distance of Canton .
Note, referring to page 335.
During the heat of the action against the batteries of Anunghoy, a
very dashing thing was done by Commander Sullivan, who was serving
as a supernumerary commander on board the Melville. One of the boats
got adrift, owing to some accident, and was being carried by the tide close
in under the batteries. The instant this was perceived by Commander
Sullivan , he jumped into his gig, and pulled off to recover the boat, in
doing which he was of course exposed to the close fire of the batteries,
but he fortunately escaped unhurt, and brought the boat safely back ,
This little spirited incident was not taken public notice of.
APPENDIX .
A.
MOHILLA AND JOHANNA .-PAGE 150 .
The following letter concerning the fate of the Comoro
Islands, and the violent proceedings of the French in that
quarter, appeared in The Times of January 30th, 1844. The
facts stated in it have every appearance of exaggeration, but the
interference of the British government would seem to be called
for.
“ The French have, within the last month , obtained, by fraud,
possession of the islands of Johanna, Mohilla , and Peomro ;
they had already, by the same means, obtained the islands of
Mayotte and Nos Beh. There are at present out here eleven
ships of war — the largest a 60 -gun frigate ; more are expected
out in preparation for the conquest of all Madagascar ; and
also, it is said, of the coast of Africa, from latitude 10 S. to
2 S.; this portion includes the dominions of the Imaum of
Muscat.. At this place [Nos Beh) a system of slavery is car
ried on that you are not aware of. Persons residing here send
over to places on the mainland of Africa, as Mozambique,
Angoza, &c., money for the purchase of the slaves ; they are
bought there for about ten dollars each, and are sold here again
for fifteen dollars ; here again they are re-sold to French mer
chant vessels from Bourbon and St. Mary's for about twenty
five to thirty dollars each. Captains of vessels purchasing
these use the precaution of making two or three of the youngest
free, and then have them apprenticed to them for a certain
term of years (those on shore), fourteen and twenty-one years.
448 MOHILLA AND JOHANNA .
These papers of freedom will answer for many. It is a known
fact, that numbers have been taken to Bourbon , and sold for
two hundred and three hundred dollars each. Those who have
had their freedom granted at this place [Nos Beh], as well as
others, are chiefly of the Macaw tribe. The Indien, of Havre,
a French bark, took several from this place on the 26th Sep
tember last ; she was bound for the west coast of Madagascar,
St. Mary's, and Bourbon . L'Hesione, a 32-gun frigate, has
just arrived from Johanna , having compelled one of the chiefs
to sign a paper, giving the island up to the French. On their
first application , the king and chiefs of Johanna said, that the
island belonged to the English . The French then said, that if
it was not given up, they would destroy the place ; they, after
this, obtained the signature of one of the chiefs to a paper
giving up the island to the French .
“ I remain, sir, &c. , &c.,
6 HENRY C. ARC ANGELO .
“ Supercargo of the late Ghuznee of Bombay.
- Nos Beh , Madagascar ,
66 Oct. 6th, 1843. "
The account given in the above letter is partly borne out
by the following announcement, which appeared in the Mo
niteur, the French official newspaper, in March, 1844 ; the
substance of it is here copied from The Times of the 14th
March ; and there can be little doubt concerning the object of
the French in taking the active step alluded to. We must
hope, therefore, that our interests in that quarter will be pro
perly watched, particularly when we remember what serious
injury would be inflicted upon the whole of our Eastern trade,
in case of war, by the establishment of the French in good
harbours to the eastward of the Cape. The announcement is
as follows : — “ Captain Des Fossés has been appointed Com
EQUIPMENT OF THE NEMESIS. 449
mander of the station at MADAGASCAR, and Bourbon, which
was hitherto placed under the orders of the Governor of Bour
bon. This station now acquires a greater degree of importance.
Captain Des Fossès having under his orders five or six ships of
war, will exhibit our flag along the whole coast of Africa, and
in the Arabian Seas. He will endeavour to extend our relations
with Abyssinia, and our influence in Madagascar."
B.
FURTHER REMARKS RESPECTING THE EQUIPMENT OF THE
NEMESIS .
When the Nemesis left England she had on board about
sixty men and officers ; but, during the operations in China,
she usually had about ninety men and officers. Her daily
consumption of fuel was about eleven tons .
She had no paddle-boats ; but in other respects, she was well
found in boats, while in China. She had two cutters, pinnace,
gig, jolly-boat, dingy, and always a large Chinese boat. A
large platform was also built between the paddle-boxes, instead
1
of the small bridge, which is usually constructed. This platform 1
covered the whole space between the paddle-boxes, and was 1
found particularly convenient, when troops were on board, as 1
it was always occupied by the officers, while the decks were 2
crowded with the soldiers. There was also a 6-pounder brass
gun upon a swivel carriage, mounted upon the bridge, which
was very useful for trying the range. A rocket tube and a 1
supply of rockets were always kept in readiness upon this
platform , besides ammunition for the brass gun, && c. In hot
weather an awning was spread over it, and it was always a
most convenient place for watching and directing the opera
tions of the steamer .
Besides the two 32 -pounder guns, the Nemesis carried four
brass 6 -pounders and one 8-inch howitzer.
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