regret that circumstances did not admit of the officers, seamen, and Royal Marines of Her Majesty's squadron, as well as of the Indian Navy, participating to a greater extent in the operations of the day. Sir Henry Pottinger has witnessed all the proceedings of the expedition; and, considering the lateness of the season, it is a subject of congratulation to His Excellency, as well as to Sir Hugh

Gough and myself, that the reoccupation of this island has been secured.

Your Lordship may be assured that not a moment will be lost in making the contemplated movement of Chinhae and Ningpo, whenever the s'ate of the weather renders it practicable.

I have, &c.,

W. PARKER,

Rear-Admiral.

Modeste, at Ningpo, Oct. 12, 1841.

My Lord,-My despatch of the 4th instant, in which I had the honour of communicating to your Lordship the reoccupation of Chusan by Her Majesty's forces, would apprise you of the anxiety of Sir Hugh Gough and myself to commence operations against Chinhae, as soon as a change of weather should enable the ships of the expedition, with common prudence, to approach that exposed position.

On the 7th the wind veered to the desired point, and every preliminary arrangement having been made, not a moment was lost in embarking the troops intended for the expedition. The following day most of the transports were moved to the anchorage of Just-in-theway, four leagues in advance; and the General and myself, accompanied by Sir Henry Pottinger, proceeded at the same time in the Phlegethon and Nemesis to reconnoitre the points of our intended attack, where we were fully in formed and found that every preparation for resistance had been

The city of Chinhae, which is enclosed by a wall thirty-seven feet in thickness, and twenty-two feet high, with an embrasured parapet of four feet high, and nearly two miles in circumference, is situated at the foot of a very commanding peninsular height, which forms the entrance of the Tahee river on its left or north bank. On the summit is the citadel, which, from its strong position, is considered the key to Chinhae, and the large and opulent city of Ningpo, about fifteen miles up the river; and it is so important as a military post, that I trust I may be excused for attempting to describe it.

It stands about 250 feet above sea, and is encircled also by a strong wall, with very substantial ironplated gates at the east and west ends. The north and south sides of the heights are exceedingly steep; the former, accessible only from the sea by a narrow winding path from the rocks at its base; the south side and eastern end being nearly precipitous. At the east end of the citadel, outside its wall, twenty-one guns were

sonry and sand-bags to defend the entrance of the river.

The only communication between the citadel and city is on the west side, by a steep but regular causeway, to a barrier gate at the bottom of the hill, where a wooden bridge over a wet ditch connects it with the isthmus and the gates of the city, the whole of which are covered with iron plates and strongly secured. The space on the isthmus between the citadel hill and the city wall is filled up towards the sea with a battery of five guns, having a row of strong piles driven in a little beach in front of it, to prevent a descent in that quarter and on the riverside of the isthmus are two batteries adjoining the suburbs, and mounting twenty-two and nineteen guns for flanking the entrance; twenty-eight guns of different sizes, and numberless gingals were also planted on the city walls, principally towards the sea.

The main body of the Chinese forces were posted on the right bank of the river in fortified encampments, on very commanding and steep hills; field works and entrenchments being thrown up in every advantageous position, with twenty-three guns and innumerable gingals mounted in them to impede the advance of the troops. The principal landing-place on this side is within a considerable creek, close to the south entrance of the river, and across this creek we found a row of piles driven. Four batteries, mounting thirty-one thirty-one guns, were also newly constructed on this side of the river to flank the entrance, and about half a mile above its mouth a similar obstruction of larger piles was carried completely across space only

time. In short, the Chinese had exercised their ingenuity to the utmost to make their defences secure, and a great amount of treasure and labour must have been expended in the execution of these works, fully evincing the importance which they attached to this position.

The plan of attack agreed upon by the General and myself was to land the troops in two columns on the right bank of the river, inside the small islands called the Triangles. The main body, under his immediate command (about 1,040 strong), to disembark a short distance beyond the creek above referred to: the other (about 500 strong) immediately at its entrance where it appeared to us practicable to put them securely on shore outside the piles, under the cover of one of the brigs-good anchorage being found within a few yards of the spot.

The attack of the citadel and city on the left bank of the river was assigned to the naval branch of the force, strengthened by about twenty-three of the Royal and twelve of the Madras Artillery, under Lieuts. the Hon. F. Spencer and Molesworth; and fifty Sappers, under Capt. Cotton and Lieut. Johnston, of the Madras Engineers. It was calculated that the advance of the two columns of troops by different routes would not only secure every point on the right bank, but cut off the retreat of many of the Chinese: and by a simultaneous bombardment of the citadel and city by the squadron, we entertained confident hopes of complete success, which have been happily realized in every respect.

On the evening of the 9th the whole of the squadron, as per sub

were anchored off Chinhae, in convenient situations for the intended operations; and at an early hour on the following morning, the troops proceeded in the Queen, Nemesis, and Phlegethon steamers, and the boats of the transports, to the points of debarkation, where the Cruizer, Columbine, and Bentinck most judiciously took up their positions, under the direction of Commander Giffard. A few shot from them cleared the shore of about 300 of the Chinese, who had assembled to oppose the landing, and by half-past nine o'clock, under his excellent arrangements every man was safe on shore.

The Wellesley, Blenheim, Blonde and Modeste, were appointed to cannonade the citadel and eastern part of the city walls; and the Sesostris, Queen, and Phlegethon, after landing the troops and towing up the ships to their stations, to shell the citadel in flank, and enfilade any of the batteries in the harbour which their guns could bear upon; the Nemesis to join in the attack on the north side, in readiness to cover the landing of the seamen and marines, as soon as it became practicable.

The citadel hill cannot be approached for an attack by large ships, except on the north side, and the water in that direction is so shallow that it is only in the calmest weather that they can be carried with safety sufficiently near to fire with effect. The day was fortunately everything we could desire, and the Wellesley, as soon as the tide served, was towed by the Sesostris into an excellent position, where the anchor was dropped about a quarter before nine o'clock, in four fathoms, about 1,300 yards from the citadel and

she settled imperceptibly into a bottom of soft mud, and was as steady as a land battery. Commander Ormsby (with very commendable activity) immediately afterwards brought in the Blenheim; the Blonde and Modeste, favored by a light breeze, took their stations under sail, and every ship was placed to my entire satisfaction, as close as possible, the Blenheim and Modeste touching the bottom at low water. The pre cision of the fire, both of shots and shells, from all, exceeded my most sanguine expectations; and the destruction of the works from the commencement of the attack was never doubtful.

As the troops on the right bank of the river moved forward, Commander Giffard advanced the sloops towards the entrance of the harbour, and the steamers all took up very good positions, and performed excellent service with their guns; they were for a considerable time under a heavy fire from the river batteries, but fortunately sustained no damage.

About eleven o'clock we had the gratification of seeing the British colours planted by the troops on one of the batteries on the opposite shore, and within a few minutes the others on that side were all carried, and the Chinese observed flying in every direction before our gallant soldiers on the heights.

At a quarter past eleven the wall of the citadel was breached by the fire from the ships, and the defences being reduced to a ruinous state, the Chinese abandoned their guns, which they had hitherto worked with considerable firmness, and a large portion of the garrison retreated precipitately towards the city. Not a moment was lost in

battalion of seamen and marines, with the detachments of artillery and sappers (the whole under the command of Captain Herbert, of the Blenheim.) Before noon the boats were all on shore; every impediment presented by the diffi. culty of landing on rugged rocks was overcome, and the force gallantly advanced to the assault, with a celerity that excited my warmest admiration. An explosion at this time took place in a battery near the citadel gate, and the remnant of the garrison fled without waiting to close it. The citadel was therefore rapidly entered, and the union-jack displayed on the walls. Our people had scarcely passed within them, when another explosion occurred, happily without mischief, but whether by accident or design is uncertain.

Captain Herbert, having secured this post, quickly re-formed his men, and advanced towards the city; the Chinese still occupying in considerable force the walls of it, as well as the two batteries beneath the hill on the river-side, against which our troops had already turned some of the guns taken on the bank. A few volleys of musketry speedily dislodged them from both positions, and the batteries of seamen and marines pushed on in steady and excellent order to attack the city. The wall (twenty-six feet high) was escaladed in two places, and in a short time complete possession was taken of Chinhae, the Chinese troops having made their escape through the western gates.

While in the act of scaling the city wall, a third and formidable explosion took place at one of the river batteries, within a short distance, by which I regret one man

is strong suspicion that it was caused by a mine, intentionally sprung; and considering the number of our men which were assembled at the time, it is most providential that the consequences were not more disastrous.

The seamen immediately returned on board, for the security of the ships, which, with the rising tide, were moved into secure berths, Capt. Herbert remaining with the marines in charge of the town until the evening, when Sir H. Gough arrived, and a considerable portion of troops were conveyed across the river in the Phlegethon, to garrison it.

I have sincere pleasure in again bringing before your Lordship's notice the gallantry and excellent conduct of every officer and man of Her Majesty's ships and the Indian Navy under my command.

To Capt. Herbert my best acknowledgments are due for his zeal for the public service and animating example on all occasions; and he speaks in strong terms of commendation of the gallant support he received from Capt. Bourchier, of the Blonde, Major Ellis of the Royal Marines, and the officers and men of every description attached to the force placed under his command; of which, and of those employed in the boats, I transmit a list; and cordially join in every praise that can be bestowed on them. I must also state, that although Capts. Maitland and Eyres were not directly attached to the battalion of seamen and marines which disembarked, they landed at the same time, and accompanied them in their operations.

To Capt. Maitland, of my flagship, I feel much indebted for the able and zealous assistance which

obligations are equally due to Capt. Eyres, for the invaluable services of the Modeste.

The activity and ardour of Commanders Giffard, Clarke, Fletcher, and Watson, and of Lieut. Collinson, in command of the Bentinck, have been eminently displayed on this and every other opportunity; and I have no less pleasure in bearing testimony to your Lordship that the same spirit of enterprise and zeal has been conspicuously evinced by Commander Ormsby, Lieut. M'Cleverty, Master Hall, and Master Warden, and, indeed, of every officer and man in the steamvessels attached to the expedition. I may be permitted also to notice that my Flag Lieutenant, Charles Tennant, has attended me in every operation since I took command of the squadron, and his zeal and attention are deserving of my highest approbation.

By official Chinese documents, found in Chinhae, we have good reason to believe that the regular

Tartar troops, quartered on the 19th in the city and batteries on the left bank of the river, amounted to upwards of 3,000, of which about 700 composed the garrison of the citadel or Joss-house Hill; their loss on these points is calculated at 150 men.

The troops opposed to Sir Hugh Gough were estimated at 10,000, and they have sustained a heavy loss; but no amount of force as yet met with in this country, can withstand the gallant band under his command, into which his active and energetic example infuses unbounded confidence.

The total number of guns which have fallen into our hands amounts to ninety iron and sixty-seven brass: the latter will be embarked without delay in one of the transports, with a large quantity of metal, which has been found in a cannon foundry at Chinhae. I have, &c., W. PARKER,

Rear-Admiral.

Modeste, off Ningpo, Oct. 14, 1841. My Lord, It is with feelings of the greatest satisfaction that I have now the honour of addressing your Lordship from the anchorage off the walls of Ningpo, on which the British colours are flying.

The progress of the expedition has been greatly favoured by the fine weather, which enabled it to complete the reduction of Chinhae, on the 10th instant, and to place the large ships and transports on the following day at a safe anchorage, after landing the requisite supplies for the Army, for the wind

12th, and blew strong. The ships, however, were all in security, the Blonde, with the sloops and steamers, and part of the transports, having found sufficient water and excellent shelter within the Eahea River, a few of the piles having been taken up for their admission.

I removed on the 11th to the Modeste, and, that no time might be lost in prosecuting our further operations, I directed Captains Maitland and Herbert, when the Wellesley and Blenheim were anchored off" Just-in-the-way," to