ening the gate. This little force soldiers, seamen, and marines w up on the ramparts, the band the 18th playing "God save e Queen!" The second city of e province of Che-Keang, the lls of which are nearly five les in circumference, with a polation of 300,000 souls, has thus len into our hands. The people appear desirous to throw themves under British protection, wing publicly that their Manda s have deserted them, and their n soldiers are unable to protect em. I have assembled some of e most respectable and influenl of the mercantile class that ve remained, and have assured em of my anxiety to afford em all protection consistent ith our instructions to press the ainese government. Proclama ons have been issued, calling on the people to open their ops, which I have engaged shall ot be molested. This they have one to some extent, and confience appears to be increasing. It fords me very great gratification be enabled to report to your ordship that the orderly conduct the troops calls for my warmest ommendation, evincing the concant attention of the officers, and he true British feeling which exts in this little force. * Head Quarters, Chapo, May 20, 1842. My Lord, My despatch to our Lordship of the 18th of April ill have led your Lordship to exect my present communication, nnouncing the attack on, and apture of Chapo, by Her Ma esty's military and naval forces. shall leave to Vice-Admiral Sir W. Parker to detail the move part of the expedition, merely observing that the same unity of ac tion and of co-operation has existed, which have hitherto, under Divine Providence, so materially tended to the successful result of every operation, and that I have experienced the most cordial and effective assistance, not only from the Admiral, but from the several Captains and officers of Her Majesty's and the Indian Navy. I shall now beg leave to detail with as much brevity as possible, our military movements since the evacuation of Ningpo, which event was effected in a most satisfactory manner on the 7th instant, leaving, I trust, among the inhabitants of that part of the Chekiang province, a deep feeling of respect and gratitude for the orderly and forbearing conduct of the British soldiers, and proving, that while pressing on the Government, and overthrowing every opposing display of military force, it has been our object to protect the Chinese population of every class and grade as much as lay in our power. The fleet could, notwithstanding the unceasing exertions of Sir W. Parker, only leave the anchorage of Just-in-the-Way on the 13th instant when he had assembled the ships from Chusan, Chinhae, and Ningpo, and, in consequence of the extraordinary strength of the tides in the Tseentang River, we only reached the anchorage off this city on the evening of the 17th; Sir W. Parker and myself, however, had an opportunity the preceding day, to make most satisfactory reconnoissance, in the two smaller steamers, of the defences of this place, when we decided on the points of disembarkation and the line of conjoint Mandarins some are reported to have been killed, others to have destroyed themselves, and the Chinese army dispersed, the fugitive soldiers throwing away their arms and military clothing. 14. Captain Herbert speaks in high terms of the zealous and spirited conduct of every individual under his command, and particularly calls my attention to the able assistance he received from Captain Bourchier, of the Blonde, commanding the battalion of seamen; Major Ellis, commanding Royal Marines, and Captain Whitcomb of that corps, an old and zea lous officer; and Captain Cotton, of the Madras Engineers. I beg, therefore, to bring these officers to your Lordship's favourable no tice. 15. The obstructions at the river's mouth having been removed by the boats from the ships-ofwar and the steamers, the latter came in, and I passed over in the afternoon, leaving a sufficient force on the right bank to collect the arms, protect the brass and destroy the iron guns. 16. I have not been able to ascertain the actual strength of the Chinese army, but from the heavy masses collected at different points upon the right bank, from the numbers I saw upon the walls of Chinhae, as well as from the multiplicity of arms found over the whole face of the hills, and on the ramparts, and in the streets of the city, I am led to conclude that my information before stated as to the force on the left bank was correct, and that from 8,000 to 9,000 men occupied the works and position on the right, where the bodies of several Mandarins were found amongst the killed, while others, seen to drown themselves when their retreat was intercepted. 17. We found Chinhae to be, I may almost say, one great arsenal, with a cannon foundry and guncarriage manufactory in active operation on improved works, together with warlike stores of various descriptions. In a battery upon the river one of the carronades of the Kite was found, with an excellent imitation alongside it, and many of the new Chinese brass guns are very efficient. 18. It having been determined to push on with the least possible delay to Ningpo, Sir W. Parker proceeded on the 12th in the Nemesis steamer to ascertain the practicability of the river, and actually reached, without the slight est attempt at opposition, the bridge of boats, which connects this city with the opposite suburb. Upon his returning in the evening, arrangements were made for the attack on the following morning, lest the enemy, by his apparent submission, should intend to entrap us. Having left the 55th, with the exception of the light company, 100 of the Royal Marines, with detachments of Artillery and Sappers, in Chinhae, the rest of the force, about 750 bayonets, exclusive of the Artillery and Sappers, embarked in steamers, by eight A.M., on the 13th, and we reached Ningpo at three o'clock. No enemy appeared, and it was evident that no ambuscade was intended, as the inhabitants densely thronged the bridge of boats, and collected in clusters along both banks. The troops landed on and near the bridge, and advanced to the city gate, which we found barricaded; but the walls were soon escaladed, and the Chinese assisted ening the gate. This little force soldiers, seamen, and marines w up on the ramparts, the band the 18th playing "God save Queen!" The second city of e province of Che-Keang, the lls of which are nearly five les in circumference, with a polation of 300,000 souls, has thus len into our hands. The people appear desirous to throw themves under British protection, -ing publicly that their Mandas have deserted them, and their n soldiers are unable to protect em. I have assembled some of e most respectable and influen1 of the mercantile class that ve remained, and have assured em of my anxiety to afford em all protection consistent th our instructions to press the inese government. Proclama ns have been issued, calling on the people to open their ops, which I have engaged shall t be molested. This they have me to some extent, and confince appears to be increasing. It ords me very great gratification be enabled to report to your ordship that the orderly conduct the troops calls for my warmest mmendation, evincing the conant attention of the officers, and e true British feeling which exEs in this little force. part of the expedition, merely ob serving that the same unity of ac tion and of co-operation has existed, which have hitherto, under Divine Providence, so materially tended to the successful result of every operation, and that I have experienced the most cordial and effective assistance, not only from the Admiral, but from the several Captains and officers of Her Majesty's and the Indian Navy. I shall now beg leave to detail with as much brevity as possible, our military movements since the evacuation of Ningpo, which event was effected in a most satisfactory manner on the 7th instant, leaving, I trust, among the inhabitants of that part of the Chekiang province, a deep feeling of respect and gratitude for the orderly and forbearing conduct of the British soldiers, and proving, that while pressing on the Government, and overthrowing every opposing display of military force, it has been our object to protect the Chinese population of every class and grade as much as lay in our power. The fleet could, notwithstanding the unceasing exertions of Sir W. Parker, only leave the anchorage of Just-in-the-Way on the 13th instant when he had assembled the ships from Chusan, Chinhae, and Ningpo, and, in consequence of the extraordinary strength of the tides in the Tseentang River, we only reached the anchorage off this city on the evening of the 17th; Sir W. Parker and myself, however, had an opportunity the preceding day, to make most satisfactory reconnoissance, in the two smaller stearners, of the defences of this place, when we decided on the points of disembarkation and the line of conjoint Mandarins some are reported to have been killed, others to have destroyed themselves, and the Chinese army dispersed, the fugitive soldiers throwing away their arms and military clothing. 14. Captain Herbert speaks in high terms of the zealous and spirited conduct of every individual under his command, and particularly calls my attention to the able assistance he received from Captain Bourchier, of the Blonde, commanding the battalion of seamen; Major Ellis, commanding Royal Marines, and Captain Whitcomb of that corps, an old and zealous officer; and Captain Cotton, of the Madras Engineers. I beg, therefore, to bring these officers to your Lordship's favourable no tice. 15. The obstructions at the river's mouth having been removed by the boats from the ships of war and the steamers, the latter came in, and I passed over in the afternoon, leaving a sufficient force on the right bank to collect the arms, protect the brass and destroy the iron guns. 16. I have not been able to ascertain the actual strength of the Chinese army, but from the heavy masses collected at different points upon the right bank, from the numbers I saw upon the walls of Chinhae, as well as from the multiplicity of arms found over the whole face of the hills, and on the ramparts, and in the streets of the city, I am led to conclude that my information before stated as to the force on the left bank was correct, and that from 8,000 to 9,000 men occupied the works and position on the right, where the bodies of several Mandarins were found amongst the killed, while others, seen to drown themselves when their retreat was intercepted. 17. We found Chinhae to be, I may almost say, one great arsenal, with a cannon foundry and guncarriage manufactory in active operation on improved works, together with warlike stores of various descriptions. In a battery upon the river one of the carronades of the Kite was found, with an excellent imitation alongside it, and many of the new Chinese brass guns are very efficient. 18. It having been determined to push on with the least possible delay to Ningpo, Sir W. Parker proceeded on the 12th in the Nemesis steamer to ascertain the practicability of the river, and actually reached, without the slight est attempt at opposition, the bridge of boats, which connects this city with the opposite suburb. Upon his returning in the evening, arrangements were made for the attack on the following morning, lest the enemy, by his apparent submission, should intend to entrap us. Having left the 55th, with the exception of the light company, 100 of the Royal Marines, with detachments of Artillery and Sappers, in Chinhae, the rest of the force, about 750 bayonets, exclusive of the Artillery and Sappers, embarked in steamers, by eight A.M., on the 13th, and we reached Ningpo at three o'clock. No enemy appeared, and it was evident that no ambuscade was intended, as the inhabitants densely thronged the bridge of boats, and collected in clusters along both banks. The troops landed on and near the bridge, and advanced to the city gate, which we found barricaded; but the walls were soon escaladed, and the Chinese assisted opening the gate. This little force of soldiers, seamen, and marines drew up on the ramparts, the band of the 18th playing "God save the Queen!" The second city of the province of Che-Keang, the walls of which are nearly five miles in circumference, with a population of 300,000 souls, has thus fallen into our hands. The people all appear desirous to throw themselves under British protection, saying publicly that their Mandarins have deserted them, and their own soldiers are unable to protect them. I have assembled some of the most respectable and influential of the mercantile class that have remained, and have assured them of my anxiety to afford them all protection consistent with our instructions to press the Chinese government. Proclama tions have been issued, calling upon the people to open their shops, which I have engaged shall not be molested. This they have done to some extent, and confidence appears to be increasing. It affords me very great gratification to be enabled to report to your Lordship that the orderly conduct of the troops calls for my warmest commendation, evincing the constant attention of the officers, and the true British feeling which exists in this little force. part of the expedition, merely ob serving that the same unity of action and of co-operation has existed, which have hitherto, under Divine Providence, so materially tended to the successful result of every operation, and that I have experienced the most cordial and effective assistance, not only from the Admiral, but from the several Captains and officers of Her Majesty's and the Indian Navy. I shall now beg leave to detail with as much brevity as possible, our military movements since the evacuation of Ningpo, which event was effected in a most satisfactory manner on the 7th instant, leaving, I trust, among the inhabitants of that part of the Chekiang province, a deep feeling of respect and gratitude for the orderly and forbearing conduct of the British soldiers, and proving, that while pressing on the Government, and overthrowing every opposing dis play of military force, it has been our object to protect the Chinese population of every class and grade as much as lay in our power. The fleet could, notwithstanding the unceasing exertions of Sir W. Parker, only leave the anchorage of Just-in-the-Way on the 13th instant when he had assembled the ships from Chusan, Chinhae, and Ningpo, and, in consequence of the extraordinary strength of the tides in the Tseentang River, we only reached the anchorage off this city on the evening of the 17th; Sir W. Parker and myself, however, had an opportunity the preceding day, to make most satisfactory reconnoissance, in the two smaller steamers, of the defences of this place, when we decided on the points of disembarkation and the line of conjoint |