ends of the street in the western suburb, where there was a large pawnbroker's shop, (uniformly the first object of pillage,) in order to check all interruption, while they carried off their booty by the sidelanes. I was most anxious to put a stop to these scenes of devastation, but it would not have been practicable in so wide a labyrinth of streets and lanes, without constant harassing exposures to the troops, during the hottest seasons of the year. Cholera has made its appearance; Ensign Weir, of the 49th Regiment, died this evening, and several men of the same corps have been attacked by the disease. 18. I propose to leave MajorGeneral Schoedde with his brigade here. Two regiments and a detachment of Artillery will occupy the bluff height and a smaller hill, which command the north angle of the city walls, in which I have directed extensive breaches to be made, and the whole line of parapet will be demolished. Another regiment will occupy the hill above the mouth of the canal, and opposite to the Island of Kinshan: Sir William Parker leaving a proportionate number of ships, with the remainder of the force, we shall advance on Nanking.

19. The Mandarin who has so frequently visited us has again brought a joint despatch from Keying, maternal uncle to the Emperor, and Elepoo, which, together with his answer, will, no doubt, be submitted by Her Majessty's Plenipotentiary. It only now remains for me to express my

warmest approval of the conduct of the troops of all arms, as well Native as European; all were animated with one common feeling of devotion, and the anxiety of all ranks to meet my wishes has been most cheering. Major - Generals Lord Saltoun and Bartley, and Lieut.-Colonel Montgomery, report most favourably of the assistance they derived from the several Commanding Officers under them, and from their respective Brigade Staff.

To the officers commanding brigades and corps, as to all the general and my personal Staff, I am much indebted; and it affords me great satisfaction to add that Lieut.-Colonel Mountain, the Deputy Adjutant-General, was sufficiently recovered from the severe wounds he received at Chapoo to take his usual prominent share in every active operation.

I regret to say that our loss has been considerable, but not more than was to be expected, from the desperation with which the Tartars fought for their homes, and from the strength of their positions. I inclose a return of killed and wounded, with a sketch of the town, and the operations before it. I have, &c.

H. GOUGH,

Lieut.-General. P. S. 29th July.-I am sorry to report that since the foregoing despatch was written, Lieut.-Colonel Stephens, commanding 49th Regiment, has died, in consequence, I fear, of the great fatigue and exposure to the sun which he underwent on 21st inst.

My Lord,-It has pleased Almighty God to crown Her Majesty's arms with complete success, and compel the Emperor of China to recognize the claims of Great Britain, and, by accredited commissioners, to enter into a treaty of peace, dictated by the long lightly-esteemed foreigners, whose power is henceforth acknowledged. The display of our military and naval force in the heart of the country, the interruption of all commercial intercourse by the imperial canal, the fall, within a few hours after our landing, of Chin-keang-foo, one of the strongest, and, from its position, one of the most important cities in China; and the investment by a victorious force of the ancient capital of this vast empire,-have, under Divine Providence, been the happy means of effecting this great change in the Tartar councils, and are, I have no doubt, destined to produce results of no less importance to the civilized world than to our own country.

2. The movement upon the Yang-tse-kiang, suggested by the British Government, strenuously advocated by the Gov.-Gen. of India, and which was fortunately undertaken by Sir W. Parker and myself, previous to the receipt of the instructions, has thus led to an earlier adjustment of the differences between India and China than could probably have been effected by any other line of operation.

3. I will not enter into much detail of our movements since my last despatch of the 25th ult.

force intended to act against Nankin, leaving Major-Gen. Schoedde with H.M.'s 55th, and one company of the 98th, the 2nd and 6th Regts. of Madras, N.I., and a proportion of Artillery and Sappers, to occupy Chin-keang - foo, or rather the heights commanding it, and the mouth of the imperial canal. The city had become uninhabitable, from the number of dead bodies in the houses that were occupied by the Tartar troops near the several gates, and in the whole of the Tartar town.

From the decomposed and scattered state of these bodies, it would have been impracticable to bury them without much risk to the health of the troops employed, and without breaking into numerous houses, which might have led to consequences scarcely less objectionable. I regret to say, that notwithstanding every precaution, I have lost several officers and men by cholera.

4. From the prevalence of contrary winds, the fleet could not stem the current of the Yang-tsekeang until the morning of the 4th inst., when the transports, with Lord Saltoun's brigade, were enabled to proceed. The Hon. Company's steam frigate Queen, having H.M's Plenipotentiary on board, towed up the Marion head-quarter ship, and on the 5th we anchored off Nankin; the Cornwallis having effected the passage on the preceding day. The whole of the ships did not reach the anchorage off this city until the 9th inst.

5. Previous to our leaving Chingkeang-foo, anxious to avert the calamities consequent upon an assault, and a repetition of the scenes

universal plunder by a Chinese rabble, which we had witnessed with so much horror at that city, the Admiral and myself had forwarded, by the Secretary of the Tartar General who fell there, a summons to New Kein, Viceroy of the two Keang provinces. Had the terms been accepted, the fleet and army would have been disposable for the immediate prosecution of active operations, the army against Soochoo and Hangchow, while a portion of the fleet might have proceeded to blockade the Peiho, and stop the trade in the Gulf of Pe-che-le.

6. Finding it unlikely that we should gain our object, unless some strong demonstration were made, and having carefully reconnoitred, the river line of defences in one of the small steamers, the Admiral and I made our arrangements accordingly for such demonstration and for the assault, should neither our terms be accepted, nor a ne gotiation commenced, which we had some reason to expect from the announcement of the approach of the Imperial Commissioners. I shall here beg leave to give some particulars of this demonstration, as I conceive that the alarm to which it gave rise hastened the event that we most desired.

7. It would not be easy to give your Lordship a clear description of this vast city, or rather of the vast space encompassed within its walls. I shall, therefore, only observe, that the northern angle reaches to within about 700 paces of the river, and that the western face runs for some miles along the base of wooded heights, rising immediately behind it, and is then continued for a great distance upon low ground, having before it a

along the southern face, serving as a wet ditch to both. There is a very large suburb on the low ground in front of the west and south faces; at the south-east angle is the Tartar city, which is a separate fortress, divided from the Chinese town by high walls. The eastern face extends in an irregular line for many miles, running towards the south over a spur of Chungsan, a precipitous mountain overlooking the whole country, the base of which commands the rampart. In this face are three gates; the most northerly (the Teshing) is approachable by a paved road, running between wooded hills to within 500 paces of the walls, whence it is carried along a cultivated flat; the next (the Taiping) is within a few hundred yards of the base of Chungshan, and that to the south (the Chanyang) enters the Tartar city. There is a long line of unbroken wall between the Teshing gate and the river, hardly approachable from swamps and low paddy land, and the space between the Teshing and Taiping gates is occupied by rather an extensive lake. The neighbourhood of these last-mentioned gates was very closely and judiciously reconnoitred by Lieut.Col. Montgomerie and Captain Pears.

8. The reports as to the amount of troops in the city, which is acknowledged to contain a million of inhabitants, have varied exceedingly. I am informed, however, that the fugitives from Chinkeang-foo have reached this place, increasing the Tartar garrison to about 6,000, including the adults of that nation resident in the city, who are all trained to arms, and perhaps the most formidable op

families and their homes. The Chinese regulars amount, I have reason to believe, to about 9,000, besides the Militia. From the great extent of the walls, said to be twenty miles in circumference, although generally too high to escalade, (from about seventy to twenty-eight feet in the lowest part,) and from the canals, suburbs, swamps, and lake, in most places difficult to approach, it was evident that I could take the city whenever I pleased, by threaten ing it at such distant points as to prevent the concentration of a large opposing force, the very difficulties of approach affording the means of detaching small parties with impunity to create diversions; but I was well aware that the stand would be made in the Tartar city. My force consisted of 4500 effective fighting men; most of the Europeans had been with me since the commencement of operations in China, and would, I was well assured, at once place their colours unaided on the walls, whenever I gave the order, while all the new corps eagerly looked for a second opportunity of emulating their brother soldiers; but it was a great object to avoid a repetition of the horrors of Chapoo and Chin keang-foo, and Sir William Par ker and myself were therefore anxious to try the effect of a de

monstration.

9. Had active measures been called for, the north angle was the only point against which the ships could act, and I determined to approach or threaten the east face in its whole extent, and the south east angle. The Cornwallis, Blonde and heavy steamers, were accord ingly placed in position, the first within 1000 paces of the Ifung

upon a sort of demi-bastion, which it was proposed to breach; the Blonde, so as to take the defence of that gate and bastion in flank; and the steamers, so as to destroy the parapet of the wall on either side the point to be breached. I instructed Major General Bartley to enter the city at this point with his brigade, consisting of H. M's. 18th and 49th, and the 14th Madras N. I., amounting to 1800 men, supported by 300 Royal Marines.

10. On the 11th and following days, the remainder of the force, consisting of Lord Saltoun's bri gade, the flank companies of the corps at Chin-keang-foo, and the rifle company 36th Madras N. I., together with one troop of horse, and three companies of Foot Artillery, with the whole of the Light Field Train and Sappers, were landed at a village about five miles down a creek, from whence a good paved road leads to the Taiping and Teshing gates. I established the force in and about a large village, equidistant from these two gates, and decided on my line of proceeding, in case we should be driven to active operation; this was to threaten the two flank gates making the real attack to the right of the Taiping gate, covered by the concentrated fire of the guns from the commanding slope of the Chungshan hills. The point forced, the Tartar city would virtually be taken, as my guns, introduced by the Taiping gate, could immediately be placed upon an eminence perfectly commanding the inner wall and town, at a distance of a few hundred yards, whilst the bulk of my force, by a rapid advance on the Drum Tower in the Chinese city, might cut off

and east faces from the Tartar garrison.

11. I have been thus circumstantial, my Lord, in regard to my dispositions, in order to show what I could readily have done, ably supported as I am, had not my country's interests, and, I trust, my country's honour, been equally maintained by a mere demonstration. On the 17th, I received the accompanying letter for the suspension of hostilities, from Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, who will no doubt fully report upon the various circumstances and communications that preceded the final happy result. I understand that full powers were sent to the Commissioners upon the Emperor's hearing of the fall of Chin-keangfou, and from their anxiety to pay the first instalment, there can be little apprehension of the Emperor's refusing to ratify a peace which is called for by the general voice of the country. In the meantime, until the whole of the first instalment shall be paid, nothing shall be relaxed in our present state of preparation aud pre

caution.

12. To his Excellency Sir H. Pottinger, I am much indebted for his friendly readiness to aid me with every information in his pow. er, and for his uniform forbearance from all interference in the slight est degree with military operations and movements. But it is not for me to enlarge upon the able public services of this high functionary.

To Sir W. Parker I must be permitted to say, that I cannot too strongly express my sense of obligation. We have worked together for the common cause, and I have ever found him, and the pow

desirous to meet my wishes, and prompt and cordial in every conjoint undertaking.

13. It is now my pleasing duty to bring to your Lordship's notice those gallant officers and troops who, throughout the active operations in China, in a warfare new to the British arms, exposed in various instances to temptations of no ordinary kind, assailed by sickness which in some cases left but few effective men in strong corps, and often subjected to great fatigue, under a burning sun, have never in any instance met a check, not because their foes were few in number, devoid of courage, or slow to hazard life in personal contact, but because their own science, discipline, and devotion, made them irresistible.

From the officers commanding brigades and corps, as from the general and my personal Staff, I have uniformly received the most ready and energetic assistance, and I shall beg hereafter to submit their names, with those of the several officers whom I have on dif. ferent occasions felt myself called upon to mention. It will be a subject of no ordinary gratification to me, in after life, if I am permitted to feel that I have been the happy means of bringing to the notice of my Sovereign, conduct so much redounding to the maintenance of the high character of Her Majesty's arms.

I have, &c.

H. GOUGH,

Lieut. General. P. S., August 29.-I have the satisfaction to add, that I have this day witnessed the signature of the treaty by Sir H. Pottinger on the part of Her Majesty, and by the Commissioners Keying, Eleepoo,