LOSS OF CHUSAN.

5

horror were great on receiving this intelligence, viewing the important position occupied by Chusan, and its short distance from the main. I directed a number of men to watch the approaches of Chinhae, and gave orders to sink vessels in the channels, drive stakes into the river, and close the entrance with a chain. While thus engaged, I learned that the enemy had arrived in larger force, and among the vessels were some with three tiers of guns, and others with wheels at the sides, moving as swift as the wind. Our force cannot cope with the barbarians in number, and must therefore keep on the defensive, wearying them out. When the great army take measures to seize The vice-admiral had

is assembled, we shall them alive.

been advised to withdraw into Tinghae (abandoning his vessels), but he persisted in remaining outside. As the city was lost when above 1000 disposable troops remained, he

extremities, always disembowel themselves, one of the most painful deaths that could be devised-"mais, il faut mourir selon les règles."

*Counting the quarter deck as one.

will be arrested until your majesty's pleasure is known. The magistrate and registrar who drowned themselves, rather than submit, are deserving of all praise, and as soon as their families are discovered, they will be duly considered."

In a subsequent paper the writer expresses his conviction that the English, having shown such determination, would not rest satisfied, but press forward to the rich provincial city of Hâng-chow. He accordingly took all the precautions in his power, constructing batteries in the narrowest part of the approaches. This tempting prize, however, remained unapproachable by our ships during the war. The furious eddies in the deep bay within which it is placed, spun our steamers round, and the rapidity of the stream made them perfectly unmanageable. The Chinese Venice would otherwise have certainly been visited, and afforded a richer capture than any during the war.

Captain Elliot having forwarded a communication by means of a Chinese junk to the governor of Chěkeang, that officer made the following report to the emperor: "Full of

REPORT TO EMPEROR.

7

crafty schemes, the rebels detained a merchant junk, and forced the master to deliver a letter from a pretended minister of their country, in which he wants us to supplicate the court in their behalf for trade. Their designs being unfathomable, the original was rejected (a copy being taken), while we redoubled our precautions. The port is now closed, and the English barbarians have retired.

"I have requested a former naval commander on the Chusan station to take the necessary measures for recovering the island. He will for this purpose proceed thither in disguise, and make himself acquainted with the position of the enemy. These will of course divide their forces to occupy the most important passes; and our soldiers, when duly increased, may then fall upon them in the city, and repossess themselves of it. We must also provide a navy to prevent their proceeding to other places on the coast. The people of this province are not adapted to such service; but the natives of Fokien and Kuangtung, who have repeatedly obtained victories over them*, will make excellent sailors, and

* When?

inspire them with awe. I am therefore emboldened to intreat your majesty to order 2000 mariners from the latter province to enable us to exterminate the enemy."

At this period, Yukien, by birth a Mongol Tartar, was governor of Keangsoo province. This man proved himself in the sequel the most savage and remorseless brute that among several others disgraced his name and nation, but he met with a just fate at last. On hearing of the fall of Chusan, he issued this characteristic bravado, "Since the barbarians contumaciously loiter in the seas of Chekeang, it is probable that they will repair, after their defeat in that province, to our coast. I have, therefore, in conjunction with the commander of the troops, made arrangements to repel them. The country of these English is more than ten thousand Le distant from hence. Their traffic in opium, both at Canton and Macao, and their whole trade being cut off, they repaired to Fokien, whence they were also expelled, and they have now availed themselves of the wind to visit the northern shores. With no other resource than their ships, which require a draft of sixty cubits of

THE MONGOL YUKIEN.

9

water*, they cannot approach our main, and therefore have taken Tinghae, encompassed on all sides by the sea. With us it is quite different; and every one of us may therefore without fear take care of his own gate, and not trouble himself about them. I look upon these enemies as mere bulrushes, having from my youth upwards read military treatises, and spread the terror of my name myriads of miles through Turkestan. Since the trade at Canton was stopped, I took precautionary measures; and if they dare to come to our shores, they will be like the moth in the candle, or the fish in the net. History proves that even our southern soldiers were victorious, and only want a leader to be so again. While, therefore, I guard the interior, the governor-general of the two provinces will take charge of the coast, so that every one may rest quietly on his pillow, and not let himself be disturbed by these robbers, who will instantly be put down by the military."

Notwithstanding the assumed security, and the consolatory exhortations of Yukien, it

* This is more than three times the draft of water of a first-rate line-of-battle ship.