Parkes, Her Majesty's Consul, who required the 12 men to be returned to the Arrow by the same officer who had carried them away; that an apology should be made, and an assurance given that the British flag should in future be respected. Their lordships will, however, observe, on perusing the documents which accompany this despatch, that although the 12 men were eventually sent back, it was not in the public manner in which they had been carried away, and all appearance of an apology was pointedly avoided.

4. On the 11th of October this unpleasant occurrence was officially reported to me by Sir John Bowring, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary in China, and his Excellency suggested that the seizure of an Imperial junk would probably produce the desired reparation. I accordingly directed Commodore the Honourable C. G. J. B. Elliot, of Her Majesty's ship Sybille, senior officer in the Canton river, to carry out Sir John Bowring's suggestion, and I despatched the Barracouta steam sloop and Coromandel tender to afford him the means of doing so. A junk was seized, but it led to nothing. I then sent Her Majesty's steam frigates Encounter and Sampson to join the Commodore (the former to lie off the factory), in the hope that the presence of such an imposing force would shew the High Commissioner the prudence of complying with our demands; but his Excellency appeared determined on resistance.

5. At this period Mr. Parkes proceeded to Hong Kong to consult with Sir John Bowring and myself as to the best measures of compulsion to be adopted, and we all considered that the seizure of the defences of the city of Canton would be the most judicious, both as a display of power

• This vessel was afterwards proved to be private property, and was therefore released.

without the sacrifice of life and of our determination to enforce redress ;-experience of the Chinese character having proved that moderation is considered by the officials only as an evidence of weakness.

6. I immediately moved the Calcutta above the Bogue Forts, as high up as her draft of water permitted, and, on the morning of the 23rd October, proceeded on board the Coromandel steam tender for Canton, with the Sampson and Barracouta in company, and the detachments of Royal Marines and boats' crews of Her Majesty's ships Calcutta, Winchester, and Bittern, and the boats of the Sybille with the Commodore. On approaching the Blenheim Reach I diverted the Sampson, and a portion of our force up the Macao passage, to prevent the Chinese from stopping up the channel, and to capture the Blenheim Fort. I then went on with the Coromandel and Barracouta to the Four Barrier Forts, about five miles below the city. Anchoring the two steamers above the forts, I despatched the boats and took possession of them. An ill-judged attempt at resistance from two of the forts, which fired on our ships and boats, resulted in the death of five Chinese soldiers. There were about 150 guns, from one foot bore to 4-pounders.

7. I now directed Commander Fortescue, in the Barracouta, to follow the Sampson, and having spiked the guns, destroyed the carriages and ammunition, and burnt the buildings in the forts, I proceeded to Canton, where I arrived at 2 P.M., and learnt that the boats from the Sampson and Barracouta had taken quiet possession of the Blenheim Fort, and also of Macao Fort, a very strong position on an island in the middle of the river, mounting eighty-six guns, which I have garrisoned and shall retain for the present.

8. Her Majesty's Consul, by my direction, immediately informed the High Commissioner of my arrival and of the aggressive measures which he had compelled me to take in consequence of his refusal to redress the wrong committed by his office; also that I should continue such proceedings until reparation should be made. His Excellency's reply was very unsatisfactory.

9. On the morning of the 24th I landed a portion of the marines to aid the detachments from the Sybille and Encounter, already at Canton, in the protection of the factory, and proceeded in the Coromandel to join the Barracouta, off Macao Fort. Then, at a preconcerted signal, the Bird's Nest Fort, mounting thirty-five guns, and a small fort, opposite the city, which might have annoyed the factory, were taken without opposition, as were subsequently the Shamin Forts, at the head of the Macao passage; the whole of the guns were rendered unserviceable and the ammunition destroyed.

10. As the state of affairs now appeared so very unpromising, I considered it advisable to take effectual measures for the protection of the factory. The remainder of the Royal Marines, and a body of small-arm men, were therefore landed. Advanced posts and field pieces were stationed at all the assailable points, barricades thrown across the streets, and the boats kept vigilant watch to guard against the approach of fire rafts and attacks by water. The execution of this important duty I entrusted to Captain W. K. Hall, C.B., my flag-captain, whose zeal and activity, throughout the whole of the operations I cannot too highly commend. The Royal Marines were in charge of Captain P. C. Penrose, R.M., of Her Majesty's ship Winchester, who showed great ability and promptitude.

Captain Cowper, Royal Engineers, who had been sent from Hong Kong to afford me the benefit of his professional experience, was of great assistance in pointing out, and remedying, the weak points in our position.

A body of American officers, seamen and marines, under Commander Foote, of the United States' corvette Portsmouth, provided for the interests of the American community.

11. On the 25th I took possession of the Dutch Folly, a fort with 50 guns, on a small island opposite the city, where I afterwards placed a body of 140 officers and men, under Commander Rolland, of the Calcutta. All the defences of the city being now in our hands I considered the High Commissioner would see the necessity of submission, and I directed Mr. Parkes to write and state that when his Excellency should be prepared to arrange the points in dispute, in a satisfactory manner, I would desist from further operations; but the reply did not answer my expectations.

An attack was made at 12:30 P.M., by a body of troops, supported by a much larger force, which occupied the streets in the rear. Mr. Consul Parkes was on the spot at the time and warned them to retire, but ineffectually. The guard of Royal Marines, in charge of Captain Penrose, then quickly drove them back with a loss, as we understand, of 14 killed and wounded.

12. The 26th, being Sunday, was observed as a day of rest.

13. Early on the morning of the 27th, I caused another letter to be written to the High Commissioner, to the effect that, as satisfaction had not been offered for the affair of the Arrow, I should resume offensive operations; and his Excellency, having by his illegal measures, and determination to refuse reparation, produced this display of

force, I concurred in opinion with Sir John Bowring, that this was a fitting opportunity for requiring the fulfilment of long-evaded Treaty obligations; and I therefore, in addition to the original demands, instructed Mr. Parkes to make the following communication:

"That to prevent the recurrence of evils like the present, which have been occasioned by the disregard paid by the Imperial Commissioner to the repeated applications for redress and satisfaction, made to him by letter in the matter of the Arrow, by Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and the Consul,-writing, in consequence of the closing of the city to foreigners, being the only means of communication,-I demanded for all foreign representatives the same free access to the authorities and city of Canton (where all the Chinese high officials reside) as is enjoyed under Treaty at the other four ports, and denied to us at Canton alone."

No reply having been made, I determined to open fire on the High Commissioner's Compound (the Yamun), a large space of ground within the old city, surrounded by a high wall, which contains his Excellency's residence, and is consequently Government property. Accordingly at one P.M. the first shot was fired from the 10-inch pivot gun of the Encounter; and, at intervals of from five to ten minutes, the fire was kept up from that gun till sunset. The Barracouta at the same time shelled the troops on the hills behind Gough's Fort, in the rear of the city, from a position she had taken up at the head of Sulphur Creek.

A proclamation was this day issued, under the High Commissioner's own seal, and placarded publicly, offering a reward of thirty dollars for the head of every Englishman. One of the originals.

1857.

D