January 7th, 1841.
The British naval force now consisted of 'Wellesley,' 78, Captain
Maitland, (bearing the broad pennant of Commodore Sir Gordon Bremer);
'Blenheim,' 74, Sir W. Le Fleming Senhouse; 'Melville,' 74, Hon. E.
S. Dundas; 'Calliope,' Captain Herbert; 'Samarang,' 28, Captain
Scott; 'Druid,' 44, Captain Smith: 'Sulphur' (surveying ship),
Commander Belcher; 'Larne,' 18, Commander Blake; 'Hyacinth,' 18,
Commander Warren; 'Modeste,' 18, Commander Eyres; 'Columbine,' 18,
Commander Clarke; 'Starling,' Lieut. H. Kellett. Steamers, 'Queen,'
'Nemesis,' 'Madagascar,' and 'Enterprize.'
While negotiations were in progress, an edict was issued by the
Emperor, ordering that all English ships and Englishmen should be
destroyed, whenever encountered in or near China; and, as the Chinese
were strengthening their forts, and collecting troops in all
directions, it was evident they intended to try the fortune of war.
It was, therefore, determined that an attack should be made on Canton
itself, previous to which, it was necessary to capture the forts at
the entrance and on the banks of the river. For this purpose
scaling-ladders of bamboo, and a landing-stage for disembarking the
troops, were constructed, and all preparations were speedily made.
The entrance of the Canton River is called the Boca Tigris (the
Tiger's Mouth), and on the shores on either side, for a considerable
distance, are constructed a line of forts, which were believed by the
Chinese to be impregnable; and from their appearance outside, they
had been looked upon, even by foreigners, as of great strength. They
are known by the name of the Bogue Forts. On first entering the
river, two extensive stone forts are seen, one on each side; that on
the right or eastern side, with two conical eminences towering above
it, at the extremity of a promontory, is called Chuenpee; while on
the left or west side of the river, here three miles wide, on a
smaller promontory, called Tycocktow, is a line of strong batteries
faced with granite, close to the shore. These were the forts now to
be attacked by the squadron under Sir Gordon Bremer. We will first
give an account of