March 18th, 1841.
While the advanced squadron were at anchor off Whampoa, Captain
Elliot despatched the 'Nemesis' with a letter, to be delivered at the
first convenient spot to the Chinese authorities. Captains Herbert,
Bourchier, and Bethune, and other officers, were on board. With a
flag-of-truce flying, she approached a fort, called the Birds-nest
Fort, off which was a large flotilla of junks, while a line of rafts
crossed the river. Captain Bethune, having undertaken to deliver the
letter, pushed off in a boat with a white flag flying, when a shower
of grape-shot was discharged at her from the fort. The 'Nemesis'
fired in return, but did not destroy the fort, Captain Herbert being
anxious to consult with Captain Elliot before carrying hostilities
further. The Chinese, in consequence, boasted that they had driven
away "a devil ship," and the Commandant received a peacock feather as
a reward for his courage.
The result of Captain Herbert's consultation with Captain Elliot was
that he resolved instantly to punish the Chinese for the insult
offered to the British flag by taking Canton itself. Preparations
were accordingly made. The vessels employed were 'Modeste,'
Commander Eyres; 'Algerine,' Lieut. Mason; 'Starling,' Lieut.
Kellett; 'Herald', Captain Nias (later in the day); 'Hebe' and
'Louisa,' tenders, Mr. Quin and Mr. Carmichael; steamer, 'Nemesis,'
Mr. Hall, R.N.; 'Madagascar,' Mr. Dicey. There was also a flotilla
of nearly 40 boats, under command of Captain Bourchier, assisted by
Captain Bethune. They were in four divisions, three under the
immediate orders of Commanders Barlow and Clarke, and of Lieut.
Coulson of the 'Blonde,' and a fourth jointly of Commanders Warren
and Belcher, who were on board the 'Hyacinth,' which, with much
perseverance, was got through the intricate passes of the river. The
latter force was placed at the southern entrance of the river
communicating with the main stream at Patee, to meet any retrograde
movement of the numerous flotilla that had taken part in the
aggression on the 16th. Upwards of 50 naval officers embarked in the
boats to take a share in the work of the day. A number of smugglers,
it was said, had been promised their pardon for assisting the
Government, and their boats were found drawn up across the mouth of
the Macao passage. The Chinese had also equipped a number of
gun-boats after European models, so that it was expected the British
flotilla would have ample employment. About noon the 'Nemesis,'
'Modeste,' and 'Madagascar,' having bombarded the Birds-nest Fort and
another beyond it, which were taken possession of by their boats'
crews, moved on to the attack of Canton. In the mean time the
'Starling' and 'Algerine' forced a way through the rafts, followed by
the 'Hebe' and 'Louisa,' which, with part of Captain Bourchier's
flotilla, attacked and captured a strong sand-bag battery, and put to
flight a number of war-junks and armed boats. A strong fort opposite
the city was next silenced, and afterwards taken by Commander Belcher
and Lieut. Pedder.
The 'Nemesis' then pursued a large flotilla up the river; and
Commanders Belcher and Warren, with their division of boats, having
got through the Patee Creek, came suddenly on them, and destroyed a
large number.
Meantime the 'Modeste' was placed within 300 yards in front of the
principal battery, flanked by the guns of the 'Madagascar' and
'Nemesis.' After they had engaged the batteries for about an hour,
the flotilla, with the marines under Captain Bourchier, was brought
up in admirable order, and, upon the signal being given, stormed and
completed the capture of the enemy's works, notwithstanding a most
determined resistance on the part of the Tartar troops. Captain
Bourchier was employed in keeping the boats' crews together to
repress any outbreak of the population; and he observing a number of
burning junks drifting down on the suburbs of Canton, which would
inevitably have set fire to the city, by the most energetic exertions
of his officers and men they were towed away from the spot.
By much labour the 'Herald,' Captain Nias, was got over the flats
later in the day, and by her more imposing appearance contributed to
bring the Chinese to reason. The Commodore also arrived in his gig
in time to see the British colours hoisted on the flagstaff of the
factory by Commander Belcher, they having been just before waved from
one of the windows by Mr. Hall as a sign that the place was in
possession of the British. The rest of the day was employed in
destroying several junks, which had escaped in different directions,
and in taking possession of several forts. In two or three
instances, after all opposition had ceased, bodies of soldiers rushed
out and attacked the English, but were quickly driven among the
narrow lanes, where it was thought imprudent to follow them. Thus
the second city of China fell into the hands of the British, with the
loss only of seven men wounded. Among them was Lieut. Stransham, of
the Marines, who was much burnt by the explosion of a magazine, but
refused to quit his post. The Chinese lost 400 men in killed and
wounded, and 123 guns were captured. As soon as the forts were
taken, Captain Elliot hoisted a flag-of-truce, and entered into an
agreement with the Chinese High Commissioner for the suspension of
hostilities, and for opening the trade to the British.
It is foreign to our plan to discuss the advantage of the
proceedings; but at all events it is another proof of Captain
Elliot's anxiety to prevent the unnecessary effusion of blood, and to
convince the Chinese that the sole object of the British was to bring
their Government to reason, and to induce them to trade on just and
equal terms, and to behave according to the customs of civilized
nations.
Trade was, therefore, again opened, and went on for some time with
great activity; but doubts and suspicions soon arose, and in a few
weeks it became necessary to repeat the lesson before given. In the
mean time Sir Gordon Bremer sailed for Calcutta to report the state
of affairs.