"The Commodore, and Captain Elliot, accompanied by Captain Herbert
and myself, proceeded in the 'Nemesis' to examine Fatee Creek, from
the position of the 'Hyacinth.' It was found impossible to push the
'Hyacinth' higher, nor was there room for the 'Nemesis.' It was
therefore decided, that I should take the command of a division of
boats through this creek. This division, consisting of the boats
belonging to the 'Sulphur,' 'Hyacinth,' 'Calliope,' 'Cruiser,' and
'Pylades,' supported by my worthy friend Captain Warren, moved
forwards about eleven. Attaching our tow-ropes to one of the large
passage-boats, we compelled her to tow us a considerable distance, so
as to avoid being noticed by the Chinese. At the point where the
creek turned off to Patshan, there was scarcely room for our oars,
and here a three-gun battery had been prepared for its defence, but
we found it deserted, and the guns withdrawn.
"Having cast off from the junk, we had scarcely entered the narrow
pass, when we descried a boat making off. It was fortunate for our
party, as his range of sweeps required as much room as ours; and his
advance cleared the way for us in full cry after him. How he
contrived to pass, or whether the vessels were thrust out purposely,
I know not but frequently we had not room for our oars; and for this
reason he distanced us. At length the Broadway, near the city,
opened, with Canton ahead. The action had commenced below, the
vessels had passed the bridge, and the 'fast boats' were flying in
all directions. Warren and myself had entirely distanced our
divisions; one huge fellow we chased for a long time within pistol
shot, yet he gained on us, and we were reluctantly compelled to
relinquish him, to make sure of the others, now well within our grasp.
"The reports of the carronades of our boats soon told where they
were, and having rejoined, the lighter boats were left in charge of
the captured fast boats; and we then moved forward. The crowd of
vessels falling constantly in our way, as well as myriads of sampans,
&c., greatly obstructed our progress, and as we neared Canton, our
vessels, not aware of our manœuvre, and mistaking us for the
enemy, were dropping their shot freely amongst us.
"As we sighted the Shameen Fort, it opened on the steamers advancing.
We were then completely under cover of the houses, and landed,
expecting to drive them out by musketry; but found a deep and wide
ditch between us, as well as a blank wall. The boats with guns were
therefore brought up side by side to the piles in front, and five
carronades, at thirty yards, played into their embrasures with grape,
where they could not depress their guns. Joining Captain Warren in
his gig, we landed, but before we could reach the gates, the enemy
had fled. Having captured the fort, and the boats of the main
division dropping in, I quitted, and joined the 'Nemesis' (leaving
Captain Warren to move on to capture the Dutch Folly), and was towed
by her towards Bogue Port, and there, having hauled down its colours,
and left a party destroying the guns, I returned to the 'Nemesis,'
and was joined by Mr. Morrison, secretary to the Plenipotentiary. At
the request of Captain Elliot, I landed, and rehoisted the British
colours on the Factory. Whilst thus engaged, a party of soldiers
rushed out of the Hoppo-office, and had nearly succeeded in cutting
off part of my boats' crew. But, being reinforced by one of our
divisions, we pursued them up the Hog-lane, and drove them back with
some loss.
"On my return to the 'Nemesis,' Captain Elliot requested me to take
him to Howqua's house, or where his tea-boats are laden. Having
seated himself in the bow of one of the vessels, he despatched a
comprador to say he wished to speak with Howqua. The Mandarin,
however, would not come; he was probably too much frightened, and
afraid of involving himself; but he sent down some tea,[1] which was
rather acceptable. Captain Elliot then sent, requesting him to tell
the Quang-chow-foo 'that he wished an interview the day following.'
"We then returned to the 'Madagascar' steamer, where I found the
Commodore. Some of the Chinese having fired on our boats (from the
Custom-house), they were punished instanter by their carronades
sweeping the lanes, and the 'Madagascar' also threw in several
well-directed shells. Captain Warren and his division captured the
Dutch Folly, as well as five of Lin's gun-boats, most grotesquely
painted with dolphins, dragons, &c. One of these having grounded, I
was despatched to burn her, which having completed, I proceeded below
Dutch Folly, where I found four fast boats, and a sand-battery
mounting five guns, very neatly masked with them as bags--the guns
truly breeched with matting. These were all destroyed. The arsenal,
and ten new war-junks, were left untouched. The fast boats taken by
our division amounted in all to fourteen. Five junks, with very
valuable cargoes, estimated at two and a half millions, were not
meddled with, and the force was employed, during the latter part of
the day, in saving Howqua's tea stores from the flames, the war-junks
which had been fired having drifted on them."
[1] _Bona fide_, in this case, a mixture of gunpowder, not Howqua's
mixture.