The famous conference which took place between Keshen and Captain
Elliot, some miles above the Bogue, close to a pagoda on the banks of
the river, at what is called its Second Bar, has attracted very great
and deserved attention. Although its results were, in a political point
of view, really of little moment, there is reason to think that Keshen,
as well as Elliot, was anxious to adjust the pending difficulties
without further resort to arms. The advantage, however, which delay of
any kind would afford to Keshen, and the ultimate interruption of the
negotiations, followed, as it was, immediately by the capture of the
Bogue forts, have led many to conclude that Keshen had all along no
other object than that of putting us off our guard, in order that he
might complete his still imperfect arrangements for defence, and then
throw down the gauntlet to us in defiance.
This view of the matter appears to have been a good deal exaggerated;
and we shall perceive, as we follow this narrative, that Keshen was
thoroughly sensible of his own weakness, and really did desire to
avert the storm, but was fairly driven into extreme measures, and the
suspension of all amicable intercourse, by positive orders from Pekin.
Indeed, he was afterwards accused of treason, bribery, and incapacity,
because he even condescended to confer at all with Captain Elliot,
instead of advancing boldly upon him, and driving him and all his
troops and ships away from the coast. Keshen saw the imbecility of such
conduct, and although he knew the hopelessness of an attempt to defend
the river, he had no other alternative but to obey; he had already
been deprived of some of his decorations for having listened to terms
at Chuenpee, and his only hope of saving himself from ignominy, and
even death itself, was by striving hard to exhibit greater zeal in the
defence of the Bogue, which, nevertheless, he scarcely hoped to be able
to maintain.
Let us now, however, accompany the Nemesis up the river, in order to
see what sort of an affair the grand conference at the Second Bar
really was, and how the interview between the plenipotentiary of
England and the high-commissioner of China actually came off. It was
naturally expected that it would be an affair of great ceremony, and
as it was the first time that any intercourse had been permitted upon
terms of perfect equality with any of the high Canton authorities, and
as it was to happen in accordance with the stipulations of the new
treaty, it excited great interest, and kept the curiosity of every one
alive.
Adequate preparations were made on both sides, becoming the high rank
of the respective parties, and doubtless each of them was calculating
the most likely mode of making a good impression upon the other. One
hundred marines, picked men from the Wellesley, Druid, and Calliope,
were embarked on board the Madagascar steamer, to be carried up as a
guard of honour for Captain Elliot, at the meeting; they were commanded
by Captain, now Lieutenant-Colonel, Ellis, C.B., having with him
Lieutenants Stransham and Maxwell. The excellent bands of the Wellesley
and Calliope were also in attendance, and it was expected that the
Chinese would be astonished and properly "impressed" by the appearance
and manoeuvres of the men, while they would be gratified and put into a
good humour by the enlivening tones of the music.
On the 26th of January the Nemesis started from Macao, with Captain
Elliot and several officers on board, and proceeded directly up
the Bogue. She was subsequently joined by the Madagascar, which
was to accompany her up to the place of meeting. Captain Herbert,
the Honourable Captain Dundas, and Captain Maitland, attended the
plenipotentiary. And now, for the first time, two steamers were to
enter the true Canton river, and as the Nemesis was the leading vessel
through the Bogue, she had, consequently, the honour of being the first
steam vessel, whether of wood or iron, which ever navigated the "inner
waters" of the Celestial Empire.
It was just at this time that the French corvette, Danaide, arrived in
the China waters, having been sent out purposely to watch our movements
in that quarter. This, indeed, could have been her only object, for,
as regards protection of trade, the French have never had any trade
with China worthy of the name, nor indeed had the French flag floated
over the walls of the foreign factories at Canton for many years, until
after the accession of Louis Philippe to the throne. Since that time
it has always been exhibited rather in hope of the future than for the
protection of present interests, for, except the French consul and his
attendants, there has been, until recently, scarcely a French ship in
China.
As the declaration of blockade was still in force against the port
of Canton, the Danaide was not permitted to proceed higher up than
Chuenpee, but her commander, Captain Rosamel, was politely invited by
Captain Elliot to accompany him on board the Nemesis, that he might
be a witness of the coming interview; an act of courtesy which was
handsomely acknowledged.
As the two steamers passed through the Bogue, each with a flag of truce
at the fore, they were saluted with three guns (the greatest number
ever given in China,) by the forts on both sides. The Chinese also
manned the works, and hoisted numerous gay silken flags; and the effect
of their curious costumes, and the general appearance of the forts of
Anunghoy and Wantung when their battlements were crowded with the eager
spectators, were very imposing. Certainly, the passage of two steamers
between them, the first they had ever seen, must have been an exciting
novelty. The bold, rocky steeps behind the batteries of Anunghoy,
frowning, as it were, and really commanding the batteries below,
grinning defiance with their whitened battlements, and the opposite
island of Wantung, with its numerous works, the more distant shore of
the mainland on the other side, and the remarkable Tiger Island ahead;
all these formed a very interesting and remarkable spectacle.
Just at the foot of Tiger Island, about two miles above the Bogue,
could be distinguished a long stone battery, which, on a nearer
approach, appeared deserving of closer inspection, although, from its
position, it was not likely to be of much use for the defence of the
river. The Nemesis, accordingly, little fearing shallow water at any
time, ran up towards it, and came so close to the battlements as to
touch them with her yards; in which position, had her intentions been
hostile, it was very evident that she could batter the walls with her
guns with perfect impunity, for the guns of the fort could not be
depressed sufficiently to point at her hull in that position.
This manoeuvre thoroughly confounded the Chinese, who looked on in
evident wonder. And they so far profited by the hint afterwards, that
they abandoned the fort altogether as useless and untenable, and
carried away the guns to add to the strength of the Bogue forts lower
down.
Beyond the Bogue and Tiger Island the river begins to expand again,
and for some miles presents to view a flat, rich, alluvial country, in
which are an immense number of canals and water-courses, serving to
irrigate the paddy or rice fields, and to afford innumerable lines of
internal communication, which in that country mostly take the place of
roads and bridges.[23]
It was precisely at the pagoda at the Second Bar, as it is called, that
the conference was now to be held; and there, at about six o'clock in
the evening, the Nemesis and Madagascar came to anchor. A couple of
mandarins, or officers of inferior grade, (for let it not be supposed
that a mandarin is necessarily a great man) came on board, deputed by
Keshen, to welcome the arrival of the plenipo.
A list of the names and rank of those officers who were to be present
at the interview on the following morning, was sent in to Keshen, in
English and Chinese, so that he might be quite prepared, when each
gentleman should be presented to him by Captain Elliot, to receive him
courteously.
Early in the morning the guard of marines were landed, together with
the bands of the Wellesley and Calliope. A finer body of men is rarely
seen. Soon after nine o'clock, the whole of the officers were ready
to go on shore, which was accomplished partly in the boats of the two
steamers, partly in very clean and convenient Chinese boats provided by
Keshen. They had to pull some little distance up one of the numerous
creeks which open into all the Chinese rivers, and the scene as they
approached was very novel and interesting. On either side were several
very gaudily ornamented boats belonging to Keshen, very similar to
the boats of the Hong merchants at Canton, who had also arrived under
the guidance of old Howqua.[24] They could scarcely hope to enjoy the
honour of a place at the conference, and were, therefore, probably
ordered by Keshen to attend upon him. They were not admitted even into
the same tents with Captain Elliot and his suite.
The guard of marines drawn up on either side highly astonished the
Chinese, but the people were kept from pressing too close by a long
line of railing put up for the occasion. The road from the immediate
landing-place to the grand tent was spread over with various coloured
cotton coverings, and decorated with branches of trees.
At nine A.M., Captain Elliot, accompanied by Captain Herbert, and the
Honourable Captain Dundas, landed, and went up in state, preceded
by the bands, to the principal tent, which was very like a large
long booth, ornamented inside with yellow hangings, in token of
its belonging to the representative of the emperor. At the further
extremity of it was another tent or apartment, reserved more especially
for Keshen's private use, and into this only Captain Elliot and one or
two officers in personal attendance on him were admitted.
The whole party were presented to Keshen in the outer tent including
Captain Rosamel of the Danaide; the list sent in the previous evening
being referred to, as each gentleman of the party made his bow to the
Imperial Commissioner.
The first private audience in the inner tent between Captain Elliot and
Keshen was merely one of ceremony, and lasted only a few minutes; the
medium of communication being through Mr. Morrison, the interpreter,
the gifted son of the late Dr. Morrison, so celebrated as a Chinese
scholar and philologist.
After the first introduction was over, it was announced that a grand
_déjeûner à la fourchette_ was prepared in the outer tent for the
whole of the party, upwards of twenty in number. Interminable was
the succession of dishes of the rarest and most expensive kind,
according to the best Chinese principles of gastronomy. The luxury
of the shark's-fin and the bird's-nest soup was here tasted for the
first time, and, without going deeply into the mysteries of the
Chinese "cuisine," it will be sufficient to say that a Chinese feast
is a very sumptuous and tedious, but, withal not unpalatable affair.
It necessarily occupied considerable time, and it was not until two
o'clock that those officers not in personal attendance upon Captain
Elliot were able to return on board the steamers.
In the interim, Keshen could not resist the wish to gratify his
curiosity concerning our fine-looking fellows the marines, and three of
the tallest and finest men were selected for his personal examination.
He did not conceal his surprise, and even requested that they might be
made to go through some of their evolutions. Keshen also examined their
arms and accoutrements minutely.
He had himself a small body-guard of Chinese soldiers, tolerably well
dressed, but otherwise of poor appearance, compared with our own picked
men, and they seemed quite at a loss to comprehend the purpose of the
movements they witnessed.
There were a good many small tents pitched round about the principal
reception-tent, and, as each of these was ornamented with a gay flag,
and other decorations, the _coup-d'oeil_ of the whole scene was
sufficiently imposing.
Keshen's manner throughout is described as having been particularly
kind, gentlemanlike, and perfectly dignified. He might, indeed, be
called a courtier-like gentleman in any country.
What may have passed between Keshen and Captain Elliot, during
their _private_ conference in the afternoon, it would be useless to
surmise. They met and parted upon terms of equality and apparent good
understanding. There seems reason, however, to think that very little
was definitely settled; and, after the lapse of two or three days,
Captain Elliot merely announced in a circular that "negotiations were
still proceeding satisfactorily," but at the same time "he warned
her majesty's subjects against proceeding to Canton for the present,
as it would be acting contrary to what he conceived right for the
public interest." At the same time, however, Hong-Kong was proclaimed
a British possession, and all its Chinese inhabitants declared to be
British subjects. Provision was also made for the government of the
island.
Whatever terms Keshen may have agreed to at the conference, it is well
known that he was soon forbidden by the emperor to carry them into
execution. They are therefore of little moment.
Captain Elliot returned on board the Nemesis in the afternoon,
apparently satisfied; and in the evening a display of rockets and
fireworks took place from the vessel, for the amusement of the imperial
commissioner on shore.
In the meantime the Madagascar returned down the river with the
marines. On the following day, the 28th, two superior mandarins came
on board to pay their respects, and were saluted with three guns; and,
later in the day, the whole body of the Hong merchants likewise came
to pay their respects to his excellency; but, it is worthy of remark,
that Keshen himself did not come _in person_ to make a return-visit of
ceremony.
Whatever may have been the reason of this omission, it was unfortunate
that Captain Elliot did not take some notice of it. It might be said
that Keshen was afraid of compromising himself with his imperial
master, if he condescended so far as to pay a visit to a foreigner on
board his own vessel. But it is possible that another reason also may
have weighed not a little in his mind. He got the Kwang-Chow-Foo, or
prefect of Canton, who was there, to ask Captain Elliot to dine with
him on board his barge, or large covered boat, and his invitation
was accepted. Keshen looked upon this as far below the supposed
dignity belonging to the rank which Elliot held. After this act of
condescension on Captain Elliot's part, Keshen not improbably regarded
it as far beneath his own dignity personally to visit Captain Elliot.
Nor is it at all surprising, when we consider that the court of China
is, without exception, the most ceremonious in the world. Indeed, at
Pekin there is a regular "Court of Ceremonies" to arrange all the
complicated details.
Thus ended the whole business of this famous conference. It should also
be mentioned that, before they parted, Keshen made a few presents to
Captain Elliot, but not of any very great value, and others to Captain
Herbert, which were divided among some of the officers. Soon after
three o'clock the steam was once more got up, and giving and receiving
a parting salute of three guns, the Nemesis turned her head again down
the river, having the Louisa cutter in tow. The forts at the Bogue
again saluted her as she passed; and, late in the evening, she came to
anchor in the Tong Koo Roads, until daylight enabled her to proceed to
join the commodore, who was then in Hong-Kong harbour.
As yet the treaty, in virtue of which we took possession of Hong-Kong,
had not received the emperor's assent; and our own precipitate
restoration of Chusan, which had been ordered by Captain Elliot, was
likely rather to impede than to promote the object it was intended to
effect. The mere word of Keshen was the only authority which we had to
rely upon, the ratification of which was at least doubtful. However,
both the commodore and Captain Elliot seemed already to regard the
island of Hong-Kong as a positive acquisition, and took the present
opportunity of steaming all round it on board the Nemesis.
Little good appears to have resulted from this first interview. Indeed,
shortly after his report of it to the emperor, Keshen received a severe
reprimand from the emperor for what he had already even _pretended to
promise_. He was told that "a mere glance at his memorials had filled
the emperor with indignation."
Yih-shan, a Tartar general of great repute, and who will be found to
figure afterwards on several occasions, was now sent down to Canton,
invested with the office of "general pacificator of the rebellious;"
and two assistant functionaries, called Lung-Wan and Yang-Fang,
were also ordered to repair thither, "to co-operate in the work of
extermination." Additional troops were also despatched.
These orders of the emperor were issued on the 30th of January, but
did not reach Keshen until the 10th or 11th of February. On our side
nothing important took place for several days; arrangements connected
with the establishment of Hong-Kong were continued; and there was a
constant passing to and fro of officers between that place and Macao,
for which purpose the Nemesis was always employed.
The 2nd of February was the day on which it had been agreed with Keshen
that the trade of the port of Canton should be opened--namely, ten days
after the Chinese new year. No proclamation to that effect, however,
was issued by the commissioner. Various rumours were already afloat
concerning the measures in progress up the river for obstructing its
navigation; and, at length, finding that the "satisfactory manner"
in which it had been proclaimed on the 30th of January, that the
negotiations which were proceeding had already, in the following
week, assumed an "unsatisfactory tone," and that, in fact, everything
appeared very delusive, Captain Elliot determined to go up to the Bocca
Tigris in person, and demand a distinct explanation from Keshen of what
were really his intentions. It was known that Keshen had reached the
Bogue; and Captain Herbert had even sent an officer to compliment him
upon his arrival on the 29th of January, and a salute of three guns
was fired in honour of the occasion. On the 10th of February, Captain
Elliot embarked on board the Nemesis, accompanied by Captain Smith and
Captain Knowles, of the artillery, together with Major Pratt, of the
Cameronians, and Mr. Morrison as interpreter, and was conveyed up the
river, anchoring for the night in Anson's Bay.
On the following morning they once more passed through the Bogue, the
battlements of which were manned by the Chinese, as the steamer passed;
and a salute of three guns was fired from each of the batteries, which
was of course returned by the Nemesis. So far everything looked pacific
and complimentary enough. Having passed completely through the Bogue,
she came to anchor, about ten o'clock, above the forts, a little to the
north of Anunghoy, and close to the boats of the imperial commissioner,
who was already there. This was on the 11th of February; and it is a
curious coincidence, that it was on this day that Keshen received the
imperial commands to resume vigorous measures against Captain Elliot
and all the foreigners.
The interview on this occasion was comparatively one of little
ceremony; indeed, Keshen had made no preparation for it on shore, and
received Captain Elliot in his own covered barge, unattended by any
mandarins of rank, and without any display or attempt at effect.
Captain Elliot, on his part, having merely introduced the officers who
came up with him from Macao, in order that they might make their bow
of respect to the emperor's representative, immediately proceeded to
business without loss of time, in the most private manner possible.
During the few minutes that his suite were present, however, it did not
escape their notice that some mighty change had already come over the
spirit of the great commissioner. There was an appearance of constraint
about him, as if his mind was downcast, and his heart burdened and
heavily laden. He never indeed for a moment lost his self-possession,
or that dignified courtesy of manner which no people can better assume
than the Chinese of rank; but there was still something undefinable
in his bearing, which impressed upon all present the conviction that
something untoward had happened. Some of the party even guessed that
he had been degraded from his high rank, which was, in fact, the case.
Enough, at all events, was visible upon the surface, to awaken Captain
Elliot to the necessity of extreme tact and caution, before he placed
any reliance upon Keshen's power, whatever may have been his _will_, to
act up to his promises.
What may have passed at this second interview between these two high
representatives it is not the place here to discuss; suffice it to say,
that the conference on this day lasted no less than six hours, and
was renewed on the following morning for about three hours more. This
will be enough to shew that many points of great importance and some
minuteness must have been closely debated.
Keshen, meantime, was doubtless fully aware, that not one single iota
of what he might promise would ever be acceded to by his haughty
master; and, therefore, his only object in protracting the discussion
and entering into the "troublesome minutiæ of commerce" must have
been to leave something still _open_ to discussion, and some points
remaining to investigate "upon principles of the purest reason."
How great must have been his rejoicing when he at length succeeded in
winning from Captain Elliot a further delay of ten days, for the fair
preparation of a definitive treaty for his signature! What a heavy
weight must have been removed from his oppressed spirit, when he at
length beheld the dreaded steamer depart peaceably from the Bogue! The
certain reprieve of ten days, in which he might, perhaps, complete the
preparations already commenced, and even far advanced for the defence
of his strongest positions, was indeed a piece of unlooked-for good
fortune.
The formal drawing out of the definitive treaty was hastened on, in
order that every excuse for further delay on the part of Keshen might
be removed. Indeed, ten days had only been fixed as the _longest_
period, within which, if the treaty were not executed, hostilities
would be renewed.
Perhaps, after all, it redounded to our credit that extreme measures
were only at length adopted, when every other means of effecting a
settlement had been tried in vain. Forbearance towards a feeble enemy,
as long as there was the faintest hope of bringing him to reason by
simpler means, will redound more to our honour in the pages of future
history, than a precipitate display of our energy and our power. At
all events the treaty which was ultimately concluded was much more
advantageous to commerce and civilization in general than it would
probably have been had an earlier settlement taken place. The Chinese
were brought to yield by _degrees_, and, therefore, the compact is much
more likely to be durable than if it had been wrung from them by an
earlier and more sudden emergency.
Nevertheless, before even the draught of the proposed treaty had been
fully drawn up at Macao, rumours were continually brought concerning
the extensive preparations for defence which were still going on up the
river. Some naval and military officers were accordingly sent up to the
Bogue, to ascertain how far these rumours might be well founded; and
it was now discovered "that military works upon a great scale were in
progress, that troops were collected upon the heights, that entrenched
camps were being formed on both sides of the river, and that the island
of North Wantung was bristling with cannon."
These preparations certainly looked very unlike the preliminaries to
the signature of a treaty of peace; "and from this moment," says Sir
Gordon Bremer, "I must confess that my faith in the sincerity of the
Chinese commissioner was completely destroyed." It was in fact to be no
longer doubted that hostilities would be speedily resumed. And although
the orders of the emperor to Keshen to cancel the treaty agreed on, and
to provide means for the immediate extermination of the foreigners had
not then been made public, enough was already known to make it evident
that the intentions of the government were very far from being of a
peaceful nature.
On his side, Captain Elliot had done his utmost to impress the Chinese
with a confidence in his "good faith;" and so anxious was he to hasten
the evacuation of Chusan, that he had not only sent up a vessel of war
to convey the necessary orders, but had also forwarded an _overland
despatch_, by the hands of a Chinese special messenger, to the same
purport.
Scarcely a month, however, had elapsed when Captain Elliot began to
doubt whether the Chinese really meant to act up to _their_ promises
with equal good faith. On the 20th of January, he had declared, in a
public proclamation, that he had no reason to call in question the
"scrupulous sincerity and _enlarged opinions_ of the very eminent
person with whom negotiations had been pending;" and it was just a
month afterwards, on the 20th of February, that he declared that
the "imperial minister and high commissioner had failed to conclude
the treaty which had been sent up to the Bogue ready prepared for
signature." This document was carried up by the Nemesis. But, as
the commissioner had already left the Bogue and gone to Canton, it
was transmitted to him by the hands of a confidential person in
the employment of Keshen, who had been distinctly named to Captain
Elliot for the purpose. Four days were allowed for the return of the
messenger, and the Nemesis was directed to wait at the Bogue for the
answer, until the expiration of that period, when she was to return to
Macao, either with or without the treaty.
As the time agreed on approached its expiration, reports became more
numerous than ever, concerning the hostile preparations in progress.
The edict of the emperor addressed to Keshen, before spoken of, was now
made public, and a proclamation was pasted on the walls of Canton, (but
whether by the orders of the viceroy or not does not appear certain,)
by which a reward of 50,000 dollars each was offered for the heads of
Captain Elliot and Sir Gordon Bremer!
The four days of the stay of the Nemesis at the Bogue were not spent
unprofitably. Advantage was taken of this opportunity by Captain Hall
to examine the new works of the Chinese, many of which were still in
progress, (during a _truce_ and while a treaty of peace had been agreed
on!) Numerous sand-bag batteries had been erected, and others were in
course of completion, halfway up the hill of Anunghoy. Troops were
crowding upon the hills on the opposite side, while upon the Island of
North Wantung equal activity was displayed.
But the observations were not limited entirely to the works at
the Bogue. Captain Hall set out with a single boat's crew upon an
adventurous and interesting excursion up Anson's Bay, to the mouth
of the river in which the junks had been destroyed on the day of the
Chuenpee. Just within the entrance, several large mandarin boats were
now observed collected together, and surrounded by a vast number of
labouring men. This excited some surprise, as there wore no works
visible upon which they could be employed; but the object of this
bustle was unexpectedly discovered afterwards. The mandarin boats and a
great part of the people, thinking probably that the single boat of the
Nemesis was only the advanced one of many others similar to those which
had destroyed their war-junks, made off as fast as they could, leaving
her to pursue her course unmolested.
Having, in the former ascent of the river in the Nemesis, observed that
a branch of it turned off to the right towards Chuenpee, Captain Hall,
determined to explore it now. It branched off about one and a half
to two miles from the entrance, and soon led to a very considerable
village on the right or Chuenpee side, (in ascending,) while, nearly
opposite to it, a large sand-battery, recently erected, was discovered,
mounting eight guns, and further on, was a strong stone battery.
Neither of these fired at the boat, although the gunners ran down to
their guns, as if apprehensive of an attack.
To the astonishment of all in the boat, it was now found that this
branch of the river, or creek, or whatever it might be called, instead
of leading further up the country, inland, gradually turned round and
encircled the whole of Chuenpee, communicating with the "outer waters"
to the southward of that promontory. Thus it was evident that Chuenpee
was an island.
Having passed quite through the passage, so as to reach the point of
junction with the "outer waters," Captain Hall landed on Chuenpee in
company with Mr. Turner, the surgeon of the vessel, and Mr. Gray, a
midshipman of H.M.S. Herald, and, sending the boat round the promontory
to the opposite side, walked across without any molestation. Nothing
particular worth noticing was observed in this excursion, except the
large farm-houses, which were passed, together with several extensive
sugar-works, in full operation.
A visit made to the Tycocktow side of the river was less promising,
although equally successful. It was thought desirable, on the following
day, to reconnoitre the defences in that direction; and accordingly
Captain Hall, accompanied by Mr. Compton, proceeded in the ship's
cutter across the river for that purpose. A large number of troops were
collected upon the heights, upon which were numerous tents; and several
large transport junks, not less than twenty sail, were hastily landing
troops, guns, and ammunition. It was also noticed that boats were
passing round at the back of the hill and works, through a large canal
or creek; so that, although it was not possible to explore the lines of
communication from one part to the other, it became very evident that
the neighbourhood of the river, although apparently mountainous and
rugged, was accessible to boats on all sides, and was in fact composed
of distinct islands.
The question of the intentions of the Chinese was soon decided; for the
fort on Wantung, as the boat passed between it and the mainland, on
that side, fired at it with round shot. There was no mistaking the tone
of defiance which this indicated; but Captain Hall was sufficiently
acquainted with the Chinese character to be reluctant to turn back at
this threat, because the affair would have been reported as a great
victory, with their usual exaggeration. The little bow-gun of the boat
was therefore instantly fired at the troops who were looking over the
battlements of the fort; and no further molestation being attempted
by the Chinese, she again pursued her way, content with this token of
defiance.
These little reconnoitring excursions sufficed to shew, were anything
still wanting to bring conviction to the most unbelieving, that the
Chinese were fully aware that no treaty of peace was likely to be
signed, and that they looked forward to the resumption of hostilities,
not only without much apprehension, but with tolerable confidence in
the probability of their own success.
On the evening of the 18th, the four days agreed on for the return of
the messenger from Canton having fully expired, the Nemesis was moved
up from Chuenpee to the Bogue, where she remained one hour, waiting for
an answer from the imperial commissioner. None, however, was brought;
and as everything now so plainly indicated that cannon-balls alone were
to be expected as a reply, Captain Hall resolved to return to Macao,
and report all that had been seen and done to the plenipotentiary and
the commander-in-chief. Not a moment was lost in communicating the
results of the reconnoitring excursions, the firing of a shot from
North Wantung, and the non-appearance of the messenger at the appointed
time.
The most incredulous now no longer doubted; the film was raised even
from before the eyes of Captain Elliot himself, and orders were given
that all the officers should join their respective ships. The light
division, which was then in the roads of Macao, or at the mouth of
the river, was placed under the orders of Captain Herbert (since made
K.C.B.) of the Calliope, and was directed to proceed immediately to
the Bogue. It consisted of the Calliope, Samarang, Herald, Alligator,
Sulphur, and the Nemesis; and the object was "to prevent, as much as
possible, any further defensive preparations on the part of the enemy,
but not to run any unnecessary hazard until the main body of the force
came up." At the same time, the commodore hastened over to Hong-Kong,
in the Madagascar steamer, for the purpose of taking up the ships
of the line, consisting of the Wellesley, Blenheim, and Melville,
seventy-fours, and the steamers, Queen and Madagascar; leaving the
Druid, with the Jupiter troop-ship, and the transports, Sophia,
Minerva, Thetis, and Eagle, to follow.
These active measures were briefly announced by Captain Elliot, in a
circular issued on the same day to the following effect, simply stating
that "circumstances had induced the commander-in-chief to announce
to H.M. plenipotentiary his intention to move the forces towards the
Bocca Tigris,"--from which it would seem that the responsibility of
this inevitable measure was rather assumed by Sir Gordon Bremer than
by the plenipotentiary; but Captain Elliot had also written to Captain
Herbert, stating that he left him at liberty, and _moved_ to prevent
the continuance of defensive preparations at the Bogue.
It was on the day following this movement (the 20th) that Keshen's
notification of his unwillingness to continue negotiations became
known at Macao; and shortly afterwards, the emperor's edict (before
alluded to) was also promulgated, in which every proposed measure of
conciliation towards the foreigners was recalled, and orders given, on
the other hand, that "they should be rooted out entirely."
On the morning of the 21st, a reconnoitring party landed, unperceived,
upon the island of Wantung, consisting of Captains Elliot, Herbert,
and Belcher, and Lieutenant Stransham, and they were able to count
seventeen more guns, newly-mounted, in addition to those which had been
observed on the former occasion.
The truce had already fully expired, but hostilities did not commence
immediately, as might have been expected. On the 22nd, a Chinese
boat happened to be stopped, in which was found a messenger, who was
recognised by Lieutenant Watson as an active agent of the Chinese
authorities. It was naturally suspected that he was the bearer of
orders of some kind or other to the local officers, and such was found
to be the case. They were addressed to Admiral Kwan, desiring him to
hurry on the stopping-up of the channel which runs at the back of
Anunghoy, by which the latter becomes an island. The means employed
were stones and stakes, and sunken junks, which had been collected in
large quantities at a place called Sanmannkow, which must have been
the large town known to lie in the rear of Anunghoy. Thus all our
observations respecting the intentions of the authorities were fully
confirmed, and it could now no longer be doubted, on our part, that a
heavy blow must at once be struck.
FOOTNOTES:
[23] In no part of China are there found within the same distance so
many large pagodas or religions monuments as upon the banks of this
fine river. This is not the place to describe them minutely, or to
discuss their purpose. They are found in most of the large towns, and
sometimes on the banks of rivers, and form a part of the religious
buildings of the Budhist superstition, and together with it, seem to
have been originally introduced from the west. The shape of them is
familiar to most readers. The finest and most celebrated one of the
kind is the famous Porcelain Tower of Nankin; which is in reality a
pagoda, larger and more ornamented than the rest, and distinguished
by being principally constructed of Porcelain brick glazed, and of
various shades of colour. These towers, or pagodas, are of great use
in the navigation of the Canton river, as, from their height, they
are conspicuous objects at a distance, and are generally placed in
advantageous positions.
[24] The Hong merchants' boats are both large and convenient, somewhat
resembling a small room or van, placed upon a very sharp-pointed but
broad boat, as they are only used for pulling about the smooth waters
of the river. Nothing can be better adapted to comfort, affording
shelter both from the sun and rain, with plenty of room for at least
half-a-dozen people to sit down and converse. The outside of these
boats is showily painted, and commonly decorated with handsome
wood-work. The inside is generally elegantly fitted up. They are
usually pulled by four men forward, who use a short broad-bladed oar or
paddle, with great dexterity and effect; and they are also assisted as
well as steered by a large heavy scull-oar behind.