Her Majesty's ship Wellesley, Sir, I have the honour to report to you, that the troops under my command, consisting of a detachment of Royal Artillery, having one 24-pound howitzer and two 6-pounder field guns, aided by a party of seamen from her Majesty's ships the Wellesley, the Blenheim, and the Melville, detachments of the 26th and 49th regiments, a battalion of Royal Marines, the 37th Madras Native Infantry, and a detachment of Bengal Volunteers, in all 1,400 men, landed yesterday at nine o'clock, two miles below Chuenpee Point, for the purpose of capturing the several forts and batteries on Chuenpee. The troops landed without oppo: sition, and having formed them, I sent forward an advance of two companies of Royal Marines, under Captain Ellis; the guns were then moved on, supported by the detachments of the 26th and 49th regiments, followed in column by the Marine Battalion, the 37th Native Infantry, and the Bengal Volunteers. After advancing a mile and a half, on reaching the ridge of hill, we came in sight of the upper fort, and of a very strong intrenchment, having a deep ditch outside, and a breast work round it, which was prolonged upwards, connecting it with the upper fort; it was also flanked by field batteries, having deep trenches in rear of the guns for the purpose of shelter. The whole was strongly lined with Chinese soldiers, who immediately on seeing us cheered, waved their flags in defiance, and opened a fire from their batteries; our guns were promptly placed on the crest of the ridge, and com menced firing; this was duly returned by the Chinese for about twenty minutes, and indeed in this, as well as our other encounters with them, it is but justice to say they behaved with courage. During this time the advance crossed the shoulder of the hill to the right, driving before them the Chinese who had lined it in considerable numbers; then, descending into the valley, took possession of a field battery placed there. I had previously ordered two companies of the 37th Native Infantry, under Captains Bedingfield and Wardroper, to scour round a hill to the right of the advance, where they encountered the Chinese in some force and drove them away with much loss. Captain Duff, commanding the corps, speaks highly of the conduct of these companies, which he had supported by another under Lieutenant Hadfield. Seeing that the fire from our guns was causing the Chinese to fly from the intrenchment and batteries, I moved the column down the slope, causing the two leading companies of Marines under Captain Whitcomb to clear the wooded hill in front. I took a subdivision of them, got into the intrenchment, and proceeded up inside the breast work to the upper fort, in which there was still a number of men; these were speedily dislodged by the two marines who first reached it; the fort was entered, and the British ensign hoisted by a Royal Marine. The lower fort, which had sixteen guns facing the sea, and was surrounded by a high wall, and a small battery between, was, from this completely exposed, but the fire of these, as well as of the upper fort, had been silenced by the ships attacking on the sea face; they were still in considerable numbers in the lower part of the fort, and had locked the gate; a fire was therefore kept up from the hill, and the advance coming round the lower side to the gate, forced it by musketry. On entering they met with considerable resistance, which was speedily subdued; some men then entering an embrasure on the flank, the fort was taken and our flag hoisted. The whole of the forts and batteries being now in our possession, we proceeded to render the guns unserviceable and dismantle the fort, setting their encampments on fire, and, on re-embarking, the magazine in the lower fort was blown up. I am happy to say that the loss on our side has been small, and would have been less but for the explosion of an extensive magazine in the fort after the capture. The Chinese, however, suffered severely; between 300 and 400 were killed and wounded, including amongst the killed the Heptae, an officer with rank equivalent to our brigadier-general. About 100 prisoners were taken, who were released at the close of the day. of the men forming the advance; Captain Knowles, R. A., who placed his guns admirably, and dismantled the forts after their capture; Captain Duff, commanding the 37th Native Infantry; and Captain Bolton, commanding the detachment of Bengal Volunteers. From Lieutenant Stransham, Adjutant of the Royal Marines, who acted as Brigade-Major, I received most valuable assistance during the day, and gladly availed myself of the services of your military secretary, Lieutenant Stewart Mackenzie, 90th regiment, who volunteered to act on my staff, and took charge of a party of skirmishers of the advance the better part of the day. Lieutenant Wilson, her Majesty's ship Blenheim, commanded the seamen, and the guns were dragged forward in good style, and the disembarkation and re-embarkation of the troops were ably managed by Lieutenant Symons, of her Majesty's ship Wellesley. I enclose the list of guns captured and destroyed, and also the return of casualties. I have, &c., J. L. PRATT. Major, 26th Cameronians, Commanding the Force. C.B., K.C.H., Commodore of the First Class, Commander-in-Chief. I have great pleasure in stating To his Excellency Sir J. J. G. Bremer, to your Excellency the admirable manner in which the whole force behaved, and I beg to recommend to your notice Major Johnson, of the 26th regiment, commanding a detachment of the 26th and 49th regiments. I must particularly mention Captain Ellis, commanding the Marine Battalion, an old and previously distinguished officer, who conducted the advance during the whole day with the greatest gallantry and judgment, and he speaks in the highest terms Casualties, Land Force. Wounded-3 officers, 2 serjeants, 11 privates, 1 gunner and driver 2 havildars, 1 naique, 10 privates, -30. Sea Force-1 officer, seamen,-8. -Grand total 38. Return of Ordnance captured. In the Upper Fort, 9 iron guns.In the Lower Fort, 19 iron guns. Her Majesty's Ship Samarang, Canton River, Jan. 8, 1841. Sir,-In obedience to your instruction of yesterday, I proceeded with the ships placed under my orders off Tycocktow. The fort commenced its fire upon us at twenty minutes past ten o'clock, which I did not reply to until I took up my anchorage, ten minutes after, abreast of it, about 200 yards distance, which was as near as the depth of water would permit of our approach. The Modeste, Druid, and Columbine, anchored in succession, and in a few minutes, so destructive and well-directed was the fire of the ships, that that of the enemy was silenced, with the exception of an occasional gun or two. At twenty minutes after eleven, A. M., observing that we had effected a practicable breach in the southern end of the fort, I directed the boats manned and armed to proceed to storm it. Lieutenant Bower (first of this ship) immediately landed, supported by the boats of the Modeste; those of the Druid and Columbine, under the command of Lieutenant Goldsmith (first of the former ship), proceeded to the north end. An attempt at resistance was made by the enemy at the breach against Lieutenant Bower and his party, but was instantly overcome by the gallant and determined rush onwards of our men, which so appalled the garrison, that they instantly made a hasty retreat over the hill-wall, leaving us masters of the fort. five longs, of different calibre, were then spiked, the trunnions knocked off, a shot wrapped round with wet canvass driven hard home in each, and they were then thrown into the sea, their carriages burnt, as well as the whole of the buildings and magazines blown up, previous to which latter operation all the wounded of the enemy were carried away clear of the fort; their loss, judging from the number of killed, lying in every direction, must have been most se vere. My best thanks are due to Captain Smith and Commanders Eyres and Clarke, for the efficient and able support they have afforded me. It is impossible to say too much in favour of all those under my command-their conduct merits my warmest approbation. Of Lieutenant Bower (first of this ship) I cannot speak too highly. In the attack of the breach he received a severe sabre wound across the knee, which I fear will deprive me for some time of his services. I beg leave to recommend him most strongly to your favourable consideration, as well as Mr. Luard, mate, who behaved most gallantly in the breach. The zealous conduct of this promising young officer has repeatedly drawn forth my commendations. Our damages are very trifling, being merely some of the standing rigging cut away and a shot through our hull, the fire of the enemy passing all over us. Enclosed I beg leave to return a list of the wounded on board the Samarang. I have, &c., JAMES SCOTT, Captain. To Commodore Sir J. J. G. Bremer, The guns, amounting to twenty- C.B., K.C.H., Commander-in-Chief, &c. CAPTURE OF THE FORTS ON THE CANTON RIVER. "TO THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE, EARL of AUCKLAND, G.C.B., &c.' GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA. Wellesley, off North Wangtong, "MY LORD,-It is with feelings of gratification I have the honour to announce to you that the forts of the Bocca Tigris, together with every other of the Chinese defences with which we are acquainted, have fallen to her Majesty's arms; the British flag flying on the fortress of Wangtong, in which is a garrison, and all the other batteries have been blown up and utterly destroyed; and as I am aware of the intense interest which is felt by your Lordship, I avail myself of the earliest opportunity of forwarding to you a detail of the events which have led to this result. "On the 20th of January, the preliminaries of a treaty of peace were agreed upon by her Majesty's plenipotentiary, under the seal of the Chinese commissioner, one of the conditions of which the cession of the island of Hong Kong to her Majesty, and the restoration of Chuenpee and Tycock Tow to the Chinese, together with the evacuation of Chusan at the earliest possible period. His Excellency, in consequence, requested me to move the force from the immediate neighbourhood of the Bocca Tigris, and having made the necessary arrangement with the Chinese admiral commanding in chief, the forts were delivered to his officers, under the usual salutes, on the 21st, and the fleet proceeded to the anchorage off the west end of Lantao Island. "Her Majesty's plenipotentiary and the Imperial commissioner having arranged to have a formal meeting at the second bar, in the river, on the 26th, I despatched the Calliope and Larne, and Madagascar and Nemesis steamers, to the Bocca Tigris, under the immediate command of Captain Herbert, of the Calliope; a guard of honour, composed of 100 picked men of the Royal Marines, under the command of Captain Ellis, R.N., of the Wellesley, and the band of that ship, were embarked. Captains the Hon. R. S. Dundas and Maitland, of Melville and Wellesley, together with as many of the officers of the fleet as could be spared, accompanied his Excellency; the party was received with every possible mark of distinction and respect, the troops were drawn up on the ramparts of the forts, and salutes fired from all; a sumptuous entertainment had been prepared, to which the officers were invited, after having been presented to the high commissioner, and the negociations proceeded in a satisfactory manner, the particulars of which have been stated by the plenipotentiary to her Majesty's Government. "On the same day I proceeded to Hong Kong, and took formal possession of the island in her Majesty's name, and hoisted the colours on it, with the usual salutes and ceremonies. By the terms of the treaty, the port of Canton was to be opened to the trade of all nations on the 2nd of February, and as a proof of the sincere desire on the part of the British functionary to evince good faith, I had, at his request, sent the Columbine to Chusan, and an overland despatch by the hands of a Chinese special messenger, directing Brigadier Burrell and Captain Bouchier, of her Majesty's ship Blonde, to use every effort to embark the stores and troops, and to restore the island to the Chinese authorities. "The proclamation for opening the port on the 2nd did not appear, and on the 11th the two Ministers again met at the Bocca Tigris, and after a discussion of several hours, on this day and on the next, her Majesty's plenipotentiary acceded to a further delay (not to exceed ten days), in order that the definitive treaty might be fairly prepared. I must confess that, from this moment, my faith in the sincerity of the Chinese commissioner was completely destroyed; my doubts were also strengthened by the reports of the officers I sent up to the place of meeting, who stated that military works on a great scale were in progress: troops collected on the heights, and camps, protected by entrenchments, arising on both sides of the river, and that the island of North Wangtong had become a mass of cannon. These indications being decidedly warlike, I determined to move the light division of her Majesty's ships at once to Macao roads, and proceeded thither myself on the 13th, to confer with his Excellency the plenipotentiary, and await events. I found that the treaty, as agreed upon by the Commissioner and her Majesty's Minister had been sent up to the Bocca Tigris, for transmission to Canton by the Nemesis, with orders to await an answer until the night of the 18th, the period the confidential person employed by the Chinese commissioner had named for the purpose. "The accounts daily received by merchants and others at Macao from Canton were of the most hostile character, and an edict purporting to be from the Emperor, calling on all his officers to exterminate us, was published, together with a proclamation, the authenticity of which I have, however, been unable to establish, offering 50,000 dollars for my head, and a like sum for that of the Plenipotentiary. On the morning of the 19th, the Nemesis arrived from the Bocca Tigris without any reply, and all doubt was at an end, a shot having been fired at her boat from North Wangtong. I instantly detached the light division, under Captain Herbert, of her Majesty's ship Calliope (who was accompanied by her Majesty's Plenipotentiary), with directions not to run any unnecessary hazard until the body of the force came up, but to prevent as much as possible any further defensive preparations on the part of the enemy. I proceeded at the same time to Hong Kong, and weighed with the ships of the line, the Queen and Madagascar steamers, leaving the Druid, Jupiter, and transports to follow. "Captain Herbert, with the ships under his orders, took up a position on the Western Channel off South Wangtong on the 20th, and on the 22nd he proceeded in the Nemesis, with some boats of the squadron, to the channel at the back of Anunghoy, and destroyed a masked battery of twenty guns, |