5. On the 3rd instant, a most melancholy occurrence took place, Captain Cowper, R. E., who had been detached for service at Canton, was superintending the pulling down of some Chinese houses outside the factory, when one of them suddenly fell on him, from which he sustained such extensive injuries as to cause his death in less than three hours. Captain Cowper had been of the greatest assistance in strengthening our position, and I cannot too highly express my admiration of the zeal and professional ability he displayed. Her Majesty's service has sustained a severe loss in his untimely end. I sent the "Coromandel" to Hong Kong with the remains of the deceased gallant officer.

6. The Chinese authorities, having rearmed and strengthened the French Folly fort, situated near the South-East City Gate, having in its rear extensive barracks, occupied by troops, and erected flanking sand-bag batteries on either side of it, notwithstanding we had endeavoured to check them by the fire of the guns and mortars in the "Dutch Folly," I determined on its destruction, as threatening a hostile concentration of force, and being an obstacle to the free navigation of the river, by the passage through the Barrier Forts. The "Encounter" and "Barracouta" accordingly shifted their positions to below the Dutch Folly on the evening of the 3rd, and on the following morning I embarked in the "Encounter," and dropped down to the fort, accompanied by the boats of the squadron, having on board about 350 small-arm, men and Royal Marines under the command of Captains Wilson and the Honourable A. A. Cochrane, C. B., of the "Winchester" and "Niger," and Captains Penrose and Boyle, of the Royal Marines. The ships were anchored about 850 yards from the fort, being as near as the depth of water permitted, and at 7 A.m. a heavy and effective fire was opened from them, and from the Dutch Folly. The boats soon after pushed on shore, and our flag was planted on the walls of the fort amidst the hearty cheers of the assailing parties. The Chinese troops twice attempted to rally, but were quickly driven back, and the affair was over within an hour from the first gun being fired. The fort mounted about twenty heavy guns, with others of various calibre in the sand-bag batteries. Those in the fort were mounted somewhat similar to ship's guns, with breechings secured to spars across the outside of the embrasures. This gives some colour to the report that many of the garrison had served in European ships.

The usual official placards were found on the walls of the French Folly, offering rewards for the murder of all Englishmen, and of Chinese in their employ.

As soon as resistance had ceased, a party of Royal Artillery, under command of Captain Grey Rotton, commenced the destruction of the fort; eighteen mines were sunk and sprung under the works, which laid the whole of the massive granite in a heap of ruins, hardly one stone being left in its original position. The guns were destroyed, and their new carriages burnt. Throughout the day, feeble attempts were made by the Chinese troops to disturb our operations, rendering it necessary for our covering parties and boats' guns to keep them from advancing. These buildings ultimately caught fire, and were burnt to the ground.

During our operations, the Dutch Folly Fort, in charge of Commodore the Honourable C. Elliot, threw shells from the mortars into the city, where troops had been previously observed, which, fortunately, exploded two magazines.

The gallantry and promptitude displayed by the officers and men, and the rapid success which crowned their exertions, deserve my warmest commendation. I am happy to be able to state that our loss only amounted to one private, Royal Marine, of Her Majesty's ship "Winchester," killed, and one seaman slightly wounded. The ships were hulled several times, the "Encounter" by a 68-pounder shot. The ships returned to the Factory Creek on the 5th.

It has been reported that the Chinese authorities placed great confidence in the strength of the fort, backed as it was by the presence of a large body of troops.

On the 5th, a seaman belonging to the "Comus," and a private, Royal Marine, of the "Sybille," having, contrary to orders, strayed from their post in the Macao Fort to Honam Island, were attacked by some of the inhabitants of the village of Nan-peen. The Marine was murdered and his head carried off. The seaman jumped into the river and was drowned. The next day I sent the "Barracouta" to the locality and burnt the village, which was found deserted. I also issued a proclamation, of which I inclose a copy, pointing out the cause of this punish

ment, and threatening the same consequences should any Englishman lose his life in a similar manner.

8. The American ships of war completed the demolition of the Barrier Forts on the 6th, and dropped down to Whampoa. These forts were of enormous strength and solidity, being entirely built of large blocks of granite, with walls 9 or 10 feet thick. They were heavily armed, many of the guus being of 7 or 8 tons weight, with a bore of 13 inches; one brass 8-inch gun was over 21 feet long.

The "Levant" arrived yesterday at Canton.

9. A party of ninety officers and men belonging to the " Calcutta," came up on the 7th, to replace the "Winchester's " detachment.

10. I visited the Bogue Forts on the 8th. They have been effectually dismantled, under the direction of Captain the Honourable Keith Stewart of the "Nankin."

11. A seaman belonging to one of the river steamers was seized by some of the officials, on the 12th instant, who attempted to kill him. He managed, however, to effect his escape, though severely wounded. I immediately dispatched Captain Hall to pull down the Government buildings and Custom-house, where the seizure was made, which was promptly executed. It is only by summary proceedings that we can hope to avert the evil intent of the High Commissioner's premiums for our heads.

12. Numerous complaints of piracies in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong having been made to me, I dispatched the " Sampson" to check them. In her first cruise she captured one junk, and destroyed five. In the second she saw no suspicious vessels, and is now at Hong Kong.

13. I have had no communication with the Imperial Commissioner; his Excellency having withdrawn the troops from the neighbouring districts for the protection of Canton. The country is represented to be in the most disorganized state; bands of robbers committing depredations and murders in every direction. I learn that there are from 17,000 to 20,000 troops and militia in the city, but they have not as yet made any offensive demonstration, and even were they to attack the factories, I should have no fear of the result.

14. The stoppage of the traffic at Canton must cause a severe pressure. The river, which used to be thronged with junks and boats, is now comparatively clear, and I feel a confident hope that the measures which have been taken will prove successful.

When the proper time arrives, the fulfilment of stipulations guaranteed by Treaty should be rigidly insisted on. Compulsion is the only argument to convince the Chinese. Moderation is considered but another name for the want of means to enforce compliance.

15. A few shells were thrown into the city yesterday from the Dutch Folly, in the direction of the Government buildings.

16. It is gratifying to report that the force continues healthy and in excel

lent spirits.

17. I inclose copies of correspondence relative to this letter, with a schedule

of the same.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

M. SEYMOUR.

18. I inclose a copy of a letter which I have just received, from the United States' Commissioner to the American Consul at Canton, which will show the state of affairs as regards the Americans.

Inclosure 2 in No. 15.

M. S.

Sir,

Dr. Parker to Mr. Perry.

"San Jacinto," Whampoa, November 5, 1856.

HIS Excellency Yeh, Imperial Commissioner and Governor-General, having failed to render the satisfaction due and demanded for the recent insult to the United States' flag by the Barrier Forts, Commodore James Armstrong,

Commander-in-chief of the naval forces of the United States in China, &c., compelled by a sense of public duty, will not desist from the measures which the policy of the Imperial Commissioner imposes upon him, till the apologies for the outrage on the flag, and guarantees for its proper respect in future, are obtained. You will, therefore, notify to the citizens of the United States at Canton accordingly.

Respectfully yours, &c.
(Signed)

PETER PARKER.

Inclosure 3 in No. 15.

RETURN of Casualties received by the Naval Force employed in the operations of the day.

Killed ..
Wounded

(Signed)

CHAS. J. ANDERSON, M.D.,

Staff Surgeon in medical charge of the Force disembarked.

December 4, 1856.

Inclosure 4 in No. 15.

Proclamation by Rear-Admiral Sir M. Seymour.

[See Inclosure 24 in No. 12.]

Sir,

Inclosure 5 in No. 15.

Captain Hand to Rear-Admiral Sir M. Seymour.

Sampson," off River Chow-chow, December 6, 1856. ACCORDING to my intention intimated to you in my letter of the 4th instant I proceeded to sea yesterday morning with four Chinese who had had their vessels taken away from them, and directed my search towards Lintin.

Observing a suspicious-looking yow-junk off Sawchow at anchor, I sent aud had her brought off, when, finding she had no number, papers, or fiag, with a larger crew than a trading vessel would have, and nothing on board but ammunition for several small guns with which she was armed, I had no doubt but she was there waiting an opportunity to pounce upon some market-boat (the island being perfectly barren), and the only answer they could give me was that they were Rebel-men, and looking after mandarins. I accordingly took her into Hong Kong, and gave her over to the police, leaving the 2nd Lieutenant, the boardingofficer, to appear against her.

This morning I left Hong Kong again, and communicated with a small squadron of junks, having the Rebel-flag flying, lying at anchor under Wanchow-chow, as I was desirous to send a proclamation which I had received on board, stating that "if any boats hoisting the Rebel-flag committed any acts of piracy, the flag would not protect them." Having done so, in proceeding through the mandarin channel, some junks were observed at anchor inside Changhae Island, close in the north-east corner. My pilot not being acquainted with the channel, I got a fisherman's boat to go up with one of the Chinamen that I had on board, to see whether he could recognize his property. He shortly returned on board, saying that his boat was there, and that the other boats were pirates. I immediately stood in under easy steam, when the pirates seeing my intention, made sail, and ran through the channel towards Wanchow-chow, I fired a few shots at them, but they soon got under the cover of the land. Then sending my boats after them, and running round outside the island, I had the satisfaction of driving them on shore, and destroying five, as well as liberating two market-boats with several passengers who had been in confinement for several days.

Three captured men are sworn to by one of the owners of the boats, and I have sent them in irons to Hong Kong.

These piratical boats had all the Rebel-flag flying, and fired upon our boats, without however doing any damage.

I have, &c.

LIST OF MEN who were murdered by the Chinese in the village of Nan-peen, on the 5th December, near the Macao Fort.

Macao, December 9, 1856.

A DESPATCH from Commodore James Armstrong, of this day's date, informs me, that on the 6th instant the demolition of the Barrier Forts was completed, and the ships had returned to the anchorage at Whampoa, and in a few days the damage to the vessels would be repaired. Inclosing me copies of his correspondence with the Imperial Commissioner, he observes, Here, I presume, it will end, and so long as he, the Imperial Commissioner, does not commit any act of violence against our flag or citizens, we should rest upon our arms." His Excellency Yeh, in a despatch of the 5th instant, writes to Commo

6:

dore Armstrong, "From this I see your Excellency has a clear knowledge of affairs; there is no matter of strife between our respective nations. Henceforth let the fashion of the flag which American ships employ be clearly defined, and inform me what it is beforehand. This will be the verification of the friendly relations which exist between the two countries."

I have this day resumed correspondence with the Imperial Commissioner, demanding attention to various important subjects, which I have chosen to place in abeyance, pending the adjustment of the naval question; among them, other instances in which the flag of the United States has been fired on by the Chinese, and the rights of the United States' citizens under Treaty, have been brought to his Excellency's notice, who has been informed that, failing to render the satisfaction demanded for the violation of the Treaty by the forts of Kiangshan, that matter will also be handed over by the Commander-in-chief of the United States' naval forces in China to manage.

This brief exposé of the present state of our relations with the Chinese Government at your port, you are authorized to communicate for the information of the United States' citizens within your Consular jurisdiction.

Respectfully, &c. (Signed)

PETER PARKER.

No. 16.

The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Hammond.—(Received January 29.)

Admiralty, January 29, 1857.

Sir, I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you a copy of a letter from Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, reporting the destruction by fire of the foreign factories at Canton, with the exception of the British factory.

I am, &c.

Sir,

Inclosure in No. 16.

Rear-Admiral Sir M. Seymour to the Secretary to the Admiralty.

I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that last night, at about 11 o'clock, a few hours after the departure of my despatches for Europe, the Chinese set fire in several places simultaneously to the houses immediately surrounding the factory, which soon spread to the factory itself; and all the foreign establishments, with the exception of the English factory, have been burnt to the ground. The fire appears to have been checked by the blowing down of the end house of the adjoining block, at the entrance of Hog Lane.

Incendiaries were perceived by the officers placing brands in the various houses in the vicinity of the fire, and were fired at by our picquets. The whole of Old and New China Streets, with the contiguous portion of the suburbs, have been consumed.

The greatest exertions have been used by the officers and men of the force under my command to check the progress of the flames; but the dryness of the houses and the absence of an adequate supply of water, with the peculiar mode in which the various hongs are constructed over vaulted passages, rendered their efforts unavailing.

The conflagration will circumscribe our defences, and render necessary a new arrangement of them; but it is my intention to hold the British factory, as I have hitherto done the larger area on which the houses have been destroyed. I write this hurried despatch to go by a private steam-vessel, which is likely to overtake the packet at Singapore.

I have, &c. (Signed)

M. SEYMOUR.