CHINESE INTelligence.

From the London Gazette.

ADMIRALTY, May 6.-Despatches were this day received at this office from Commodore Sir J. J. G. Bremer, C.B., addressed to R. More O'Ferrall, Esq., of which the following are copies or extracts :

Wellesley, close off Anunghoy, January 7th, 1841. SIR,My last hasty despatch will have informed their Lordships that it was my intention to commence the attack on the forts of the Bocca Tigris, by the destruction of Chuenpee and Tycocktow this day. At eight o'clock this morning the Royal Marines of the squadron, the detachments of the 26th and 49th Regs., and the 37th Madras N.I., and Bengal Volunteers, were landed, accompanied by the detachment of RI. Artillery, with one 24-pound howitzer, and one 6-pounder field guns, together with a division of seamen belonging to the Wellesley, Blenheim, and Melville, in all about fourteen hundred men; the land forces, under the command of Maj. Pratt, of the 26th Cameronians, copy of whose report (which I enclose) will explain the detail of Military operations, which were admirably executed.

The Queen and Nemesis steamers were placed in position for throwing shells into the upper fort by Commander Belcher, of the Sulphur, and soon made an impression; a division of ships, consisting of Calliope, Hyacinth, and Larne, under Captain Herbert, attacked the lower fort on the sea face, and in less than an hour silenced the guns, although a number of troops remained within the walls; by ten o'clock the troops had advanced, and carried the entrenchments with their field batteries; Major Pratt himself, and two or three marines, were in possession of the upper fort, and the British colours hoisted; the lowest fort was speedily surrounded and stormed by the entrance as well as the wall, by a party of RI. Marines, and the union jack displayed on the ramparts. The management of Tycocktow I entrusted to Capt. Scott, of H.M.S. Samarang, accompanied by the Druid, Modeste, and Columbine, and in one hour it was silenced; but the Chinese remained in it until it was stormed by the boats, in which operation Lieut. Bower, Senior of Samarang, was severely wounded; the guns in all the forts have been destroyed, the magazines blown up, and the barracks and houses burnt; eleven large warjunks were anchored in the shoal water, to the eastward of the position; the Nemesis, under Commander Belcher, accompanied by Lieut. Kellett, of the Starling, attacked them in admirable style, assisted by the boats of the Calliope, under Lieut, Watson, senior, of that ship; they were all set on fire and blown up, one with all the crew on board, a rocket having gone into her magazine; this ended the operations of the day.

It is now my pleasing duty to express my high admiration of the gallantry and zeal which animated every officer and man in the force. My best thanks are due to Captains Sir F. Senhouse and the Hon. R. S. Dundas, of the Blenheim and Melville, and from Capt. Maitland I received his usual valuable assistance; Capts. Herbert and Scott carried their divisions into action with their accustomed gallantry, and they were ably supported by Captains Smith and Blake, and Commanders Warren, Eyres, and Clarke under their immediate orders. The Commanders Pritchard, Puget, and Fletcher, of the Blenheim, Melville, and Wellesley, the Commanders of the steam-vessels, and every officer and man employed, deserve the highest praise for their zealous exertions on every point. Major Pratt, of the 26th, conducted the operations on shore in the most able and gallant manner: he speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of every officer and man employed.

I am most happy in being enabled to inform their lordships that this service has been performed with trifling loss on the part of Her Majesty's forces, although it is justice to the Chinese to say, that they have defended themselves, especially in the batteries, with the greatest credit and devotion; they have suffered severely, their loss, including that on board the war-junks, cannot be estimated at less than from five to six hundred, out of a force calculated at two thousand men. The slaughter in the lower fort, when carried by storm, was considerable.—I have, &c. J. J. GORDON BREMER, Commododore of the First Class, Commander in Chief. To R. More O'Ferrall, Esq. M.P. Admiralty.

(Signed)

Wellesley, off Anunghoy, Jan. 9th, 1841. SIR,-In continuation of the detail of operations, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that yesterday morning I moved forward towards the forts of Wantong and Anunghoy. A Chinese, a civilian, had been saved from drowning by the Louisa cutter, and I liberated him, sending by his hands a letter to the Admiral, in which I explained the usages of war amongst Europeans with regard to the flags of truce, sparing the lives of the prisoners and of an enemy yielding, and that the striking of flags signified submission, and always led to a cessation of hostility by surrender; and also that I had yesterday liberated upwards of one hundred prisoners who had laid down their arms. The plan of attack was laid, and would have commenced seriously in a few moments, when I was surprised to see the flags and banners of the forts hauled down, and a boat with a flag of truce coming out; it contained a letter from the Admiral, requesting a suspension of hostilities until a communication could be made to the Imperial Commissioner at Canton. On consulting with her Majesty's plenipotentiary, we were of opinion that it would be advisable to comply with this request, in the sincere hope that negociations would prevent a further conflict. Three days have, therefore, been given for this purpose.

The plenipotentiary renewed the offer of terms, which he has forwarded to her Majesty's government, and it will be a source of infinite gratification to me to find they are accepted. I have, &c. (Signed)

J. J. GORDON BREMER, Commodore of the First Class, Commander-in-Chief,

To R. More O'Ferrall, Esq., M.P., Admiralty.

ADMIRALTY, May 12, 1841.-Despatches were yesterday received at this office from Commodore Sir J. J. G. Bremer, C.B., addressed to R. More O'Ferrall, Esq., of which the following are copies :

H.M.S. Wellesley, off Anunghoy, Jan. 18, 1841. SIR, I have the honour to forward, for their Lordships' information, a copy of an amended return of ordnance captured on the 7th inst. at Chuenpee and Tycocktow, by which they will perceive that two eight-and-a-half inch howitzers were taken they are nearly like the new pattern eight-inch howitzer now in use in our Service. The examination of the intrenchments and field batteries, in front of the position of Chuenpee, has caused me much surprise; they display considerable science, and are so formidable, that they must have cost us many men to carry, if the Chinese had not been forced from them by shells, with which they are perfectly unacquainted.

I beg to acquaint their Lordships, that Lieut. Bingham, senior, of Modeste, received a most severe and painful wound (fracture of the leg, in blowing up the fort of Tycocktow) which will cause his loss to the Service for some time. Mr. Arthur Vyner, Mate of the Blenheim, is also suffering much, but is not in any danger, he was blown up by the springing of one of the enemy's mines. I beg to recommend these Officers and Lieutenant Watson, senior of Calliope (who was employed in that ship's boats), and Lieutenant Harrison and Mr. Edwards, Mate of the Larne (employed in her boats in the destruction of the junks), to their Lordships' notice. I avail myself of this occasion to express my hope that their Lordships may be pleased to bestow some mark of their favour on Captain Ellis, RI. Marines, of this ship; this meritorious old Officer was in Sir R. Calder's action at Trafalgar, in the Potomac, and in many other brilliant affairs. The order which he established in the Battalion of Royal Marines, and the gallantry with which he led the advance of the force on the 7th, were such as to entitle him to my thanks and admiration, and I venture to recommend him to their Lordships accordingly. I have, &c.

(Signed)

J. J. G. BREMER,

Commodore of the First Class, Commander-in-Chief. To R. More O' Ferrall, Esq., M.P., Admiralty.

Amended Return of Ordnance Mounted on the Forts and Intrenchments at Chuenpee, when Stormed and Captured on the 7th January,

1841.

Upper fort, 9 iron guns; lower fort, 19 iron guns; in the intrenchENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 6-VOL. FOR 1841.

3 G

ments, 16 iron guns-total mounted, 44. Iron guns not mounted 38. Total, 82.

The guns in the forts were nearly of the same calibre as the British eighteen and twelve pounders. Those in the intrenchments, six pounders. They were all rendered unserviceable, and the carriages destroyed.

Taken by Samarang from the wreck of one of the junks, 2 brass eight-and-half inch howitzers; on Tycocktow, 25 iron guns; in the junks 82 iron and brass guns. Junks destroyed. Total, 109. Recapitulation.-Chucnpee and its dependencies, 82; howitzers, 2; Tycocktow, 25; in the junks, 82.-Grand total, 191.

(Signed)

J. KNOWLES, Captain, Royal Artillery.

H.M.S. Calliope, January 23rd, 1841, Macao Roads. SIR,-The Calliope having been detached with the advanced squadron, the accompanying copy of a letter from Capt. Herbert did not reach me until after my last despatch was closed. I seize with infinite pleasure the first opportunity to lay it before their lordships, and to assure them, that the service therein mentioned was admirably performed, and the officer conducting it worthy of their notice.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

J. J. GORDON Bremer,
Con:modore First Class, Commander-in-Chief.

To R. More O'Ferrall, Esq, &c., Admiralty.

H.M.S. Calliope, Chuenpee, China, Jan. 7. SIR,-You witnessed the manner the ships, you did me honour to place under my orders, took up their position within pistol-shot of the batteries of Chuenpee, the rapidity with which they were silenced, and the union jack hoisted in the forts, and how nobly they were stormed on the land side by our gallant troops (land forces and marines). This performed, the war-junks, agreeably to your orders, were my next object; and I directed the steamers, assisted by the boats of the ships under my orders, to their attack; but from the shoalness of the water, the Nemesis and boats could be only employed; they were efficiently conducted, and, from their fire soon caused the crews of the junks to desert them, succeeded in capturing ten out of thirteen. The Admiral's junk was blown up by a rocket from the Nemesis, thus - crippling the Naval armament of the Chinese in this quarter. This part of the force operating against the enemy was most ably and efficiently conducted by Commander Belcher, of the Sulphur, showing to every advantage the powerful force of this description of war steamer, combining, as she does, a commanding armament with light draft of water. He speaks in terms of high commendation of Lieutenant Kellet, of the Starling, conducting the Queen steamer, assisted by Mr. Crouch, gunnery mate of the Wellesley, and has expressed his high admiration of the most gallant manner in which the boats of the Calliope and Larne passed on to a very impressive attack on the war-junks to the northward of the Nemesis, which he found in coming up in the possession of a seaman, each as prize-masters, reflecting great credit on Lieut. Watson, of the Calliope, and Harrison of the Larne, assisted by five mates, Messrs. Daly, St. Leger, Rivers, and Egerton, of the Calliope, and Mr. Rowland Edwards, of the Larne.

From the vessels being captured in a narrow channel, and close to the villages, the ebb tide running strong, with an imperfect knowledge of the channel, Commander Belcher considered it too great a risk to wait the uncertainty of getting the junks out of the different positions in which they were taken, and gave directions for their being destroyed.

To Commanders Blake and Warren, of the Larne and Hyacinth, my best thanks are due for their co-operation, as well as to all employed on this occasion.

I have, &c. (Signed)

T. HERBERT, Captain.

To Com, Sir J. J. Gordon Bremer, K.C.B., Commander-in Chief.

* Calliope, Larne, Hyacinth, and steamers Queen, Madagascar, Enterprise.

OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE ACTION IN CANTON RIVER.-GENERAL ORDERS.

Fort William, Secret Department, Feb. 24, 1841. The Right Hon. the Governor-General of India having received an official communication of the destruction, on the 7th of Jan,, of Chuenpee and Tycocktow, in an attack made upon those fortifications by the sea and land forces under the personal command of His Excelcellency Commodore Sir J. J. G. Bremer, C.B. and K.C.H., Naval Commander-in-Chief on the coast of China, is pleased to order the publication of the following official account of the action.

By order of the Right Hon. the Gov.-Gen. of India.

T. H. MADDOCK, Sec. to the Government of India.

At 8 o'clock this morning the Rl. Marines of the squadron, the detachments of the 26th and 49th Regs. and the 37th Madras N.I. and Bengal Volunteers, were landed, accompanied by the detachment of Royal Artillery, with one 24-pounder howitzer and two 6-pounder field guns, together with a division of seamen belonging to the Wellesley, the Blenheim, and the Melville, in all about 1,400 men, the land forces under the command of Major Pratt, of the 26th Cameronians, a copy of whose report will explain the details of the Military operations, which were admirably executed.

The Queen and Nemesis steamers were placed in position for throwing shells into the upper fort by Commander Belcher, of the Sulphur, and soon made an impression. A division of ships, consisting of the Calliope, the Hyacinth, and the Larne, under Capt. Herbert, attacked the lower fort on the sea face, and in less than an hour silenced the guns, although a number of troops remained within the walls; by 10 o'clock the troops had advanced, and carried the intrenchments with their field batteries; Major Pratt himself and two or three marines were in possession of the upper fort, and the British colours hoisted; the lower fort was speedily surrounded, and stormed by the entrance, as well as the wall, by a party of Rl. Marines, and the Union Jack displayed on the ramparts.

The management of Tycocktow was intrusted to Capt. Scott, of H.M.S. Samarang, accompanied by the Druid, Modeste, and Columbine, and in one hour it was silenced, but the Chinese remained in it until it was stormed by the boats, in which operation Lieutenant Bowers, senior, of the Samarang, was severely wounded; the guns in all the forts have been destroyed, the magazines blown up, and the barracks and houses burnt; 11 large war junks were anchored in the shoal water to the eastward of the position. The Nemesis, under Commander Belcher, accompanied by Lieut. Kellett, of the Starling, attacked them in admirable style, assisted by the boats of the Calliope, under Lieutenant Watson, senior of that ship. They were all set on hre and blown up; one with all the crew on board, a rocket having gone into her magazine. This ended the operations of the day.

His Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief expresses his high admiration of the gallantry and zeal which animated every officer and

man in the force, returns his thanks to the Captains Sir H. Fleming Senhouse, of the Blenheim, and the Hon. R. I. Dundas, of the Melville, and Capt. Maitland, of the Wellesley. Captains Herbert and Scott carried their divisons into action with their accustomed gallantry, and they were ably seconded by Captains Smith and Blake, and Commanders Warren, Eyres, and Clarke, under their immediate orders. The Commanders Pritchard, Paget, and Fletcher, of the Blenheim, Melville, and Wellesley, the Commanders of the steam-vessels, and every officer and man employed, deserve the highest praise for their zealous exertions on every point. Major Pratt, of the 26th, conducted the operations on shore in the most able and gallant manner: he speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of every officer and man employed.

This service has been performed with trifling loss on the part of Her Majesty's forces, although it is but justice to the Chinese to say that they defended themselves, especially in the batteries, with the greatest credit and devotion; they have suffered severely; their loss, including that on board the war junks, cannot be estimated at less than from 500 to 600, out of a force calculated at 2,000 men. The slaughter in the lower fort, when carried by storm, was considerable.

H. M. S. Wellesley, Chuenpee, Jan. 8, 1841. SIR, I have the honour to report to you, that the troops under my command, consisting of a detachment of RI. Artillery, having one 24-pounder howitzer, and two 6-pounder field guns, aided by a party of seamen from H.M.S. Wellesley, Blenheim, and Melville, detachments of the 26th and 49th Regs., a battalion of Royal Marines, the 37th Madras N. I., 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 opposition, and having formed them, I sent forward an advance of two companies of RI. Marines under Capt. Ellis; the guns were then moved on, supported by the detachments of the 26th and 49th Regs.. followed in column by the Marine Batt., the 37th N.I., and the Bengal Volunteers.

After advancing a mile and a balf, 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 breastwork 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 commenced firing; this was duly returned by the Chinese for about twenty minutes, and indeed in this, as well as our encounters with them, ft 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 the valley, took possession of a field battery placed there. I had previously ordered two companies of the 37th N.I.. 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 Lieut. Hadfield. Seeing that the fire from our guns was causing the Chinese to fly from the intrenchment and batteries, I took and moved the column down the slope, causing the two leading companies of Marines, under Capt. Whitcomb, to clear the wooded hill in front, and took a subdivision of them, got into the intrenchment, and proceeded up inside the breastwork to the upper fort, in which there were 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 was hoisted by a Royal Marine.