Progress of the Chinese War page 3

The squadron proceeded, on the 4th of August, up the river Yang-tze-Kiang towards Nankin, off which city it cast anchor on the 9th of that month. Sir H. Gough, in his despatch, gives the following account of this immense city, the second in extent and population in the Chinese dominions: - " The northern angle reaches to within about 700 paces of the river; and the western face runs for some miles along the base of the wooded heights rising immediately behind it, and is then continued for a great distance upon low ground, having before it a deep canal which also extends along the southern face serving, as a wet ditch to both. There is a very large suburb on the low ground in front of the west and south faces, and at the south-east angle is the Tartar city, which is a separate fortress, divided from the Chinese town by high walls. The eastern face extends in an irregular line for many miles, running towards the south over a spur of Chung Shan, a precipitous mountain overlooking the whole country, the base of which commands the rampart. In this face are three gates. The most northerly (the Teshing) is approachable by a paved road, running between wooded hills to within 500 paces of the walls, whence it is carried along a cultivated flat; the next (the Taiping) is within a few hundred yards of the base of Chung Shan, and that to the south (the Chan Yang) enters the Tartar city. There is a long line of unbroken wall between the Teshing gate and the river, hardly approachable from swamps and low paddy land, and the space between the Teshing and Taiping gates is occupied by rather an extensive gate."

At length the Chinese saw that resistance was vain, and that they must come to terms, as the "barbarians" could not be exterminated. Full powers had been given to three commissioners - Keying, a Tartar general belonging to the Imperial family, Elepoo, and Neu-Kien, general of the two Keang provinces - to negotiate a treaty of peace, which, after various conferences, was concluded on the 26th of August. It embraced the following stipulations: - The payment by the Chinese of 21,000,000 dollars; the opening of the new ports of Canton, Amoy, Fou-chow-fou, Ning-po, and Shang-hae, to British merchants, with permission to consular officers to reside there; the cession of the island of Hong Kong to the British in perpetuity; correspondence to be conducted on terms of perfect equality between the officers of both Governments; and the islands of Chusan and Ku-lang-su to be held by the British until the money payments were made, and arrangements for opening the ports were completed.

The Imperial Commissioner, in his report to the Emperor, endeavoured to put the best face upon these calamities and humiliations. " I, your servant," he says, "have examined, and have found what are the unwarrantable demands of the said barbarians, which they so importunately urge, and they are deserving of the utmost hatred. But considering that they have already attacked and laid in ruins Kingkow, and that not only the rivers, but Chin-Keang, it will be difficult to recover speedily, I am apprehensive we shall be blocked up both on the north and south, which will be the heaviest calamity."

Having referred to the various concessions that were extorted, he proceeded thus: - " If we again prepare our armies to maintain those places, it is a difficult matter to engage with them on the waters. Though near to each other, there has not been any fighting for many days; and as to those places which they have taken and keep possession of, will it not be allowed them to return to us our territory, and allow them to trade, since they are willing respectfully to pay the duties? Just now they are sensible, and repent of their errors, and are as obedient as if driven by the wind; and when again united in mutual friendship, benevolence, and truth, all things will go on well. And since they will guard thine own market, and surround and protect the sea-boundaries, there will not be any necessity for recourse to our interference, which will be to the advantage of our country. We request the Imperial will may be sent down to the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of the three provinces, to examine clearly into the duties and trading regulations of the comptroller of maritime customs in the provinces of Canton; and consult about the management of affairs, and fix them on a secure basis. That which the said barbarians have requested with reference to the officers of China is to have ceremonial intercourse upon an equality; and as to the barbarians who have been made captives, and the Chinese traders who have been seduced into the service of the English, the release of all these they most earnestly solicit. I, your servant have examined and found that, with reference to equal official intercourse, it may be unreservedly granted; and as the affairs with the foreigners are finished, and the war ended, the prisoners may also be released, by which harmony and good understanding will be strengthened; for a state of peace will bring repose and gladness, and overthrow factious parties. These matters may be allowed to proceed; and I have left them to the Shewei without discussing them."