INCIDENTS IN THE CHINA WAR OF 1860. CHAPTER I. JOURNAL. SIR HOPE GRANT APPOINTED TO COMMAND CHINA EXPEDITION SIR WILLIAM MANSFIELD DECLINES POST OF SECOND IN COMMAND-ARRIVAL AT HONG-KONG-ACQUISITION OF KOWLOON-EXPEDIENT FOR QUIETING CANTON -PROCEEDS TO SHANGHAI-WAR DECLARED-CONSULTATION WITH FRENCH CONCERNING PLAN OF OPERATIONS SEIZURE OF CHUSAN-INTERVIEW WITH MANDARINS HOW TO ALLOT QUARTERS—THE FRENCH AND THE FLAG-STAFF-RETURN TO HONG-KONG-COMPOSITION OF THE ENGLISH EXPEDITION-DELAY ON THE PART OF THE FRENCH-THEIR WANT OF TRANSPORT-ENGLISH TROOPS SAIL FOR GULF OF PECHILI-THE NEW ARMSTRONG GUNS REMARKS BY THE EDITOR LETTERS AND RETURNS. - IN consequence of the severe reverses we had met with in the attack on the Peiho Forts in 1859, the English Government determined to A send out an expedition to China to demand redress, and to secure the provisions of the treaties made by the Earl of Elgin1 and Baron Gros 2 respectively on 26th and 27th June 1858. The French likewise resolved to despatch a force to act in conjunction with ourselves. Her Majesty, on the recommendation of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, was pleased to nominate me to the command of the British troops, with the rank of LieutenantGeneral-a mark of favour which I appreciated the more, because I had sought for it neither directly nor indirectly. Indeed, I heard from home that, in the first instance, Sir Charles Wood, Secretary of State for India, had offered great opposition to my appointment, and had requested that Sir William Mansfield, whom he considered much superior to myself, might be selected instead. But the Duke urged my fitness for the command, and at the same time pointed out the injustice of passing over a senior and competent officer who, his Royal Highness was 1 Afterwards Governor-General of India; died 1863. 2 Since dead. 3 Now Viscount Halifax. 4 Now General Lord Sandhurst, G. C. B., commanding the forces in Ireland. good enough to say, had always done his duty. I received private letters from the Duke, and from Mr Sidney Herbert,1 Secretary of State for War, notifying to me my appointment, and explaining that Sir William Mansfield would be nominated my second in command, in consequence of his being a first-rate diplomatist and French scholar. Mansfield and myself had always been the best of friends, and I felt sure that we should continue to work together harmoniously; but it was hardly to be expected that he would consent to act as my junior, for he was considerably senior to me as a local MajorGeneral, though below me in army rank. Accordingly, in course of time, he wrote to tell me that he had declined the appointment, provided the Government approved of his refusal. I replied that I thought the view he had taken of the matter a mistaken one; but, of course, he adhered to his opinion, which was subsequently fully endorsed by the home authorities. On 26th February 1860, I sailed on board the screwsteamer Fiery Cross from Calcutta for HongKong, where we arrived on 13th March. Admiral 1 Afterwards Lord Herbert; died 1862. Hope,1 who was there in command of the fleet, carried his flag on board the Chesapeake, and I at once proceeded to make his acquaintance. He was a tall noble-looking man, with a prepossessing and most gentlemanlike appearance, and we were not long in becoming excellent friends. From him I learnt that Lieutenant - General Cousin de Montauban,2 the French military commander-in-chief, had gone to Shanghai, but that their senior naval officer, Admiral Page, was living on shore at Hong-Kong. I was most hospitably welcomed at Government House by the governor, Sir Hercules Robinson, whose residence was beautifully furnished in English fashion, and well warmed with blazing coal-fires. Although we were in the same latitude as in Calcutta, the climate was entirely different-in Hong-Kong the weather in March was bitterly cold. On the opposite coast, and within three-quarters of a mile of Victoria, was the promontory of Kowloon, a spot of which I was most anxious to gain im 1 Now Admiral Sir James Hope, G.C.B. 2 Now Count Palikao. After the fall of the Ollivier Ministry in July 1870, he was head of the Government, until the battle of Sedan, September 1, 1870, overthrew the French Empire. 3 Now Sir Hercules Robinson, K. C.M.G., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of New South Wales. mediate possession-firstly, because its occupation was absolutely essential for the defence of HongKong harbour and the town of Victoria; secondly, because it was an open healthy spot, admirably suited for a camping-ground on the arrival of our troops; thirdly, because at the conclusion of the war it would be a salubrious site for the erection of barracks, required for the Hong-Kong garrison; and lastly, because if we did not take it, the French probably would. This tract was about two miles in length and two miles in breadth, and was particularly healthy, owing to its being exposed to the south-west monsoon. There were, however, difficulties in the way. Mr Bruce, our plenipotentiary, had sent an ultimatum to the Chinese Government, allowing them a month to reply, and war had not as yet been actually declared; so the forcible seizure of the promontory would not have been quite legal. Meanwhile, Mr Bruce directed Sir Hercules Robinson to apply to the governor of the two large provinces of Kwang-tung and Kwang-si, for a lease of a portion of the ground, about two square miles in The mandarin governor was at that extent. The Hon. Sir Frederick Bruce, G. C. B., British Minister in the United States, died 1867. |