Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/62

54 in crowds to the shore to gaze on the then novel spectacle of steamers progressing against the current. On the 20th of July the fleet dropped anchor off Chinkiang-foo, a strongly fortified town, which, having regard to its commanding position at the entrance to the river, is looked upon as one of the keys of the empire. A strong Tartar garrison held the town, and the hills above the river were covered with encampments of Chinese troops. After a careful reconnaissance it was decided lo attack the two sections of the opposing Chinese forces simultaneously. The work of dealing with the hill encampments was entrusted to a brigade under Lord Saltoun, and the assault on the town was conducted by the remaining troops under Sir Hugh Gough's personal command. Lord Saltoun's force met with very little resistance, the bulk of the Chinese fleeing immediately they observed the British force approaching. In the town greater resistance was offered by the sturdier Manchu soldiery, who sold their lives dearly in street fighting which, with the severe heat of the day, severely tried our troops. Only as the day closed was the position completely occupied, and by that time our men were so exhausted by their exertions that they were unable to push home their victory. The defenders on their part scorned in many instances to take to flight. They salved their wounded honour by self destruction. The method of the brave Tartar general's exit from the world was characteristic. When he found that the battle had gone against him he retired to his house, and taking his seat in his favourite arm chair ordered his servants to fire the building. The next day his body was found much burned, but retaining the sitting posture in which he had placed himself. The British dropped a sympathetic tear over their gallant enemy, whose defence they had reason to remember, for their losses here were greater than in any engagement during the war. After a fortnight's interval to rest and recruit the troops, the advance on Nanking was resumed. On the 5th of August the fleet arrived off the city, which is one of the most important commercial centres in the Empire. The place was garrisoned by fourteen thousand troops, and there were expectations of another sanguinary battle when the ships hove in sight of the far-spreading quarters of the great centre of Chinese power and caught a glimpse of the picturesque outlines of the historic Porcelain Tower which was then a dominating feature of the landscape. Happily, however, these expectations were not realised. Just as the expeditionary force was about to deliver its attack, letters arrived for the British commander informing him that three imperial delegates were on their way for the purpose of negotiating a peace. Confirmation of the satisfactory news was forthcoming shortly afterwards in the arrival of the members of the mission. They were men of high distinction in the empire. Elepoo, the head, was a former governor of Chekeang; Keying, the second, was an uncle of the Emperor; while the third delegate, Niu Kien, was Viceroy of the Two Kiang. There was a protracted discussion of the preliminaries of peace, in which Sir Henry Pottinger took up a very firm attitude. The Emperor found it hard to swallow the bitter pill offered him, but eventually he was reluctantly persuaded by arguments to assent to an arrangement on the lines set out by the British Plenipotentiary. The demands which were subsequently incorporated in the Treaty of Nanking, were certainly of a character to cause not a little misgiving and even consternation in the imperial circle. They were the payment of an indemnity of $21,000,000; the opening of the five ports of Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Shanghai, and Ningpo to British trade, with right of appointing consuls to reside in them; the cession of Hongkong; the establishment of regular tariffs of import and export duties; the unconditional release of all British subjects detained as prisoners; and the granting of a free pardon by the Emperor to all those of his own subjects who had incurred penalties by holding intercourse with the British officers. On the 20th of August the delegates paid a formal visit to the Cornwallis, the admiral's flagship, to discuss the terms of peace. They were received with every mark of courtesy, but in order that they might be left in no doubt as to the intentions of the British in the event of the failure of the negotiations they were confronted with an imposing display of force, both naval and military. The interview passed off very satisfactorily, and there was a spirit of equal harmony manifested on the