ment that negotiations had again commenced. Meanwhile, the troops began to arrive from Chusan, and the head-quarters of the regiment joined by the detachment were collected together with the rest of the force at the Bocca Tigris, on which all had fallen back. Here lieut.-colonel James going away on sick leave, the command of the corps devolved on lt.-col. Pratt.
“The whole force, after dropping down to Hongkong bay, were making preparations for a move to the northward, when very hostile preparations being displayed at Canton, the fleet and army again moved up the river. On the 22d May the combined forces reached within a few miles of Canton, and on the 24th May proceeded to attack Canton. The post allotted to the Cameronians was to land and take possession of the factories, and to coöperate in any measures with the navy on that side, whilst the remainder of the force moved to the north of the city, and took possession of the heights and forts there on the 25th, while the 26th were protecting the factories. An agreement had been made with the senior naval officer for a simultaneous attack on the sea side, when the general having determined to escalade on the north front, sent orders for the 26th to join him without delay; this they did on the 27th, and were quartered in the joss house:—but pending certain negotiations warlike operations were all stopped.
“During these, on the morning of the 30th May, the right wing was suddenly ordered out in consequence of multitudes of armed men advancing from the interior. The major-general ordered the 26th, and a party of the 37th M. N. I. and Bengal Volunteers, to drive them from the opposite hills; this service was performed, the enemy retiring in all directions. It was now nearly sunset, and a violent thunder storm coming on, the general directed the troops to return; some of the Chinese thinking the firelocks would not go off from the violence of the rain, (which indeed was the case,) made an attempt by rushing on the rear of the column to spear the men, and it became necessary to reform line in the midst of the paddy cultivation, and drive them off with the bayonet. The whole of this affair was performed under a burning sun, so violent that the quarter-master general dropped dead on the field, and the successive actions from 10 o’clock A. M. until 8 P. M. through perfect swamps, were considered so creditable, that a General Order was issued on the subject.
“The troops were again ordered out on the 31st, but no action took place. In the meantime, a ransom had been obtained for Canton, and a provisional treaty agreed to, and on the 1st June the
