Читать книгу The Memoirs of Admiral Lord Beresford - Baron Charles William De la Poer Beresford Beresford - Страница 6

East Indies and China … . … 36

Pacific … … … . … . 12

W. Coast of Africa … . … . 17

N. America and W. Indies. … . 14

S.E. Coast of America … . … 13

Mediterranean … … . … . 22

Cape of Good Hope … … … 5

Australia … … … . … 4

River Gambia … … . … . 1

Channel … … … . … . 6

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Total 130

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The presence of so large a force in Chinese waters was due to the affair of "the lorcha Arrow," which occurred on 8th October, 1856, in the Canton River. The Arrow, a small vessel flying the British flag, was captured by the Chinese authorities and the crew were arrested on a charge of piracy. In the result, Admiral Sir Michael Seymour bombarded Canton. Operations were suspended during the Indian Mutiny, to be resumed in 1858, with the assistance of France. Canton was captured, and the treaty of Tien-Tsin was concluded with China. It was not, however, ratified, and in June, 1859—six months before I entered the Navy—hostilities were resumed, to terminate in the burning of the Summer Palace at Pekin, and the subsequent signing of a convention.