Tuose who are accustomed to take things as they find them, and to feel slender interest in the history of past transactions, may regard the retelling of a story' twenty eight years old, with languid attention; bat there are others who may not object to be reminded how the native city of Shanghai first fell into British hands. It is not likely that very many of the residents can recollect the circumstances, and it may not be devoid of instruction to recall who were the men and what were the circumstances that occasioned an event fraught with important results to the commerce of Western nations.
It was on the 17th of June 1842, that Vice Admiral Parker, then fying his flag on the Cornwallis, in Woosung Harbour, dispatched two ships, the Philegethon and the Medusa, up the then little known. Wangpoo river. Commander Keller, who is now in charge of the station, and whose "zeal. on this, service" we are told, "and on every, other which ho is engaged iv, exceeds all, praise,", was desired to ascertain if any obstruction might be expected from the Chinese forces, or want of water for the steam vessels their passage with the troops. The commander returned, however, havin, been stopped by two strong. batten on each side of the river about six miles, above Woosung; that on the left bank mounting 46 and, on the opposite, 14 guns, The last of these batteries attempted to open fire, but no injury was be- sustained by the fleet.
Six vessels were immediately sent up the river, with directions to take up a position a near as possible to these batteries.
Five hundred men were dispatched by laud towards Shanghai, and marched through the country which is now the favourite walk of energetic pedestrians, and which will perhaps, before many years, be covered with the villas, lodges, and cottages of foreign merchants, Meantime, the little army at Woosang had been reinforced by the arrival of 8 transports with the 2nd Madras native infantry, and other troops. On the moring of the 19th, under the hot Ju sun the men embarked, and nine ships proceeded up the River. Amongst the Officers was 1 captain who bore the well known name of Keppel and who, seven years from that date was destined to display such exceptional vigour as to be rebuked by the Admiralty and eulogised by Lord Palmerston, and, twenty eight years later, to be pulled on board his flag ship in a boat of which the second son of the Queen held the stroke oar. The fleet had no difficulty worth naming, in navigating the much abused stream which Admiral Parker, in a fit of pardonable enthusiasm, called "this splendid river," and by half past one o'clock they had arrived within sight of the city. It probably looked very much as it loos now. 'The same gray walls sar. rounded the.same collection of squalid houses; though' the Tea gardens, the boast and show of the city, were nn-. damaged by foreign violence. The rusty cumbrous guns that now. lie dismounted amidst thick rank grass on the bastions, were ranged in batteries and opened a distant futile fire. The squadron cast off the steamers and engaged, and on the discharge of two well directed broadsides from the North Star and Modeste the Chinese troops fled neifer skelter; and Captain: Bourchier. landed with "the seamen and marines, and took: possession: of:'the batteries, The troops disembarked from
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.