therefore, join the Admiral at the end of this week and go at Canton the beginning of next. Think of me on Christmas Day, for that is where I shall be eating my Christmas dinner. (I forgot you would not get this till a month afterwards.) Lord Elgin's ultimatum, which you will probably see in the paper about the time this reaches you, was given in last Friday. I am told it is beautifully written and very moderate. The Arrow was not alluded to — or barely so — with which Baron Gros 2* was much pleased. It sets forth the grievances of which, for a long series of years, we have to complain, and for which, in common with every other nation, we are now assembled to seek redress. Ten days are allowed for an answer, and then we commence hostilities, occupying in the meantime— a rather questionable act, I think — the island of Huan, which Yeh is informed is not intended as an aggressive or coercive act; nevertheless, we shall from there commence our operations. Our force on land, as I told you in my last, will be about 5000 (including marines, sailors, and French), and about 23 guns. A great many of the better class of Cantonese have left their town, and there are various rumours and opinions as to the amount of resistance we shall meet with, but the general impression is that it will be a vigorous one. If it is, the town will suffer fearfully, owing to the batteries we shall have in position, and the numerous gunboats, etc., of the fleets. I think you must give us a little prize money if we do our business well. By the way, talking of that reminds me that Moncrieff25 wrote to me the other day to say that I had been awarded the Medjidieh; if this is true, pray send me out some of the riband to wear on my coats.... I hope you get the letters I send you, they are all directed to the Treasury, and are not prepaid, the last one was sent a month ago. I shall direct this to Bolton Row by way of variety.... — Your affectionate brother, Fredk. Stephenson.
To Lady Stephenson
Hong Kong, December 15, 1857.
My dear Mother, — The Ultimatum was sent in to Yeh last Friday, nth of November. Wade,2« chief interpreter, who took it, was met half-way across the river opposite Canton by the Chinese, who were very courteous, and very soon returned an answer which I am told was very short, but its purpose is as yet a secret. Mr. Wade reports that there is no appearance of preparation on the part of the Chinese, and that boats were moving about much the same as usual, though not quite so numerous. The navy occupy the island of Huan, directly opposite Canton, to-day. We, the troops, move up there on Thursday or Friday, and on Tuesday following, which will be about ten days after the delivery of the Ultimatum, the time allowed to Yeh to make up his mind, proceed to hostilities in the event of an unfavourable answer being returned by the Chinese. The General — Straubenzee — accompanied by Major Clifford, A.Q.M.G., and Captain Mann, senior engineer, are gone up to Huan to see the ground we are to encamp on, previous to commencing our attack on Canton, as well as to make such reconnaissance as they may be able to do, and then finally settle upon the plan of operations with the English and French admirals. Our available land force will be about 5000, including the English sailors, and about 900 French, besides 25 field pieces. The English and French gunboats will co-operate, together with such other vessels of small draught as we can get opposite Canton. They will bring a tremendous fire to bear upon the place, and altogether I think we shall make a rapid and successful business of it. What the next step will be is more than I can tell you; we shall have to hold the city, but for how long is very uncertain. It is a capital time of year for these operations. We expect dry, coldish weather, and at this season the rice fields, which at other times are swampy and unhealthy, are dry, the crops being just gathered
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