enough to cover our landing without a casualty. We advanced through the suburb, which we were desirous of leaving untouched, and made for the walled town, which we intended to destroy. As we advanced through the suburb we found all the streets occupied by the Braves, who fired upon us as we advanced; this street firing lasted nearly three hours, which time we required for landing the guns, scaling ladders, etc. We at last arrived at the walls and made arrangements for storming, when the Chinese, seeing our determination to take the place, did pretty much as they did at Canton, that is, left the town and sallied out to take us in flank and rear, where they were received by a force left there for the purpose, and where they suffered very severely. The walls were scaled without opposition of any kind, and the deserted town of Nantow became our prize. Our loss was 2 officers killed, 2 officers severely wounded, 2 men killed, and about 20 wounded. The Chinese loss we calculated roughly at about 500 killed and wounded. One of the officers killed was Captain Lambert, R.E., Augustus's friend, who brought me out a parcel from Bolton Row in the winter; he was accidentally shot when mounting the wall by a bluejacket who was following him. He was an exceedingly nice fellow, and everybody regrets him. I had rather a shave myself, being struck in the breast by a shot from a jingall when placing the storming parties. The shot must, however, have either come sideways or not have been of a very formidable size, as it only gave me a bruise and tore my clothes. Another shot at the same time went through a roll of papers I had in my hand. That evening the town was given up to pillage, and the next morning at daybreak all hands were turned out and distributed over the town to set it on fire, and it was soon in a blaze in every direction, and continued to burn beautifully till we re-embarked. So much for Nantow. I don't think they will fire on a flag of truce again.... The letter from Hwang which I told you had been returned to him produced a second, written in a very proper
1858] HOPES TO GET AWAY 229
manner, and which has given great satisfaction. We cannot, however, find out upon what terms we are to continue in possession of this city, and shall not know, I suppose, until the Treaty is sent back ratified. I hope if you come across any commanding officer, whoever he may happen to be, you would induce him to have me sent for. The idea of garrisoning Canton till these obstinate brutes come to their senses is not a pleasant prospect and may last ad infinitum, without a prospect of there being anything more to do. — Your affectionate brother, Fredk. Stephenson.
To his Sister
Canton, September 10, 1-858.
My dear Minny, — ^What a mass of letters I have got to thank you for, and all my sisters; but you know that I have not answered you personally because my mother likes to hear from me so much herself, and more than one letter to the same house is beyond my powers of composition. However, my arrears are becoming so frightful that I must break through my rule for once. I cannot tell for certain how many more letters I may date from this place, but I think four or five mails may do the work, and that the end of the year, after a twelvemonth's tedious occupation, will see us out of this. How glad I shall be when I am free! With any other people in the world we should have been away a month ago, but what with the humbled pride of the Chinese, their dilatoriness, and their insensate hope of somehow or another wriggling out of their present position by delay, we are most unnecessarily detained in this infernal hole. All the interests of the Chinese point to getting rid of us as soon as possible. Their trade is stopped, consequently their revenue suffers; the ordinary traffic of the town is scarcely alive, and a large majority of the inhabitants won't return to their homes till we are gone; and yet one month's time would remove all these difficulties, for they