He
Incited The Population To Make A Stubborn Resistance; He Placed A Reward
Of Thirty Dollars On The Head Of Every Englishman Slain Or Captured, And
He Publicly Proclaimed That There Was No Alternative But War.
He seems to
have been driven to these extremities by a fear for his own personal
safety and official position.
He had no warrant from his imperial master
to commit China to such a dangerous course as another war with the
English, and he knew that the only way to vindicate his proceedings was to
obtain some success gratifying to national vanity. While Yeh was counting
on the support of the people, the English admiral began the bombardment of
the city, directing his fire principally against Yeh's yamen and a part of
the wall, which was breached in two days. After some resistance the breach
was carried; a gate was occupied, and Sir Michael Seymour and Mr. Parkes
proceeded to the yamen of the viceroy, but as it was thought dangerous to
occupy so large a city with so small a force the positions seized were
abandoned, although still commanded by the fire of the fleet. After a few
days' rest active operations were resumed against the French Folly fort
and a large fleet of war junks which had collected up the river. After a
warm engagement the vessels were destroyed and the fort captured.
Undaunted by these successive reverses, Yeh still breathed nothing but
defiance, and refused to make the least concession. There remained no
alternative but to prosecute hostilities with renewed vigor.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 449 of 704
Words from 121963 to 122222
of 191255
