'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎529] (548/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIA.N NAVY.
529
The 'Ferooz,' CommanJerTronson; ^enobia /LieutenantChitty;
' Berenice,' Lieutenant Robinson ; and ^Corornandel/ Lieutenant
R. G. Hurlock * who assumed temporary command in Calcutta in
November, 1859, on his services being no longer required
in Bengal. ^ The 'Coromandel' proceeded to China, towing a
transport with the 3rd Buffs, in the teeth of a strong north
easterly monsoon, for which Mr. Hurlock received the thanks
of the Government of India and Commodore Wellesley; she
also towed three transports, with artillery on board, 'from
Madras to Singapore, and proceeded to the seat of war in
China, under the command of Lieutenant C. H. Walker.
A portion of the Expedition first rendezvoused off King-
Tang, opposite the town of Chin-hai, at the mouth of
the Ning-po, and, on the 21st of April, the fleet proceeded to
Ting-hai, the capital of Chusan, which was occupied without
opposition. The rendezvous at the seat of war was Talien-wan,
on the western shore of the Gulf of Pecheli; and here assembled
the immense fleet of seventy ships of war, including the Indian
Navy Squadron, under the Commander-in-chief, Sir James Hope,
and one hundred and twenty transports, carrying the army of
fourteen thousand men, under the command of Sir J. Hope
Grant. On the 9th of July the 4 Ferooz ? arrived at Talien-wan
from Calcutta, with Lord Elgin, Her Majesty's special Envoy to
the Court of Pekin, where his brother, Mr. Bruce, was Minister;
and, on the 26th, the vast armada sailed for the general ren
dezvous agreed upon with the French Commanders, General
Montauban and Admiral Page, twenty miles south of the Peiho.
On the 28th of July, the Expedition, including thirty-three
French sail, carrying seven thousand soldiers, was assembled,
and, on the 30th, the combined fleets weighed and stood in for
the shore, anchoring about nine miles distant. Owing to the
bar at the mouth of the river Pehtang, only the gunboats were
able to enter, and, on the 31st July, the first troops were
landed from the launches towed by the gunboats, the flotilla
being led by the ' Coromandel,' commanded by Lieutenant
C. H. Walker, having on board Sir James Hope and Sir J. Hope
Grant, with their respective Staffs. Mr. Bowlby, the " Times "
correspondent, who soon after met with a terrible death at the
hands of his Chinese captors, describing the disembarkation,
says:—" The Takoo forts lay within three miles on the port-
quarter, looking sullen and threatening, but giving no other
signs of life than a Tartar flag, which waved from the largest
battery. In our rear were the combined fleets of England and
France, while far ahead the blue flag of Admiral Hope streamed
* Lieutenant Hurlock was relieved by the late Lieutenant C. H. Walker, an
excellent officer and seaman (with whom he remained as First-Lieutenant), and in
December, 1860, on that officer proceeding to England sick, Commander Batt,
who had returned to duty with his health restored after two years' residence in
England, assumed command of the ' Coromandei.'
VOL. II. MM