The inhabitants of the villages of Tang-Tau and Po-leng had on one occasion roasted alive the mandarin who had been sent to govern them. They placed another mandarin between two planks and sawed him in halves. The Viceroy immediately sent orders for the army to advance, and appointed two Commissioners, with a force and a couple of gunboats, to co-operate with our forces towards the punishment of the offending villages. The Commodore was ordered to take command of the _Rinaldo_, _Perseus_, _Leven_, _Bouncer_, and _Cockchafer_, together with a party of seamen and marines from the _Rodney_. [Sidenote: Flag in _Salamis_.] These being soon ready, the Commodore proceeded to Swatow, with orders to make preparations, but wait the arrival of the Commissioners and Chinese forces. I, intending to follow in the _Salamis_, returned to Hong Kong, and on the 30th hoisted the flag on board her, and left same afternoon. Whether the Commodore thought that I should personally supersede him in the command, I do not know. When I arrived at Swatow on the 31st, I found he had neglected the latter part of his orders, and the morning after his arrival, without waiting for the Viceroy’s Commissioners, proceeded to land his marines and march up the banks to protect the boats which conveyed the force up the creek that led to the offending villages. At 8 A.M. (28th January) an advance was made on the village of Tang-Tau, which, together with that of Po-leng, had assisted the villages of Ou-teng-foi in their attack. These three villages offered more or less resistance: at each, the inhabitants were first to open fire, and showed a bold front, but the Sneiders soon doubled up those who did not take the earliest opportunity of dispersing as our men advanced. Tang-Tau was burned. Po-leng was spared, as the inhabitants made little resistance. Ou-teng-foi, which was barricaded, had their defences destroyed, and principal houses burned. It was difficult to ascertain the amount of loss of the villagers, as they were smart in carrying off their killed and wounded, but the Commodore, thinking they were sufficiently punished, re-embarked and returned to his ships. No looting of any sort was allowed, although geese and poultry were in plenty. Our casualties were five wounded; the worst being Lieutenant Herbert Gye, whose face and hands were badly burned by an explosion of gunpowder lying loose on the floor of a house he was endeavouring to set fire to. Lieutenant Aitkin was severely bambooed before and behind by two Chinamen who rushed on him unawares, and Lieutenant Lloyd was wounded in the foot by falling into a cleverly concealed trap armed with a spear and intended for greater mischief. The next day, 29th, the headmen of the villages sent in their submission in the following terms, translated from the original:-- _Humble Petition_-- The Inhabitants of Tang-Tau, Po-leng, and Ou-teng-foi.