The British government found it necessary to send an expedition to the Chinese seas, to compel the government of the "Celestial empire" to acknowledge the principles of international law, as adopted by civilized nations, and the ROYAL IRISH regiment was one of the corps selected for this service. Three companies from the depôt embarked from Portsmouth in October, 1839, and arrived at Bombay in March, 1840, and they afterwards sailed for China: three companies embarked from Trincomalee in May, and three from Galle in June, and sailed for the Chinese seas. Hostilities having been found unavoidable, it became important to gain possession of a portion of the Chinese territory, and the governor of _Chusan_, an island lying off the coast, and comprising in its jurisdiction a small group of islands, was summoned to surrender in the beginning of July. He, however, made dispositions to defend the place, and on the morning of the 5th of July the shore was crowded with Chinese troops, and the landing place, wharf, and adjoining hill displayed an array of military power. The British shipping silenced the enemy's war-junks and batteries; and the right wing of the ROYAL IRISH regiment, commanded by Major Henry William Adams, with the Royal Marines of the fleet, forming the advance, landed. They were followed by other corps, and the British troops, commanded by Brigadier-General George Burrell, Lieut.-Colonel of the EIGHTEENTH, took up a position in front of the fortified city of _Ting-hae-hien_, from whence a sharp fire was kept up for some time; but before the following day the Chinese soldiers fled in a panic. The city was taken possession of, and this success gave presage of future conquests; but the climate proved injurious to the health of the troops, and many soldiers died. This display of British prowess was followed by negotiations; and in August the other three companies of the regiment landed on the island of Chusan, a detachment taking post at Tsin-Kong. [Sidenote: 1841]