A strong armament of fourteen warships and several transports was assembled at Singapore, the command of which was given to Admiral Elliott. Before his arrival, however, in the _Melville_, 74, the second in command, Commodore Sir J. Gordon Bremer, captured the island of Chusan, on July 5, with its capital--a walled city six miles in circumference. Negotiations for peace were then opened, but the Chinese authorities prolonged them on so many various pretexts, while busily erecting batteries at the Bogue, near Canton, that Commodore Bremer broke off the proceedings and prepared for action. The Bogue Forts were bombarded, and two of them were captured on January 7, 1841; after further fruitless parleying the bombardment was re-opened on February 19, and the whole chain of defences were taken. After each successive engagement, Captain Elliott, the civil superintendent, attempted to obtain a pacific settlement with the enemy; but forbearance was invariably interpreted by the Mandarin as a sign of weakness, and it was not till the troops under Sir Hugh Gough, had fought their way to the walls of Canton that Captain Elliott was able to announce that terms of peace had been agreed to, just forty-five minutes before a general attack on Canton was to have taken place. [Illustration: _J. Doyle_ ("_H. B._").} {_Political Sketches, 1840._ CHINESE JUGGLERS. Sir J. Graham, who attacked the Government with a Motion in regard to the conduct of the Chinese War in 1840 and nearly defeated them, is here represented as drawing forth reels of Chinese Papers and Blue Books from Lord Palmerston. John Bull, in the background, is remarking, "What an enormous quantity of paper for any man to swallow!"] [Illustration: SIGNATURES OF THE QUEEN AND PRINCE CONSORT IN 1840.] [Sidenote: Peace concluded under the Walls of Nankin.] Once more peace negotiations broke down: hostilities were resumed; Chusan was re-occupied; Amoy, believed by the Chinese to be impregnable, was taken by assault on August 25, 1842; the capture of Chinghai and Ningpo followed; and when Sir H. Gough appeared before Nankin the Chinese Government finally agreed to accept the terms imposed as the conditions of peace. Five millions and three-quarters sterling were exacted as an indemnity; the island of Hong Kong was ceded to Great Britain, and five principal Chinese ports were thrown open to British trade. [Illustration: _C. R. Leslie, R.A._} {_From the Royal Collection._ A. Duchess of Gloucester. B. Duchess of Kent. C. Duke of Sussex. D. Queen Adelaide. E. Archbishop of Canterbury christening F. the Royal Infant. G. Archbishop of York. H. The Queen. J. Prince Consort. THE CHRISTENING OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, February 10, 1841. Her Majesty's eldest child, the Princess Royal, was born November 21, 1840, and christened Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa.] CHAPTER III. 1841-1846.