Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 80

First Opium War
The Eastern Expedition
The Battle of Ningpo
1842 (26 Mar. to 1 Apr.) entire letter from Turner and Co in Macao to John Gladstone, Liverpool "via Marseilles" and rated "2/8" with "INDIA" in large oval, the flap with "Recd Bombay 28th May 1842 R S & Co" with London and Liverpool (5.8) datestamps; two vertical filing folds and the ink is showing through the paper.

The letter mentions the sale of Bengal and Bombay opium, the latter at a loss. The postscript of the letter reads, "... Intelligence arrived last night from Chusan by the 'Royal Exchange' of an attack having been made by the Chinese on Ningpo and Chinhae during the night of 10th March which met with a complete repulse accompanied with great slaughter. Preparations that were being made for an attack on Chusan also were about the same time interrupted by a reconnoitring party in the Steamer 'Nemesis'. At Ningpo alone the attack was fully made, 17000 men it is said having got over the walls into the city where they were met by the artillery and large numbers of them killed. They were pursued in their retreat by the 49th Regiment which had not returned when the intelligence left Ningpo. No loss had been suffered on the side of the English". This letter is marked as triplicate and give the carrying ships of the original and duplicate. A good letter giving insight in to this battle


1842年3月26日至4月1日澳門Turner & Co 經馬賽寄英國利物浦John Gladstone &Co 信函, 遞送費為2s 8d. 蓋有大㰐圓型 "INDIA" 戳, 封舌上有"Recd Bombay 28th May 1841 R S & Co" 字樣, 及8月5日倫敦及利物浦日戳. 有两度摺痕及書寫墨水透背. 信函中敘述有關淅東之戰 (the Battle of Ningpo) 在淅東之戰敗北後, 清廷無心再戰, 決意妥協求和, 速成數月後簽訂南京條約. 此信函正是提及此戰役, 當中述及入城的清兵有17000 嚴重死傷的消息.

Sold for
HK$6,000

Starting price
HK$5000