In the local newspaper named Vlissingse Courant dated 24 March 1840 was a news item published, apparently earlier published at London 18 March. The latter publication was using a book written by Karl Friedrich August Gützlaff (8 July 1803-9 August 1851).
There were 2 fleets in China, one river fleet and one sea fleet. The first fleet counted 1063 vessels and 9,500 men, the second one 918 vessels with 98,421 men, so totally 1981 vessels and 107,921 sailors. Several generals were also admirals. Officers and soldiers were both unknown with shipping! Sailors of the merchant shipping were forced to serve in the navy. The war junks were in now way different from the merchant junks, the largest not larger than 300 ton. The whole Chinese coast was guarded with vessels.
Sources
Vlissingsche Courant
en.wikepedia.org
Note
1. This German missionary was sent in 1826 by the Netherlands Missionary Society to the island Java, part of the Dutch East Indies. Here he learned Chinese and he went to China. Dealing with this stay there he published he several books, including one published at London in 1834 dealing with his voyages along the Chinese coast in 1831-1833. Which of his books is used for above mentioned news item, isn’t clear, but the information given is astonishing dealing with the figures.
