British expedition underway on the Tien-Tsin River[Peiho or Hai river] in November 1854

Illustrated London News dated 27-1-1855

The HMS Rattler (1) commanded by captain Mellers brought Sir John Bowring (2) to Peking. She was accompanied by the American steam frigate USS Powhatan (3) and steamship John Hancock with on board the American Commissioner Mr. M’Lane (4_. As auxiliaries were on the river available the American schooner USS Fenimore Cooper and the lorcha Chusan.

Notes

1. Screw steam sloop, ordered on 24 February 1842, laid down by Sheerness Dockyard in April 1842, launched on 13 April 1843, commissioned on 12 December 1844 and broken up at Woolwich between 22 July-26 November 1856. Participated with the HMS Eaglet and American USS Powhatan at the naval battle near Tai O vollage, Lamtau/Kowloon against Chinese pirates.

2. Sir John Bowring (17 October 1792 Exeter, Devon, England-23 November 1872 Clarement, Devon, England), 4th Governor of Hong Kong between 13 April 1854-9 September 1859)

3. Screw steam frigate, laid down by Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA on 6 August 1847, launched on 14 February 1850, commissioned on 2 September 1852, decommissioned on 2 June 1886, sold on 30 July 1886 and broken up on 5 August 1887.

4. Probably Robert Milligan McLane (23 June 1815 Wilmington, Delaware, USA-16 April 1898 Paris, France), appointed as commissioner to China in 1853.