information I have received, that a Pirate fleet reports are often without much foundation; but on this occasion I have, from the every rea Lon to believe, is actually lying lying at reported. Should you have it in Your power to send a Vifel to the spot
287 nclosure. No. 4 in. Despatch No 142 of 1849. From His Excellency Mr Bonham, to Sü, Imperial Commissioner.
VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 20th September, 1849.
I have already upon several occasions addressed Your Excellency regarding Pirates; but as long as they remained at a distance and did not interfere with British vessels, I did not consider myself bound to interpose. Lately, however, acts of piracy have been more than ordinarily frequent in the vicinity of this Colony one Junk, the property of a British subject, has been seized off Hainan, and there have been rumours that a British vessel, long missing, had been captured by the Pirates in that neighbourhood. A vessel-of-war was in consequence despatched to make search; and on the 5th September, in Tinpak bay, fell in with a fleet of Pirate Junks, of which she destroyed five. Upon her report, a second vessel was scut upon the 8th, which also destroyed five. These vessels were undoubtedly piratical, and formed part of the fleet of Shap-'ng-tsai. They were pointed out as such by some of the Chinese whom they had detained at the above place, and the Chinese authorities on the Coast, who are all much gratified at our success, also made a statement to that effect.
It is clear that your Naval Authorities have not the power to destroy, or disperse, these marauders. Now that they have come to the vicinity of this Island, I have determined to take steps for the despatch of vessels to scour the seas in all directions, more especially as I understand that Tsu-a-pò, who murdered two English Officers in the month of March last, is a leading man amongst them. I have twice called Your Excellency's attention to this outrage, committed by one of your own countrymen, who afterwards fled from my jurisdiction. He must now be in that of Your Excellency; nevertheless nothing appears to have been done towards his apprehension; and if, in the attempts which I myself am making to arrest him, accidents should happen through ignorance on our part, the blame of these must attach to Your Excellency, for not having earlier caused this miscreant to be apprehended.
I am aware that there may be some difficulty in effecting his capture; but I feel sure that, if Your Excellency would take the usual steps to secure him, it would be in your power to send him to me to be tried and punished.
This murder took place 5 months ago; but it is still fresh in my memory, and will remain so until satisfaction has been afforded for so abominable an outrage.
Accept the assurances, &c.
S. G. BONHAM.
to silperde, and if possible to des destroy, this Band of marauders, you would be rendering very useful servico of this the interests. to the Colony as well as to the cause of Humanity.
I have Ac. (Siques) SG Bonham.
(True Copup) Colonial Secretary.
His Excellency Sil, Imperial High Commissioner, fc., yo., c.
From His Excellency Mr Bonham, to Sü, Imperial Commissioner.
VICTORIA, Hosokong, 8th October, 1849.
I have again the honour to communicate to Your Excellency the particulars of a successful attack made by two English vessels-of-war upon a large force of Pirates.
Information having been received that a large fleet, under Tsu-á-pò, were at a place called Ping-hoi, in the district of Kweishen, a brig-of-war was despatched in quest of them on the 27th ultimo. She arrived at noon on the 28th, found that they had sacked the village, and gone to! Tysami,* off which place she saw them about 11 P. M.-fourteen sail in all the village at this place was also smouldering. The brig continued to chase them the whole night, but the wind was light and she was long in approaching them, until, on the morning of the 29th, an English merchant steamer coming up, towed her close to a large junk, which, going into shoal water, the brig's boats attacked and boarded. Two forts on the shore also opened fire upon the junk; and her crew, as soon as she was boarded, blew her up, destroying some 90 of themselves, while a British officer and 3 seamen were killed, and seven seamen injured. Of the pirate's squadron, three vessels, abandon- ed by their crews, were rendered useless by our people; the remaining ten got away and were pursued by the brig. On the 30th, the wounded were sent back in the merchant steamer to Hong- kong, with a report of all that had taken place to the Naval Commander-in-Chief, by whom orders were instantly given to a large man-of-war steamer to proceed to the spot and assist the brig. These two vessels returned to this harbour on the 4th instant, and announced the total annihilation of Tsu-á-po's fleet, consisting of 23 piratical Junks, averaging 500 tons in burden, and mounting from 12 to 18 guns.
350 Guns had been also destroyed; and two new Junks, on the stocks, at a place in the vicinity; as also two small Dockyards, and a large supply of Naval Stores had been burned. There were besides some 400 pirates killed, and the rest, some 1400, dispersed with arms, indeed, but without any means of continuing to exercise their dangerous vocation.
As regards Tsu-a-pò, who, as I mentioned in my letter of the 20th ultimo to Your Excellency, I had reason to suppose was a leader amongst these pirates, it is stated by a wounded Chinese who was picked up in the water, that he had been wounded in the encounter and carried off by his followers. There would therefore be, I should imagine, little difficulty in discovering him; and the local authorities of the Coast districts will, I trust, receive immediate orders to search for and seize him; and to lose no time in following up this successful attack upon his band, and utterly exter- minating them.
I have much satisfaction in communicating these particulars to Your Excellency, and take the opportunity of remarking once more, that our success in completely putting down this nuisance, which is even more hurtful to you than to ourselves, would be sure, if I could prevail upon Your Excellency to concert with me those measures of cooperation, the advantage of which I have so often pressed upon your attention, In my communication of 20th ultimo, above referred to, I said "that I was determined to take steps for the despatel of vessels to scour the seas in all directions;" and I shall only add that, whether Your Excellency is pleased to cooperate with me or not, I shall accordingly miss no opportunity of destroying these common enemies of mankind, wherever they are to be found in these waters; that the spreading of this evil may be effectually put an end to.
Accept the assurances, &c.
His Excellency Sü, &o., Imperial High Commissioner, So, &c.
*Probably Shan-mi or Sán-mi.
S. G. BONHAM.