GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The subjoined Report of a successful Expedition to Namtao, by Her Majesty's Ship Cruiser, and Gun-boats Lown and Janus, under the command of Commander BYTHESEA, R.N., is published for general information.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 21st March, 1859.
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
H.M. Ship Cruiser, HONGKONG, 20th March, 1859.
SIR,
I have the honour to report that, in compliance with instructions from His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, I proceeded on the 19th instant, with the Gun-boats Clown and Janus, to Namtao, to endeavour to recover Property amounting in Value to 4,500 Dollars, stolen from a Hongkong Passage Boat on the 27th ultimo.
Immediately on arrival I sent a Letter, which had been prepared by Mr. Caldwell, to the principal Mandarin, stating the circumstances of the case, and requesting that the Property, or its Value, should be returned in Two Hours, otherwise I should proceed to hostilities.
Within an Hour the Elders of the Village came on board, and requested more time; a Letter from the Chief Magistrate also requested extension of the time. As there appeared to be a desire on the part of the Elders to come to a satisfactory arrangement, I gave till 7 this morning.
As nothing had been concluded by that Hour, I fired a shot in the direction of the principal House of the Family to which the Pirates belonged; four other shots were afterwards fired in the same direction.
The Owners of the stolen Property at length consented to take 4,000 Dollars in full payment of the Sum, 1,000 of which were at once paid; the remainder, for which satisfactory security is given, to be paid at the Registrar General's Office at Hongkong within a Week.
The duty for which I was despatched having been thus happily concluded, I returned with the Gun-boats in Company to the present anchorage. I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,
(Signed,) J. BYTHESEA,
Commander.
To Captn.
P. CRACROFT, Senior Officer,
Hongkong.