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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

TTHICO

832

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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Inclosure 7 in No. 25.

Governor Sir H. Ord to the Acting Lieutenant-Governor of Penang, December 17, 1872. Petition respecting attack on "Fair Malacca."

[See Inclosure 4 in No. 19.]

Inclosure 8 in No. 25.

Commander Denison to Acting Lieutenant-Governor, "Zebra," Penang, December 21, 1872.

[See Inclosure in No. 19.]

Sir,

Inclosure 9 in No. 25.

Opinion of the Solicitor-General, September 22, 1872.

[See Inclosure 7 in No. 19.]

Inclosure 10 in No. 25.

Minute of the Governor, December 23, 1872.

[See Inclosure 8 in No. 19.]

Inclosure 11 in No. 25.

Opinion of the Solicitor-General.

[See Inclosure 8 in No. 19.]

Inclosure 12 in No. 25.

Governor Sir H. St. George Ord to Commander Denison, December 25, 1872.

[See Inclosure 9 in No. 19.]

Inclosure 13 in No. 25.

"Zebra," at Penang, January 3, 1873,

I HAVE the honour to inform you that, in consequence of the receipt of your letter of 25th December, I left this port on the afternoon of the 30th ultimo for Laroot river (having telegraphed to Commander Osborn to meet me there in the "Hornet ") taking a Malay interpreter (Englishman), a Chinese interpreter, and the second mate of the "Fair Malacca" to identify the junks.

"

2. I arrived off Laroot river early next morning (the 31st) and found the "Hornet at anchor, and at daylight I went on board her and proceeded up the river with the boats of Her Majesty's ship "Zebra" in tow, until within about 500 yards of a barrier placed by the Chinese to block the river up, and there found three junks.

As Her Majesty's ship "Hornet" could not proceed any further, I went in the boats to the junks, two of which the Chinaman from the "Fair Malacca" recognized as having fired into her, but he could not swear to the third; on boarding the junks we found them full of men well armed, and with stink pots at their mast heads, and boarding nets ready. In one we found an English red ensign, but none knew anything of it, and could find no English papers; they all denied having fired on any English vessel; they all owned they

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belonged to Ho Ghee Siew's party, and wanted to know why we did not take U-ba-sun's junks. In the evening, when their excitement had cooled down, a man in one of them acknowledged that they had fired at the "Fair Malacca," but that she had fired on them first; next morning (the 1st January) I proceeded up the river with the boats to the town (the "Hornet" not having room to swing, had to go back about a mile and a-half, the barrier was some five miles from entrance), and found three more armed junks, none of which the man from the "Fair Malacca" could recognize. Commander Osborn and myself with the interpreter then went to the Rajah's house, in order to communicate with him and the head men of the two Chinese factions. I found it impossible to speak to the Rajah himself or to the leader of U-ha-sam's factions, as the Rajah was on the other side of U-ha-sam's men, and they would not trust themselves in the neighbourhood of Hoe Ghee Sew's people; I explained to the acting headman of the Rajah, and to the leader of Hoe Ghee Sew's side there present, that I had not come to side with either party, that some junks (whose I did not care) had fired on an English steamer, that if the Rajah had not been a fugitive, and had been keeping order in his own territory, we should have looked to him for redress, which I had no doubt he would have been very happy to have given; but as there was nothing but anarchy in the place, any vessel firing on a recognized flag of any nation was a pirate; I merely came as a policeman of the seas to seize a pirate, and did not, and would not interfere in their dissensions; all might see that it was not for siding with one party or the other that I took the trouble to come among them, as the followers of both might hear me, and there was no fear of my being misinterpreted by the other side, as I took two of Hoe Ghee Sew's junks, and left them four, not being able to prove their having committed piracy.

1

I then addressed the headman of the Rajah, and told him that we were all very sorry there was such trouble in his dominions; that I did not come from the Governor, but, as I said before, I only came to seize the junks that happened to be in his dominions, as he could not help us. I believed the Governor had already warned him of what would happen if he would not trust him and let him know his policy; that the Governor never knew which were his friends, and that his prophecy had come true. I did not know the Governor's feelings on the subject, but, as a friend of the Rajah's, I would advise him to communicate with the Governor, and, if possible, see him, but it was no use having his advice unless he followed it out. I then repeated to him about my being perfectly impartial in the affair, but I could not help either side, as that would require authority from the English Government. I only came as a naval officer to seize pirates. The Rajah's inan said he was very glad we felt friendly, and that probably the Rajah would consult the Governor. Hoe Ghee Sew's man made no answer, but said he understood they all seemed in great fear of one another, although nominally friends, and mistrusted one another in every way.

3. After the interview, I proceeded down the river and back to this ship, having dispatched the "Hornet" back to Singapore, and left with the two junks in tow. Meeting with heavy weather on the way back, one of the junks capsized and sank. Luckily, not having considered her quite sound, I had only left two blue jackets in her (and had removed the Chinese) who were both saved. The other junk I towed to this place, where I arrived last night (2nd January).

4. I have to bring to your notice the assistance rendered me by Mr. Magness, not only by his seemingly perfect knowledge of the language, but more especially by his coolness and perfect good temper when dealing with such casuists and plausibly evasive people as the Malays and Chinese are in their conversation.

I have, &c. (Signed) A. D. S. DENISON,

His Excellency Major-General Sir H. Ord, Knt., C.B.,

Governor.

Sir,

No. 26.

Commander, Senior Naval Officer.

Colonial Office to Foreign Office.

Downing Street, September 2, 1873.

I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the consideration

of Earl Granville, an extract of so much of a petition* addressed to the Governor of the

• Inciosure in No. 24.