Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 722

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Journal of Occurrences.

would report the piracy to have been committed at sea. Three Portuguese lorchas arrived there some ten days after, and took possession of the vessel against the wish of the supercargo, who wished to put her under British pro- tection, and have her taken to Hongkong by the P. and O. Co.'s Str. Can- ton, which had also come into the harbor in search of the missing vessel Rustomjee Cowasjee.

Oct. 6th. The French ship Albert returns to Hongkong, the Chinese pas- sengers having killed Capt. Page on the way to Lima, and robbed the ship. About 40 of them were apprehended.

29th. The Portuguese 32 gun frigate Dona Maria II was blown up while lying at anchor in the Typa. The most probable cause assigned for this casualty is that the gunner did it, when he went to the magazine to pro- cure some powder, in revenge for having been that day reprimanded by Capt. d'Assis e Silva, he having been heard to threaten revenge on some one. Over two hundred persons, including several Chinese workmen and boatmen were killed; of these 188 belonged to the ship. The body of the Captain was found, but scarcely any persons survived the explosion.

Su and Yeh issue a memorial respecting the attack on the insurgents in the western part of this province. See page 619.

Nov. 15th. Rev. C. Fast, a Swedish missionary at Fuhchau, killed near the outer anchorage in an attack on his boat-See page 624.

25th. Senor Toinas Fleetwood, mercantile asssstant at Amoy, drowned in the harbor.

The southwestern parts of the province are infested with bands of armed robbers, collected principally in the department of Licenchau fú, adjoining Cochinchina. The prefect of Kin chau sent troops to disperse them, who instead of attacking, fraternized with them; whereupon fresh levies were sent from Hainan and Luichau fu to the aid of the Lienchau prefect, which were also beaten, killed, and dispersed. Cholera broke out in Hainan during this and the preceding month, and raged to such a degree that the dead were left unburied, and the people fled from the villages.

Dec. 6th. Died at Canton, Rev. James G. Bridgman, æt. 30. a missionary of the A. B. C. F. M. in Canton. Mr. B. was a native of the town of Amherst, Mass., and a graduate of Amherst college. He reached China in Feb. 1844, and after pursuing his studies in Chinese and in divinity for a season, was ordained to the gospel ministry in Canton, May 31st, 1846. (See Vol. XV. page 328.) He had then completed a translation from Latin of Premare's Notitia, which was published the year following, as stated in Vol. XVI. page 26. In May, 1847, Mr. Bridgman took charge of the office of the Repository, and continued to supervise the publication of the numbers until Sept. 1848. Since that date he resided in Canton, engaged in usual missionary labors, and in studying the language. He also read works in theology. For the last six months, he had gradually withdrawn much from general society, and confined himself chiefly to his house. Those who saw most of him during the last few months, observed many symptoms indicating a disordered or wandering mind but medical advice was not called in until Nov. 30th, when symptoms of cerebral affection were apparent. Measures were promptly ad- opted to relieve the congestion of the brain, yet the next morning, in a paroxysm of the disease, he attempted self-destruction. Reason was restored by the loss of blood, and he was conscious during the five days he survived. A post mortem examination showed a highly congested state of the brain. Mr. B. was highly respected by all who knew him for his consistent Christian character, kind- ness, and uniform gentleness of heart; and in his death the cause of missions has sustained no little loss.

17th. An ordinance published by the government of Hongkong to prevent the desertion of seamen belonging to foreign ships. Also one to regulate proceedings before justices of the peace.