723336-1858-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION — Page 1

DECEMBER 11, 1858.]

58.

The Hongkong Government Gazette.

Bank

115

Calcutta, AT HONGKONG, 10th December, 1858. SIR, Mr Caldwell, Registrar General, having informed me, on the afternoon of the 6th instant, that some Hongkong Passage Boats were blockaded near Macao by a Flect of Twelve Piratical Junks, I immediately despatched Her Majesty's Steam-sloop Fury, with the Gun- boats Firm and Bustard, to endeavour to effect their destruction.

I have now to inform Your flonour, that Captain Leckie was perfectly successful in that desirable object, having captured and destroyed, without loss, the Twelve Piratical Vessels in question, as stated in his Report, a duplicate of which I herewith enclose.

I beg to call Your Honour's attention to the high terms in which Captain Leckie writes of the valuable assistance he received from Mr Caldwell, who accompanied the expedition.-I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient_humble servant,

M. SEYMOUR, Rear-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief.

His Honour Colonel CAINE,

Acting Governor.

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HER MAJESTY'S STEAM-SLOOP Fury, HONGKONG, 9th December, 1859.

SIR,--I have the honour to report that, in compliance with your orders, I embarked Mr Caldwell, the Chinese Registrar General, and four Chinese concerned in the Hongkong Passage Boats detained at Macao by Pirates.

With Her Majesty Gun-boats Firm and Bustard in tow, I proceeded to Macao, and anchored the night of the 6th December there. The next morning I inspected the Bays where the Pirates were supposed to be, in "Pirate's Creek." On the East hand going up the Broadway," I found the Portuguese Government armed Lorcha Amazona, with a small hired Steamer, the Squirrel, also armed-they were sent out after the same Pirate Fleet, and to clear the channel for the Passage Boats. They had chased the Pirates, and recovered Three of Five Junks that had been captured by these Pirates, and had driven them from the channel leading to Hongkong. The Portuguese Captain very kindly lent me a Pilot for the shallow Waters and Islands to the West of the Broadway, which are not down on our Charts. I then proceeded and inspected Coulan Bay, in the island of Tylou; from there I went to "Long-pak-kow," where I burned one large Pirate Junk, which was recognised as one of the Pirate Fleet by the Chinese on board, your petitioners, and released five captured people whose vessel had been taken by them; three other Junks escaped, being too far distant to chase, and the Water too shallow for the Gun-boats. I then proceeded with the armed Boats only, round an island, and captured and destroyed another Pirate Junk, and released a man and his wife who had been taken by the Pirates some days previously. I then saw some eight or ten large Junks at anchor in a shallow bay, called Tay-wan Bay, at the back of the Island where I had left the Gun-boats; but it being then dark I returned to the Gun-boats for the night, without in any way shewing that I had seen them, or intended to molest them. These were recognised also by the Chinese as the fleet we were in search of.

At Daylight on the 8th December, it being low water and the Gun-boats aground, I went with the armed Boats of Fury, Firm, and Bustard, round the opposite end of the Island, thinking they would be prepared to receive me, where they saw me last evening. We came in sight of them at about 8 A.M., but from the extreme shallowness of the water, even my gig grounded within a thousand yards of them. They did not, however, open fire on us, their Guns being all pointed for the opposite side of the Bay, whence they expected us. I retired sufficiently in the Boats to place a high point, forming the Bay, between us and their fire, and waited for high water. At 10 A.M., the Gun-boats peared us, but could not approach sufficiently to act..

Ten large Junks fully armed, crowded with men, were moored with their broadsides to the entrance of the Bay, but were aground on the mud. Having only my two Paddle-box Boats with Guns, I determined to land all my Force, and take them in rear, whilst the Paddle-box Boats shelled them.

At 11.30 A.M., having sent for all the available men from the Gun-boats, I landed and formed my men at the back of the high point of land which formed the Bay, perfectly unmolested. I then advanced over the hill, and the Junks lay beneath us, distant about a thousand yards. They were perfectly prepared for us, having several Guos pointed to sweep a narrow line of embankment, the only way of approach we had. We descended the hill in open skirmishing order, and were received with a discharge of grape by the enemy. The Pad lle-box Boats opened fire with shell at the same moment with perfect aim, doing good execution. We advanced with a cheer at the "double," but the Pirates seeing that in a few moments they must be cut off from landing, if they stood to their Guns longer, deserted their Junks and ran. We drove them over the bills beyond the Bay, the country within view being clear of the Enemy. I burned all the Junks, ten in number. They were well found in every way, and carried not only the usual Red Pirate Flag but also a false White Mandarin Flag, with large characters in red.

One of the Junks was

a captured vessel, but fully armed and manned, and being aground on the mud only to be moved at the highest tides, I burned her also. Having seen the whole perfectly destroyed, I called in my outposts, and retired to the Boats unmolested, and embarked at about 3.30 P.M.

Thus the whole of the Pirate Fleet that blockaded the Passage-boats in Macao, are destroyed, viz.-Twelve Vessels, and I am happy to report, that this service has been performed without a casualty on our side, although it was wonderful no one was hit by the discharge of grape we were received with.

Mr Caldwell accompanied me throughout all these proceedings, and I am much indebted to him for his advice; his knowledge of the Chinese Language being of the greatest assistance.

I beg leave to bring to your Excellency's notice, the efficient aid I have received from the Officers in command of the Gun-boats Lieutenants Henry Leet and Frederick Hallowes, also from Lieutenant Hector Rason, who was doing duty on board the Firm; these Officers with their men, formed a portion of the landed force. Lieutenant Alfred F. Marescaux conmanded the Fury's men, and Lieutenant Henry Perceval the Paddle-box Boats; the firing from which was admirable, and I am happy to attest to the steady discipline and cool gallantry of every Officer and man engaged.

In the Gun-boats I reached H. M. S. Fury, at 7.30 last evening, and have the honour to report my arrival here this day, having completed the duties ordered by your Excellency.

I have six Chinese men and one woman, released from the Pirates on board, and will arrange about their landing.

At the lowest estimation, these Junks contained about Five Hundred and Fifty men, and carried from Eight to Twelve Guns each,—in all One Hundred and Twenty-eight Guns, many of them of heavy calibre. Several of the Pirates were killed, but their number is not known.— I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,

His Execllency Rear-Admiral SIR M. SEYMOUR, K.C.B.,

CHARLES LECKIE, Captain.

rering 7 and

Commander-in-Chief.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

It is hereby notified, for the second time, that the Government Notification of 23d October last, wherein was intimated the first reading of “ An Ordinance to provide for the erection of a Public Way, along the Water Frontage of the City of Victoria," is cancelled by advice of the Legislative Council; and the Honourable the Acting Governor directs it to be made known, to all concerned, that in conformity with Clause XXIX of the Standing Orders under which the Council is ruled (vide Government Gazette of 17th July last,) the said Ordinance will be considered at the expiration of One Month from the 4th instant.

By Order,

Council Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 11th December, 1858.

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Clerk of Councils.