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No, 60.—August 23, 1856.) The Hongkong Government Gazette.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

Diplomatic Department.

3

His Excellency The Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China has directed to be published for gencral information the following Despatch from Captain The Honorable Keith Stewart, H.M.S. Nankin, and Senior Naval Oficer on this Station, reporting the destruction of Piratical Junke in the neighborhood of this Colony. SIR JOHN Bowning has conveyed to Captain Eugenio Aguera de Bustamante, of H.M.C.M. Steamer Reyna de Castilla, the expression of his satisfaction with the valuable co-operation afforded on this occasion for the suppression of a nuisance affecting the commercial interest of all nations trading with China.

By Order,

Superintendency of Trade, Victoria, Hongkong, 18th Angust, 1856.

W. WOODGATE.

HER MAJESTY'S SHIP Nanhin, HONGKONG,

17th August, 1856.

SIR,I have the houor to acquaint Your Excellency with my proceedings in Her Majesty's Steam Vessel Coromandel, under Lieutenant Nares' command, during three expeditions in search of Pirates, all of which I am happy to say were successful; I had the Nankin's Boats in tow in the two latter expeditions.

On the 2d instant, when at anchor in Plover Cove in Mir's Bay, I received information from some Fishermen, that two Piratical Junks had left that place the previous day, and were gone to Starling Cove, where I found and burnt them the next day, and then returned to Hongkong.

On the 8th, I received Your Excellency's despatch, respecting a Pirate Lorcha at Sunling, and a suspicious-looking Fleet off Coulan and went to sea that evening, but did not fall in with any suspicious-looking Vessels off Coulan. We however discovered the Lorcha abut 25 miles up a river, inside the Island of Tongua. I must here mention, that on our way up this river, we heard guns firing, and that the Imperialists and Rebels were fighting in the immediate vicinity, and shortly after some 400 or 500 Chinese armed with Spears and Swords came down to the banks, and waved for us to go back. Fortunately Mr Caldwell was with me in my gig, and he being able to interpret, and explain my object in going up where no European boat had ever previously been seen, the Chinese offered no resistance. We went on, and found the Lorcha, which we burnt, together with a Junk in her possession full of Stinkpots. Having got back to the Coromandel, after a very fatiguing pull of 50 miles, I proceeded to the Westward to examine the Piratical haunts about the Islands of St dns and Hawcheun, but finding nothing suspicious in that neighbourhood, I came back to Hongkong by the in-shore channels, and arrived at 9 P.M. on the 12th, when I found your Excellency's communication of that day, respecting a Piratical Fleet in Mir's Bay, where I proceeded the next morning, in Company with the Spanish Steamer-of-war Reyna de Castilla, commanded by Captain Eugenio de Aznera, who readily offered his services on this occasion. In a secluded creek, a regular Pirate's nest, Lieutenant Curme in the Nankin's Launch discovered five large Pirate Junks, mounting 25 guns, and loaded, and laid to cover the entrance; one gun had four shot in. Providentially the Pirates observing from the hills the Steamers approaching, had deserted their Junks, which contained a large quantity of Powder and Stinkpots.

We burnt four Junks; one I brought away. Captain Huskisson lost no time in landing with the Marines, and endeavoured to cut off some of the Pirates, who were retreating up the hills, but the excessive heat and fatigue were too much for his men, and the Pirates having had a long slant, he did not capture any; one was shot. While we were destroying the Junks in Pirate's nest, Lieutenant Nares in Coromandel found two Junks in a cove in Crooked Island, one of them a Pirate, which he burnt; the other a trading Junk, which had been taken off Coulan on the 6th instant.

I am much indebted to Captain Eugenio de Aguera, for the efficient service be rendered in his Boats, and by towing the Nankin's Barre; and the presence of his Steam Vessel, adding so much to our force, no doubt deterred the Pirates from attempting resistance.

In conclusion, I beg to draw your Excellency's attention to the invaluable service of Mr Caldwell as Interpreter on these expeditions. He accompanied me, and had be not been with me when the Chinese attempted to stop my proceeding up the river after the Lorcha, serious results might have ensued-I have, &c.,

KEITH STEWART,

Captain.

His Excellency,

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SIR JOHN BOWRING, LL.D., & C &O., &o.

True Copy,

W. WOODGATE.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

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Notice is hereby given, that the Privilege for Quarrying Stone throughout the Island, on the usual Conditions, for the period of One Year from the 1st September next, will be submitted to Public Competition, at the Office of the Chief Magistrate of Police, at 1 P.M., on Monday, the 25th Instant.

The Upset Price, calculated from the Tenders already received, will be intimated at the time of Sale. Payments in Dollars, to be made into the Colonial Treasury, Quarterly in advance.

By Order,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 15th August, 1856.

示

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

for the Colonial Secretary.

No. 85.

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