726285-1855-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION-NO-31 — Page 1

No. 81.

The

Hongkong Government Gazette.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. The following. Return of Notes in Circulation and Specie in Reserve at the Bank of the Oriental Bank Corporation in Hongkong, is published for general in- By Order,

formation.

W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 11th September, 1855.

Account of the Average amount of Notes in Circulation at the Bank of the Oriental Bank Corporation in Hongkong for the Month ending 31st August, 1855, rendered in accordance with the Terma of Her Majesty's Royal Charter of Incorporation.

NOTES ISSUED.............$153,072,

exclusive of the Notes of the Oriental Bank still outstanding. Oriental Bank Corporation, Hongkong,

1st Semptember, 1855.

SAM: GRAY, Manager.

|

stockaded to oppose the piratical fleet, which however had proceeded onwards, without having made any attack.

3. Various accounts confirming those already obtained that Europeans were employed in the fleet, rendering it vastly more formidable, it seemed desirable to search them out at all hazard, and passing through Mia-Tao Strait in tow of the Steamer "Tak shum" into the Gulf of Pecheli, onwards into that of Leaou-Tun at length, on 18th ult., we discovered them in an unexplored inle 10 or 15 miles northward of Ross Bay.

1. The piratical fleet, consisting of West-Coast boats, some of unusually large size, aud including two canvas-sailed Lorchas, to the number of nearly 40, taking advantage of a thick mist and heavy rain, stood out and commenced the attack, firing vigorously, and manoeuvring quite beautifully, to lead the Bittern into danger. A hide crow's-nest at the mast-head of each (said to be musket proof afforded shelter to men stationed for throwing the stinkpots.

5. The dirty weather rendered it impossible to calculate the exact damage our return fire produced: 8 of their number, including the largest and best shot, were sunk or abandoned on this occasion subsequently we overtook a detachment of 13, 11 of which were burnt or suúk ; a single one surrendering, quite the smallest, was carried into Ling-chow-foo, and the crew of 41 handed over to the mandarius; another, the last, we were enabled to overtake, blen herself the crew armed taking to the shore, resisting the country

up, people until assisted by our boats.

6. The prisoners assured our interpreters that a heavily armed Cor-white sailed Lorcha bad amongst her crew one white man and the Portuguese, which seems probable, for after being riddled and stranded, they opened fire upon the country people, escaped to the hills with baggage and arms, whilst we were obliged to push on to secure others. That experienced hands directed their heavy guns, was evident from the fairly accurate fire they sustained against HI. M. Sloop after she bad opened upon them, striking us in various places, wounding the bowsprit, but fortunately injuring none of the crew,

I certify that the Books and Treasure Vault of the above

poration have been examined by me, and that the Specie exhibited accorded in Amount with the Terms of the Royal

Charter.

8th September, 1855.

No. 32.

R. RIENAECKER,

Colonial Treasurer.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. The Honorable Lieutenant Colonel CAINE, Lieutenant Governor, having been appointed by Her Majesty THE QUEEN, Senior Member of the Legislative Council of this Colony, has this day been sworn in accordingly.

By Order,

W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 14th September, 1855.

No. 14.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. Wanted a Passage to Singapore for Thirteen Chinese Convicts.

Tenders will be received at this Office.

By Order,

W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary. Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 26th July, 1855.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

Diplomatic Department. His Excellency The Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China has the gratification of publishing, for general information, copy of a communication to Her Majesty's Consul at Shanghae from Commander Vansit- tart of Her Majesty's Sloop Biltern, announcing the destruction of a number of Piratical Vessels on the Coast of Leaou-Tung.

By Order,

W. WOODGATE.

Superintendency of Trade, Victoria, Hongkong, Bath September, 1855.

No. 3 of 1855.

HER MAJESTY's Stoop “ Bittern," Woosung, 24 September, 1855. Sn,-1 have the honor to announce our return from a successful cruize in search of the Piratical Fleet referred to in your despatch of 30th July last; and in thanking you for information which has led to clearing the seas of a formidable lot of scoundrels, it will be further gratifying to learn no inconvenience has arisen from the necessary prolonged absence of H. M. Sloop.

2. I greatly regret a want of coals deprived us of the valuable roöperation of steamer Confucius" and American force under Lieutenant Preble further than Che-foo Harbour, some 60 miles westward of Shangtung Promontory. This port we found rudely

pivate

7. It is well thus to particularise, as I am satisfied no merchant vessel unless by outsailing could escape such a fleet, and am desirous to afford you the opportunity of bringing under notice of H. M. Government the extent to which this growing evil has arisen. It is indeed melancholy to think Europeaus, perhaps British subjects, could join themselves to such barbarous villains, who did not hesitate at the Port of New Chang, when disappointed of their expected booty, by the large fleets of merchant junks escaping high up the river, to seize aŭ unfortunate Chinese official of low degree, and quartering him, to send his remains in a basket on shore to the Mandarins, with a demand for 100,000 dollars, and threat that such should be their fate unless the dollars were forthcoming. This hat happened shortly before our arrival, the money had been readily paid, and the piratical fleet was loitering still on the coast when we fell in with them,

8. The search has led II. M. Sloop into many strange places and over much previously unexplored ground, nor could the work have been accomplished, but for the assistance in towing of the merchant | steamer " Paoushun,” whose services I was glad to secure for the ex- pedition. Our farthest north in the Gulf of Lenou-Tung was to Lat 40° 38′ N. 122° 00′ E., where, anchoring in 4 fathoms, we found ourselves 7 or 8 miles distant from a large river, which leads son 20 miles up to the city of New Chang, reported to be of considerable extent and commercial importance. Its sea-port of some size is! or 3 miles within the bar. Over this the deeper water will be found on the southern side. We were shown large stores and stacks of Pea and other grain. I enclose a sample of Rope, which, by retail, stood between 5 and 6 cents per lb. A large supply of Hemp it was said could be always furnished. Coal is procurable from New Challa, although 30 tous obtained proved very inferior. Fish in abundance and cheap. We observed the brick frame works heated below on which the people recline during the cold: this in winter must be excessive. Small carts drawn by very fine mules were moving about; the people, perhaps of smaller stature, were much like the Chinese. If a vessel should be obliged to visit these regions, she ought to be supplied with Chinese Pilots. These can only be trusted to a certain extent; the stranger should start with an offing of suns 10 miles from the western head of Ross Bay, and steering N.E. by N., preserving a distance of 15 miles off shore, until past an island which we named Saddle Island, when she might edge somewhat to Eastward. A dangerous sand-spit ruus off 10 or 12 miles in Latitude about 40° 12′ N. Soundings gradually decreasing from 14 fathoms will be found up to our anchorage,

9. Many hundred of large trading junks have been relieved by the destruction and dispersion of this daring piratical fleet. It is pro bable a trade to the value of 2 or 3 Millions of dollars has been thereby thrown open, and I trust the benefit will be sensibly felt at this port and at Ningpo. Perhaps you will be good enough to A want of time pre- communicate with H. M. Vice-Consul there. vented our looking in there; and you may consider it well to inform the Chinese Authorities at Shanghai that vessels may proceed to the northward now, in comparative safety.-1 have, &c.,

(Signed,) E. W. VANSITTART,

Commander.

D. B. ROBERTSON, Esq.,

H. M. Consul, Shùnghae,

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