726648-1856-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION — Page 2

Bongkong

THE

Government

Now Series.

GAZETTE.

VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 23Ɗ FEBRUARY, 1856.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

VOL. I. No. 34.

The Contract for publishing this Gazette, entered into on the 24th September, 1853, was terminated on the 30th ultimo; and notice is hereby se data Naw SERIES of this Gazette will be published hereafter, to commence from the 7th instant, under a New Contract, and that

“THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE”

mit, we beďnee, be the only Official Organ for PROCLAMations, Notifications, and Public Papers, of this Government,

By Order,

Comial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 2d July, 1855.

W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.

ralls

Diplomatic Department.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

His Excellency the Chief Superintendent of Trade, &c., &c., has received from Mr Vice-Consul Backhouse, batch from Commander Vansittart, of Her Majesty's Sloop Bittern, reporting farther most successful opera- inst Pirates in the Bay of Jakako, which SIR JOHN BOWRING has directed to be published for general

}

By Order,

Superintendency of Trade, Victoria, Hongkong, 15th February, 1856.

G. W. CAINE,

In the absence of the Off Secretary

to H. B. M's Plenipotentiary.

HER MAJESTY'S SLOOP "Bittern,” Amoy, 4th February, 1856. ** →Is making known the arrival here of H. M. Sloop under my command, I have the honor to inform you that we are at present hummed on endeavoring to carry out the views of the Rear-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief, in reference to affording general security to in the coast; and as His Excellency's orders to myself point particularly to the last, paragraph of his public notice on the subject, I Ma new will be kind enough to acquaint the Chinese Authorities with the presence of one of H. M. Sloops, and call upon them to afford

they may have connected with the appearance of Piratical Vessels in this neighbourhood,

な

Thare the satisfaction of informing you of the good that has already arisen from a close examination of various points of the coast by bazoon on her way hither from Hongkong; for being at anchor on the 31st ultimo, under Middle Island in Tong-yang Harbor, intelli- in bed me that a Lorcha with Europeans had lately been captured, together with a large valuable laden Junk, and that they were on the hands of two strongly-manned Piratical West-coast Boats. Requesting the informers and Mandarins with Interpreters to we heard, I proceeded in search, and found the Vessels as described, anchored near Cono Point in Jakako Bay. The Pirate prize won bewing between 20 and 30, sprang overboard from the Merchant Junk directly we neared her; and so determined were the two Vesele, which had cut and were making off in different directions, that although one close under our guns was hailed repeatedly. pamant she would not be fired on if she would lower her sails or anchor, she continued admirable and desperate manoeuvres to escape, imame absolutely necessary to destroy her to prevent her succeeding: she reached a lee shore in a siħiking state. The other after was a chase was dismasted, and burnt so soon as the remains of her crew had been removed.

kg back to the released Lorcha, numbered 64, under Portuguese colors, we found her with a crew of 12 Chinese and six deplorable condition, destitute of provisions, with all her cargo carried off, as also had been two Portuguese, who it is er søer fallen victims in the hands of the pirates. We seized nine of these latter actually on board the Lorcha, who had remained in penen encoe their capture of her; and together with other prisoners handed them over to the Chinese Authorities at Tong-yang, The receipt (copy of which is enclosed,) and obtaining their promise to render every assistance to the missing Portuguese if chre yet survived." Having supplied the Lorcha with provisions, and received the grateful thanks of her people, time obliged us es en Turn to prosecute their voyage to Amoy alone, which they professed to be able to do without difficulty.

1 kete entered into particulars to enable you to inform the Portuguese Consul of the above circumstances, and hope he will obtain moon tatings of the missing Portuguese. The mischief coasting commerce may receive, is evident, when it is considered that the teo of thin eingle large Junk was estimated at a value of between $25,000 and $30,000, and it was gratifying to us to receive the shouts and beating of gongs, with crew bowing on bended knee from every elevated part, as she passed us, after her release, on her

Het ke Slut Mouthward

*

*# istended that II. M. Sl. Bittern, after scouring the coast, shall return to the Southward from Shanghae in March for the perm ď marasing any Junks or Coasting Craft desirous of availing themselves of our protection, I take this opportunity of requesting timely notice, or make any necessary arrangements to have these Vessels prepared to start on our arrival here some time *** The Pth and 25th proximo; and I trust you will be good enough to assist me in obtaining the services of a Chinese Linguist- **** mai arqsaitted with other Coast Dialects besides those of the Fokien province, as the want of such a medium of communication

pse peady retard or embarrass the service on which we are engaged.—I have, &c.,

(Signed)

E. W. VANSITTART, Commander.

Baruanese, Esquire,

11. M. Vice-Consul,

Amoy.

True Copy,

G. W. CAINE.