The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-21 00:00:00

CHINESE PIRATES.

(From a correspondent at Hong Kong, dated Sept. 2p)
" The Peninsular and Or ental Company's muki
Achilles, with the 24th July mail, arrived litre on Me
morning of the 11th inst., and w.II leave again at defy
tomorrow, burg detained twelve hours by the Admiral.

" The most important intelligence which we have to eos,„
municat• is the discovery of a powerful fleet of Chinese
pirates, under the command of one man, who carries yie
particular flag, and has his head quarters at Tier pack. g
short distances from the harbour. Toe fleet consisted a shoe
time sines of from 70 t 100 vessels, some two docked, acid
all heavily armed, but the measures remedy taken hue
tended to redoes the number.
" The following circumstances led to the discovery: Some
two or three months ago a letter was received at Canton by
the consul from a European, reputing that a junk which las
commanded was detained at Hainan by pirates. Shady
afterwards the same person arrived here an his y. esi, colons
he reported that he had been obliged to pay 1,000 dollen as
rename before being allowed to sail. The brig Dido also re.
ported at Singapore that on her passage from this, in Illy,
she had been chased by a piratical fleet off Hainan; and es
the Sylph, which left about the same time, did net make
her appearance, fears were entertained for her safety, ges
ownare here made application in consequence to the Hake
naval officer, who despatched her Majesty's steam r Medea
to Tienpack, where the greater portion of the pimtlfej
fleet were found at anchor. An attack was accordingly
made by the boats of the steamer, when live junto
were destroyed, the remainder making their escape bt
the meantime. Other ve.seh have since b.en despatched,
and more junks hays been destroyed ; but the clnet ping
has still a large force under his command, and lots with!'
the last few days reta.iced upon a Chinese town, the inn.
bards of which rendered assistance to the steamers. Amid
cutter, the Mayflower, commanded by Europeans, has sloe
been captured in the Canton river by a portion of the vote
fleet. _ _

" The plwerful nature of this piratical fleet renders it is.
perstive that immediate measures be taken fee its destine.
%ion but, to keep these seas clear of pirates for the future,
it will be absolutely necessary that the goverr meet We
have at its commend • small, but powerfully arced,
steamer, one that will be able to follow the yessils into their
retreats.

" The barbarous murder of the governor ef Macao, nodal
in our last, hes not been followed by any act. of viola=
against the Portuguese settlement, and all remains quiet,
The head and hand of Signor Antsril, which the murderer
bad hacked off, and carried with them, have b en 'dis-
clvered ' be the Chinese authorities in Canton, and are now
offered to be delivered up to the Portuguese, provided the
three Chinese soldiers, captured at the barrier gate- be sar-
rendered. To chit the Partugurse will not agree, as the
evidence to be given by these men is comidered to be of is-
portence. The French frigate Sayonnaise ie in the inner
hub itir of Macao refitting ; she has landed all her guns end
about 250 men.
" We experienced a severe storm on the 13th of this
month. Two vessels, which had exiled the previous*,
put back eilmasted, end one vessel, the Coquette, which wet
wren near Names and bound for this has not gnu made ha
appearance. No damage was done to the shipping in the
harbour.

" In Canton all is quiet.
"From Shaegbae we have letters to Sept. IS. The in-
jury done to the rice crop in that province Das been 'elu-
sive, and the effects were still felt. The supply of silk, ilk
confidently stated, will be short.
" H r Majesty's steamer Fury arrived from the Straits as
the 24th inst., and her Majesty's ship Hastings, with the
admiral, Sir Francis Collier, arrived here yesterday. Iltr
Majesty's brig Columbine is cruising on the east cant is
search of pira•tut, who were reported having been seen is
one of the bays. The Hon Company's steam. r l'hlegetkos
has proceeded to, end the Medea is at, Wcampoa ;
at Shanghae ; her MAjcsty's brig Arab, at Niugps ;
Pilot, at Amoy.
"Our latest dates are from London, July 24; Calcutta,
August 16; Bombay, August 18; Madras, August 13;
gapore, Sept. 13; Manilla, Sept. 14 ; Sydney, July 6."