The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-12-26 00:00:00

CHINESE PIRAftES.

CaLetiTTO, MARC, 41.
The effiLial letters from the supra.cargoes at
Canton, as well as private advice", extracts from
which have been published in the Calcutta
Papers, have in 'de generally known the increasing
depredations of the Pittner, infesting the coasts and
rivers of Chino, mere particularly the pas.age be-
tween Macau and Conte's. lu August and Sept.
last, the frequency and audacity of their attempts
upon vessels navigating between these two places,
became such, that it was judge I nee .... . v to equip
it vessel to give protection to the trails., and to chas-
tise, if possible, their temerity. For this purpose
the Mercury. a small weasel belonging to Mr.
Shank, being ready for iminediala equipment,
was manned and armed. and placed under the com-
mand of Captain J. IVillialus, formerly of the Pol.
men. The follo.iiig short account of her eruize
affords some information respecting the Pirates, that
may be useful to small delencelesa vessels trading
to MAMA.) oe Canton.

On the 15th September, Captain Williams was
appointed to the Mercury. No expeuse was
spared by Mr. Shank in her outfit, and every exer-
tion was made to give effect to her cruise. The
fleet of Ladriones or pirates were at that nine a little
way below the Second Bar and after cairn:tut%
two of the armed Minithwera junks, had di iveu the
remainder of the fleet among the shipping
Whampoa, under whose cover they sought shelter.
On the 16th September the Mercury dropped
down the river, from ‘Vliainpos, armed with IS
guns, a proportionate number of muskets, &c.
and a crew of 140 men, the major part of whom
were volunteers from the American ships, then at
Can -in, whose Supra-cargoes and Cominstiiiers
gave 'o the Exp.dition the twist prompt and effec-
tual assistance in their poser, leaving their own
ships almost without • man, to complete the crew
of the Mercury. The Americans saw that they
were likely to share in the benefits of the craw, as
several of their ships had been recently attacker, by
the pisates, on the passage between Macon and
Canton. The Auspicious belonging to the port of
Calcutta, and the grab ship partaluy, of Bombay,
lied about the same nine a very narrow escape from
the pirates, as they were at one paint of the attack
surrounded by a fleet of large kaiaks, each mounting
from 191 to IS gnus, with men in proportion. The
wife/ of both ships was properly ascribed to the
judicious measures of Captain Mackay, of the
Auspicious.

Ott the 'tried of the Nereffry at the setroild
Bar, she was joined by 76 soil of Motidarren junk.,
mantled and well tanned, the Pirates lyiag beitreeu
the second Mr and the Bocce Tigris, which lan- r
is the principal fort of the Chinese in the province
of (4.l%rilooti. The requisite arrangemense being
oule. Captain il/tllisms and las fleet of *retied
junks, which he had divided into three sitradrons,
proceeded down the river. Captain Williams had
io.troctions from the \ iceruy. to- adopt such
arratigiments as he thringht best calculated for the
destruction et the Ladrones. end a Mandateen of
tank was seat on board the feet, to tee Opiate
Willeasas'oorders carried into forte. On epptes‘h•
in the Bracco Tigris, 16 sail of the Pireti welted'
were descried ; and, incredible as it may appear,
the whole sif the armed junks deserted the IPfeterry,
the instant they taw that an action was likely to
ensue with' that small part of the piratical force.
The junks refused to follow, notwithstanding the
orders of the Mandareth on board, and notwitha
standing stvetal shots were fired at them from the
Mercury, to enforce obedience to the order.

The Mercury, thus deserted by her intended
coadjutor., cannoned alone in chase of the pirates,
as far as Loin, where at sun-set the long-boat
was hoisted out, sod being armed with a monads-,
'muskets, and cutlasses, she was dispatched at eight
o'clock, with a crew of eighteen rues, under cons.
mend of Captain Magee, who had volunteered his
services on this occasion, with posture orders to pull
through the piratical fleet, and to get within shore
of them, so as to prevent their binding. Captain
Will'iarns continued to stand to the southward,
and the wind proving favourable, late at night of
the same day, they nut close alongside of •junit.
on the opposite tack. It seemed to have been the
•design of this vessel. to run on hoard the Mercury ;
• th'e was allinved to approach, and not a shot was
Bred till the yard arms of the two vessels were
lOcked together ; then a broadside of grape, and a
- volley of musqlsetry from the tops and quarter-
deek of the Mercury were 'rowed on, with deadly
effect—dOurteen of her men fell froin her deck ;
upon the Mercury's gnus. In backing the main
top-sail, the junk passed round the hu.,s of the
Mercury, when, receiviiig her other hroadsiae, the
b4Ve np. The Mercury have received no damage
•ht this attack. pursued the tlyiog enemy, and en-
closing ore her starboard side, tank pentesston of
• her, after an action of•nearly an hour's continuance.
• ,he presented a dreadful spectacle from the num-
her of killed streoed upon the deck—not u living
soul was found. alt the wounded had bean previously
ilardiwn ollerbbard, according to the osier of the
:Chinese Wales; and all who were not wounded,
'sought tludi barely by leaping otelboard, and on.
desvouring to swim -to some other of their junks.
On elatnining the cots of the captured junk, a
member of stilts of female's and children's dresses
**re found, pillaged no doubt, from persons who
bad recently 'fallen into the hands of the pirate.
The long-boat. which had been sent off in the
*vetting, being unable to make any attack. owing
to the great number of the junks collected, re-
joined the Mercury.—Ou the following day Capt.
'Williams gave Chase to a large fleet of the pirates,
nod after exchangiog a few stint, succeeded in
getting, to the number of 300 of them, embayed.
Of these, 90 *ere large junks, mounting from lit
to 40 guns each. The guns of these vessels are
fixed upon Moths, end pointed to the object by
the movements Of the junk—each of thnle larger
vessels has a crew of between two and three bun-
&nil men.
The advantage expected from chasing the pi-
rates into a bay, where they were confined and
blockaded. was disappointed, in consequence of
the shoaluess of the water, which enabled the
junks to keep out of the range of -gun shot. After
continuing this unavailing blockade for three days,
the Mercury weighed and made sail. At that
time, alioat front the Lailrones, rowing i • came,
ran along silo, and two of-their 11011 weor n:i board