The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-08 00:00:00

LONDON,.INIONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8, 1855.

ADMIRALTY DESPATORES.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PIRATICAL
SETTLEMENT IN THE CHINESE SEA.B.

The following despatches have been received at
the Admiralty from Rear-Admiral Sir James Stir-
ling, commander-in-chief cn the EaSi; Indian and
China station, reporting operations of boats of
Spartan, under Lieutenant-Palliser, of that ship,'
in pursuit of pirates":--- •

SIR JAMES STIRLING TO THE LORDS OF THE ADMIRALTY.

(Received Jan. 6, 1855.)
"Winchester, at Hong• Kong, Nov. 8, 1854.
" Sir,—l have the honour to transmit herewith, for
the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Ad-,
miralty, the copy of a letter I have received from Capt.
Sir William Hoste, Bart., of her Algjesty's ship Spartan,
dated the 20th ult., with its. inclosures, reporting the
operations of a detachment of seamen and marines in
the boats of that ship, under the orders of Lieutenant
Wray Palliser, which their lordships will perceive hap-
pily resulted in the recovery of a French lady, who had
been seized by the pirates, and part of the cargo of a
vessel they had plundered, as well as in the destruction
of three forts, mounting 17 guns, the piratical settle-
ment, and 20 piratical kinks, without the loss of a single
man.

"I have on two former occasions (letters Nos. 48 and
53) expressod my opinion of this Tpfficer's conduct on
similar services,- and now again feel it my duty to draw
their lordships' attention to the judgment, gallantry, and
discretion evinced hy_Lieutenant Wray Palliser on the
present occasion, and to the important assistance ren-
dered to him -by -Lieutenant Anqiirrell, R.N., Ltetti'
Stokes, 1t.1N1., Mr. Oliver, mate, Mr. Rogers, second
master, and the other officers, seamen, and marines ern-
ployel under him.—l have, &e.,
(Signed) "JAMES STIRLING,
"Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief."

(Inclosnre in No. 74.)

CAPTAIN HOSTS TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR JAMES STIRLING.
'Her Majesty's Whip Spgrtan, Hong Kong,
Oct. 20, 1854.
_ _ _

" Sir,--My letter of the 17th instant will have in-
formed you of the return of the Lady Mary Wood, and
the unsuccessful result tif her cruise as far as the rescue
of the French lady taken by pirates from the barque
caldera was concerned. In consequence of a requisition
from the Vice-Consul of France (loclosure No. 1), that
I would permit another force to proceed in the steamer
Ann, .for a further search, I again despatched 85 sea-
men and marines, as detailed in Inclosure No. 3, under
the command of Lieutenant Palliser, with orders to
search for the French subject abovementioned, and to
.effectually destroy the piratical settlement in the island
of Symong.
'.'The force returned this day, having been most suc-
cessful. The French lady has been recovered, and the
piratical forts and settlements of Cop-choo-mee, from
which our boats were fired upon on the 15th inst„ com-
pletely destroyed. I herewith inclose Lieutenant Pal-
liser's report, Inclosure No. 2.
' 4.` I had given to Lieutenant Palliser directions to de-
stroy the town of Coulan should he obtain certain infor-
mation of the inhabitants being concerned in the plunder
of the Celdera. On his entering the bay the boats were
fired upon by 20 large junks, and several batteries of
heavy guns. Lieutenant Palliser, seeing that any attack
with the free he had would be useless, most judiciously
retired. There can be no doubt that Coulan i's the
stronghold of a large piratical fleet that has infested this
neighbourhood, and committed great depredations for
'the-last seven months. No ship thrown on the coast or
passing its vicinity is safe. They detach small parties
to plunder in this neighbourhood, who carry their booty
to Coulan, where they consider themselves impregnable.
I am•of opinion that no boats could successfully cope
with -thorn ; but it appears, from the soundings taken,
that a steamer might be got within range, and a large
force landing at the same time might effectually destroy
the place. •
"Lieutenant Palliser speaks in high terms of the con-
duct of the officers under him. The conduct of the men,
rho worked for 12 hours under a burning sun, was most
exemplary, and though exposed to great tOiptatiOn in
the shape of liquor, no case of drunkenness occurred.
I cannot conclude without bringing ti your excellency's
notice the judgment and gallantry of Lieutenant 'rani,
ser, by whose judicious arrangements the object of these
two expeditions has been most satisfactorily attained.
This is the fifth oceb.sien within four months in which
Mr. Palliser has been employed successfully in.command
of boats of this ship against pirates. And when it is
taken into consideration that on the two latter occasions
the steamers were unable, from their draft, to come
within nine miles of the shore ; that Lieutenant Palliser
was left entirely to his resources, opposed to a very supe-
rior force ; that he captured three forte mounting 17
gins, and completely. destroyed n 'large piratical settle-
Meet, I hope I shall not be considered nresumptuoue in
requesting your excellency will •be pleased to bring his
conduct to the favourable notice of my Lords Commie-
sioners of the Admiralty.—l have, &c.,
- - (Signod) "W. IlosTE, Captain."

(Sub-Inelostire No. 1.)
41.7.'1.0RGE L. HAKSELL TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM HOSTE.

." Vice Consulate of France, Hong Kong,
Oct. 16, 1854.

• _
" Sir,—The Lady Mary Wood leaving been obliged to
return to this place this morning without having sue-
eeeded in rescuing the French lady, passenger on board
the barque Caldera, seized by the pirates to the south of
Macao, I would ask if you could allow another force
from your vessel to go down to the resort of those
pirates in a steamer that the agents of the insurance
companies (interested in the cargo of the barque) are to
Fend down to-morrow morning for the purpose of saving
what cargo they can, that is now lying in the houses on
shore at that 'place, to renew the search after this un-
fortunate person. lam desirous of leaving no means
untried to rescue this lady, and I shall feel much obliged
if you can accede to my request.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) "GEO. L. HAKSELLi
" Vice-Consul for France."

NAVAL AND MILETAKY INTELLIGENCE.

.

The. Royal George, screw, three.decker, Captain Cod.
rin,o;ton, C.D., is in the Sheerness basin. Her crew were
paid, and went on leave on Saturday for a month, with
the exception cf tho boys, who are to go this day. Her
poop is nearly taken off ; her topmasts are housed, but
yards across, and all the guns out; notwithstanding,
however, she draws more than 22 feet. We hear the
whole extent that this vessel will be cut down will be
confined to the poop. The upper deck guns will be
clone away with, and two Lancaster guns will supply
their place.
The St. Jean d'Acre, said to be the finest and fleetest
vessel in the British navy, arrived in Queenstown on
having sailed from Plymouth
She has already two general
officers Thursday,
less
oh, a
board,
to2a3rld
aoc lnuodrcski ,
s
to take away 750 men to the
Crimea. She carries besides a number of horses and a
large quantity of stores. rae river steamers were busy
the whole of Friday conveying the troops on board, and
she was hourly expected to proceed on her destination.
The Caesar, 91, screw, Captain Robb, having had her
defects made good, was put out of dock at Devonport,
on Friday.
The Monarch, 84, Captain G. E. Patey, which was
towed out of Devonport Harbour on Thursday, was
paid wages on Saturday, and was expected to sail yes-
terday for the Pacific.
The Majestic, 81, screw, Captain Hope, C. 8., is in
No. 3 Dry Dock, Sheerness. Her topgallant masts are
housed, and all the riz,,;ing rattled down and set up, &c.
Previous to her men goinfron leave' she will tie all
istanntoy with Royal yards acrogp. Thy crew are absent
fur 18 days. Tney are repairing the defects in the after-
part of her, but she will not be out of the engineer's
hands, we hear, for another month.

The Cressy, 81, screw, Captain Warren, is still in No.
1 Dry Dock, Sheerness, with her topmasts struck and
yards down. Her crew return from their leave on the
14th, by which time she will be ready to haul out, if not
before. She is coppared three feet higher than before,
and many of hor defects made good.
The crew of tue Arethusa, 50, Captain Symonds, will
be paid wages to-morrow, and the ship placed in ordi-
nary. _ .

The Melamp's, frigate, now fitting out in Sheerness
basin for a store or troop-ship, progresses fast; her top-
gallanttnasts aro on end, and the rigging is being rattled
down.

The Lizard, 3, paddle, Lieut. Commander Christopher,
is still in the harbour at Sheerness, waiting Admiralty
orders.

The Janus, 5, paddle, Lieut. Commander Kane, is in
Sheerness Harbour, waiting Admiralty orders.
The Amphio,n, 34, screw-frigate, Captain Key, is still
under the sheers in Sheerness basin. The crew are all
drafted to the Nymph hulk. They expect to go on
leave the beginning of next week. There are only one
serjeant, one corporal, and six marines now on board
taking care of her. The lower deck and hatchway are
broken up, prepartitory to taking nut the boilers and
other parts of the machinery. Her guns are all on
board.

The screw steam-Corvette Cossack, 20, Captain Fan-
shawe, went out of harbour on Saturday, and anchored
in Plymouth Sound, where she took on board shot and
shell.

The Bonetta, 3, Lieut. C. Wake, which arrived at
Sheerness from Portsmouth last Friday evening, was
towed up to Chatham on Saturday, where she arrived at
two p.m. She left Rio de Janeiro on the 9th of Novem-
ber bust. All hands well onboard, and a first-rate crew
she has, having been four years out. The crew appear
most able and willing to continno 'their services to the
country. All they want is a good leave of absence, and
when this has expired to be allowed to .volunteer for any
ship they choose in her Majesty's service, which favour,
no doubt, will be allowed them.

The Lucifer, paddle, left Portsmouth on Saturday, for
Pe rn bro k o.

Sprightly, tender, Master Commander Allen, returned
to Portsmouth, from Devonport, on Saturday.
The Fire Queen, tender, Master Commander F. W.
Paul, went down to Osborne on Saturday evening with
despatches to. her Majesty.

APPOINTMENTS.

Lieutenant Charles H. Smith (1854) has been ap-
pointed to the Caesar, 91, screw steam-ship at Devonport ;
Master William H. Sharp (1854), to the Pylades, 20,
screw steam corvette at Sheerness.

Riley ; Quartermaster Nicolane, with 170 rank and
file.

" The Ripon reports the loss by fire of the English
transport No. 119, the Hainsyke, at Constantinople ;
she was scuttled, and no lives lost. No particulars have
reached here.

" The Talavera, No. 98, has also arrived from the
Levant with GO naval invalids and the following officers :
Commander Lloyd ' • Drs. Evans, Bailie, and Gooch,
R.N. ; Lieutenants O'Brien and Harcourt, 30th Regi-
ment ; Assistant-Surgeon Sylvester, and 148 rank and
file of the different regiments.
" The Vulcan steam-frigate; which put into Malta
short of coal, left for Marseilles on the 29th.
" Yesterday her Majesty's steam-frigate Sampson left
port for Portsmouth. She had on board several invalids.
Among the passengers embarked was Dr. F. Crispi,
a refugee and an advocate. He had edited a paper here
with the knowledge of the Government, but as he had
produced from the Opinione de Turino, a proclamation
of Mazzini, and had translated into Italian two letters
signed A Traveller in Italy,' from the Times, he has
been expelled from Malta and sent to England !"
The steam-ship Alma arrived at eight a.m. on the 24th
of December at Malta, after a fine run of five days and
15 hours from Gibraltar. The weather was very rough
and stormy.

MILITARY.
It is reported that Major-General Philip S. Stanhope
(Grenadier Guards) is appointed Lieutenant-Governor
of Portsmouth garrison and Commander-in-Chief of the
South-west District.

Cplonel T. Bloomfield, Royal Horse Artillery; is ap-
pointed Superintendent of Drills, in the room of Colonel
Willes, who has proceeded to Gibraltar to take the com-
mand of the Royal Artillery at that station.
A new description of rifle, called the " Pritchett," is
in course of manufacture at the Government works,
Enfield.

To•tlay a draught of the 933 Highlanders is to leaie
Dundee, and a draught of the 42d leaves Stirling,
en route for the Crimea. They each consist of 1 officer
and 70 men.

In Mullingar the utmost activity prevails in the re-
cruiting department, as there are stationed there depots
of the 14th, 62c1, and 90th Regiments. On Wednesday
orders were received for the removal for embarkation of

112 privates, with the proper number of officers and
non-commissioned officers of the 14th. A larger num-
ber than required offered their cervices' which renders it
possible that many of the married men, who have
lengthened service, will be allowed to remain at home
for the recruiting and drilling departments. The en-
rolling for the militia proceeded with vigour.