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

COMBINED EXPEDITION AGAINST TEE

WEST COAST PIRATES.

We are glad to find that Admiral Stirling le now
making amends, as far as possible, for the six wee, -
spent by him at Japan, and that he seems deterf-16,-
to proceed systematically and energetically to w • is in
accomplishing the destruction of the piratical Beate aloer,
the Chinese coast. Never were active proceedings more
urgently required, seeing that besides those on the west
coast, a formidable fleet is known to rendezvous ad
Chusan, and a second is said to be outside the Fut-tow-
moon, for the purpose of waylaying the northern junks
on their passage to this port and Canton. The cargo
and passage boats which used to ply daily betwixt
Hong Kong, Macao, and Canton, new only venture
out four or five in company, and once a week. Two
pirate fleets, as mentioned above, have been already
destroyed, though unfortunately the crews in both
instances effected ;
their escape on shore and we
understand it is his excellency's intention to proceed
to the west coast immediately with her Majesty's ship
Winchester, Sparta, Encounter, Narracouta, and Styx,
and the Peninsular and Oriental Company's river
steamers Canton and Sir Charles Forbes, which have
been chartered for that purpose ; and will, it is under-
stood, be joined by the United states steamer Queen,
and the Portuguese frigate, Dom Joao 1., and lorcha
Amazona. In this expedition we think it probable Sir
James's first visit will be to Heang-shan, which is closely
blockaded by a very large fleet (or rather several fleets
under different leaders) of west coast junks, whose sole
object, it they can accomplish it, is the plunder of the
wealthy capital of the district in which Macao is situated,
while in the meantime they demand front the husband-
men in the surrounding country one-half the rice crop
as black-mail.
Hitherto nothing effectual has been attempted towards
the suppression of these mi:icreants, and it is even said
that acts of piracy have been committed so close to the
shipping at Whampea, that they might have been wit-
nessed from the deck of the United States ship Mace-
donia, stationed there. Surely the " non-interference "
principle acted upon by foreigners in the internal dis-
putes of China cannot possibly be construed by one
American friends to have reference to sea or river
pirates, who prey indiscriminately upon foreigners awl
native,., imperialists and rebels, though it is now doubted
by f ?Ay that the Triad leaders aro in direct communica-
tion with them ; indeed the pirates at Kulan who plun-
dered the Caldera, were all observed to wear the Triad
sash. Some time ago, 13,000 chests of tea were cap-
tured on the river, and one silk dealer was lately robbed
of SlO,OOO worth of raw silk, which, we are told; was
subsequently offered for sale to foreigners at $B,OOO.
The following comprises the list of piracies reported to
the police during the past fortnight :
On the 16th of October, a fishing boat was seized near
Lintin, and kept till the 26th, when she was released,
the pirates having pillaged her of every article of value,
and detained three of her crew.
On the 22d, a passage-boat was boarded off Cheong-
sa-wan, and her cargo carried off, consisting of salt fish,
saltpetre, opium, &c.
A fishing-boat was captured, while sailing off Lintin,
plundered of everything of value and then released ; but
six unks. plundered near the
three of her crew
aw;ar
cargo
-boat
CaOpnsutyb.era2oosuth,by
q
On the 27th, a fishing-beat was seized while sailing
off Shek-pal-wan.
On the 29th, a fishing-boat was plundered of Chung-
chow.

A. cargo-boat was plundered near the Cap•suyssoon.
On the 30th, a stone-boat was taken about two miles
south-west of Green Island.
A fishing-boat was seized near Chung-chow. Th•
informant escaped with eight men, two women, and
two children, in a sampan ; but one man and one woman
were carried off.
On the Ist November a fishing-beat was sttseked
and taken by foir pirate junks in the Cap-Buy-Moon.
One of the fishermen was wounded, and th• boat plus•
dered.
On the 2d two fishing-boats were plundered off Chek•
Om.

On the 4th a salt-boat was seized in the Fat-tong-
moon by three junks. The informant and ten others
of her crew escaped in a Sampan.
A fishing-boat was taken off Chek•chu by a fleet of
ten junks.
On the sth a fishing-boat was carried off from
Chek•chu by two pirate junks.—Ching Mail.

MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY (IRELAND).--
An extraordinary meeting of the shareholders of this
company was held in Dublin on Thursday, for the pur-
pose of having submitted to them a bill proposed to he
introduced next session for making a branch line from
Longford to Strokestown, and one from Athenry to
Tuam. Mr. Ennis, chairman of the company, presided,
was moved by a share.
holder to the e
and having explained the altered circumstances which
made the directors unwilling to proceed with the pro-
jects inquestieffil,:resolution
ct,
``That having regard to the solemn
pledges given by the directors of the company, it is ex-
pedient that the hill fur the branch between Atheury
and Tuant be proceeded with." After considerable die-
cession, however, the following amendment was carried,
with but two slissentients, viz. :—" Resolved—That in
consequence of the present circumstances of the country
and the prospects of the money market, it is not prudent
to Proceed further with the extensions to Strokestown
and to Tuam ; but that a line of railway into the county
of Mayo ought to be undertaken by this company so soon
as the counties of Roscommon and Mayo shall agree as
to the best course for such line, and the state of the
money market shall render it practicable.