The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-27 00:00:00

tranquillity is really what we greatly hope for. Do
not oppose this special proclamation.
(True translation.)
"THOMAS TAYLOR MEADOWS, Interpreter.
"June 22,1847."

His Excellency her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c.,
is pleased to direct that the following notice from the
British Consul at Shanghae, announcing increased
facilities for the rapid dispatch of vessels from the
loading anchorage at that port, be published. The
Consul has been directed to guard against any abuse
of this concession from the local Government, by exe-
cuting in case of necessity the summary provisions of
ordinance No. 5 of 1844.
By order, A. R. JOHNSTON.
Victoria, Hong-Kong, July 21, 1847.
NOTIFICATION.

"British Consulate, Shanghae, June 21.
"With a view to afford increased facilities for the
prompt dispatch of vessels, her Majesty's Consul has
been in communication with his Excellency the
Taou-tae to determine the practicability and expe-
diency of allowing ships to leave the anchorage at
Shanghae prior to the issue of the Grand Chop. It
occasionally happens that a few hours delay, or the
loss of a tide, are of considerable importance; and his
Excellency the Taou-tae, satisfied upon this point,
has been induced to consent to such modification of
the present practice (under the third clause of the
port regulations) as the Consul may find expedient,
in order to enable a ship to leava the anchorage for
loading and discharging cargo as soon as the receipts
for all duties have been obtained from the Custom-
house, found correct, and lodged at the Consulate, as
evidence of the final close of the account and satis-
factory settlement of all claims of the Customs.
" In future, therefore, and provided no other cause
for detention exists, permission will be granted, on
application, to all masters of British vessels to pro-
ceed to any point within the limits of the port, when
the above-mentioned conditions have been complied
with, and a declaration made that the hatches are
closed. The Grand Chop as soon as received, toge-
ther with the ship's papers, will be subsequently
delivered at the Consulate-officeta the master or other
party authorised to receive the same, provided al-
ways that the ship shall not have dropped beyond the
limits of the port, -which would cause the papers to
withheld pending inquiry, and subject the vessel to
be such disabilities as it might be placed under from
being at sea without the documents required to en-
title it to the privileges or advantages of British re-
gistered vessels.
" Her gajesty's Consul has much satisfaction in
making the arrangement known to the British com-
munity ; satisfied that those for whose advantage the
alteration has been made will feel with him, that the
best interests of the foreign trade at this port are
identified with the regular and scrupulous discharge
of all obligations connected with the Custom-house
authorities, he has not hesitated, in communication
with his Excellency the Taou-tae, to remove all ob-
stacles by taking upon himself the responsibility of
guaranteeing that neither injury to the revenue nor
increased difficulty to the Chinese authorities shall
result from the concession. To fulfil this pledge her
Majesty's Consul counts confidently upon the cordial
co-operation of all the mercantile community.
" RUTHERFORD ALCOCK, Consul."

Our Chinese correspondent gives the following as
the substance of what took place at a recent meeting
in Mingling Hall, on the subject of granting further
accommodation to foreigners :
"At present Keying wishes to take ground from
the people to give it to the English barbarians for the
purpose of building foreign factories, &c.; therefore,
on the 25th day (July 7) the elders held a meeting at
the Ming-ling Hall, wherein it was publicly resolved
that all the fields, ponds, buildings, shops, and houses
belonging to the people, could not be allowed to be
forcibly rented by the English barbarians ; but any
place like Tung-keaou, or the landing place of Teen-
tsze, which is joined to ground belonging to the man-
darins or any open space not owned by the people, the
barbarians may take, and therefore the people need
not interfere in the matter. "

One of the placards issued by the people on the
subject of Shih-wei-tang is as follows :
" Shih-wei-tang is a territory not two leagues
distant from the Provincial City, and is the principal
thoroughfare between the western and northern
branches of the river. Every day the rich and poor
meet there in crowds, and vessels pass up and down
and move about the river in endless succession ; and
if we add to this, that the people in an east-
erly direction and in the western valleys, depend
on this thoroughfare for their food, it will appear
still more important, for it is the very throat
of Canton, and indeed commands the whole of
Kwangtung province. How then can property which
has been possessed for a myriad of years, and is of
the greatest importance, be all at once given away like
a golden snuff-bottle ? This would be just like de-
stroying the whole ; at which benevolent and honest
men would look up to heaven and beat their breasts.
But there are some rich merchants, who cunningly
pretend that they have acquired their property by
these barbarians, and therefore give up this property
as a kind of retribution, with the intention of gaining
some advantage by it, and thereby causing much
misery and calamity; and thus a fortunate spot will
be ruined. Still we trust to the superiority of our
Government, and hope that the penetration of our
mandarins will resemble the very heavens, and that
they will have sufficient ability to preserve peace and
tranquillity to Chinese as well as English. More-
over, these barbarians have come over a very extensive
ocean for the sake of trade, and have not the least
cause for being discontented, or thus trying to gain an
advantage over us. But if we in the country do not
adopt measures of defence, even iron fortifications
cannot be depended on; and if we the natives do not
remove all the obstacles, a brass wall may be beaten
down. Therefore the various associations have joined
together, and hereby make known their stipulations.
If any bricklayers or stonecutters, for the sake of gain,
engage in works (for foreigners), their bodies will
for a certainty be cut in pieces. This very day all
the cities and villages to the south have formed them-
selves into trained bands, joyfully to commence the
struggle; and, as our Government is compassionate to
those who come afar, when they hear of it they will
ask, ' Who dares on account of these foreigners to as-
semble the mass of the people to protect their pro-
perty, families, &c. ?' which intention is as firmly en-
graven as if it were on brass orstone, and of which we
respectfully give previous notice.
" Our intention is to provide security for all. The
militia of young men now forming is to protect us
from any evils caused by foreign countries. All in
this district who are above eighteen years of age must
now come forward, and, if they do not, we shall burn
down their houses ; and hereby swear, never to allow
any one to withdraw. We now give general notice,
that if there are any workmen at Canton, Fuhshan,
Se-nan, Shih-lung, and other places, they must im-
mediately return to protect their families. If they
fail to do so, repentance will be of no avail.
" A public notice from Shin-gan-sze."
The following apologetic explanation regarding the
cession of Shih-wei-tang has been issued by the
late proprietors, members of the Pwan-nang-king
family, " in order that the true bearings of the case
may be known :"

-forcibly rent or take possession of ground, in order to in.
sure mutual tranquillity; so that now we can live quietly
on our separate domains, and receive protection with-
out the slightest trouble; therefore we ought now to
perfect those arrangements, and adopt measures for
insuring ourselves against the desires of the insatiable.
If we do not, even a gold hillock would become an
ant's nest. If we cannot guard against and dispel
calamities in the interior of our own country, then a
stone wall may be corroded by the teeth of an
insect. The associations have, therefore, established
regulations, by which the peasantry, shopkeepers,
and owners of warehouses in Honan bind themselves,
being apprehensive that some unprincipled Chinese,
led away by the sums of money which will be un-
sparingly dealt out to them, will prove traitorous to their
country, befool others, deceive men, and even spirits
of Heaven ; and thus some foolish persons will rent
their property for the sake of filling their purses,
without considering that when calamity is brought
on by money, the happiness of the country departs.
We regret that there are some very cunning and
artful merchants who levy a tax by illicit connexion,
and when it comes to the point rush into all kinds of
iniquity, rent land, let, sell, buy, and build by mo-
nopoly, merely for the sake of lucre, without caring
in the least for the stigma attached to it. The cala-
mities caused this year by the barbarians, were
brought on by persons like these, and when speaking
of them we consider them as fit ebjeets for public
detestation. Waving, however, their past schemes,
if subsequently they dare to trade in their old way,
clandestinely let or rent (land) or supply them (the
barbarians) with tiles, wood, branito, and other build-
ing
materials, and provide workmen, for the sake of
gain, we shall look upon them as beasts. If they are
determined to become traitrous natives, and thereby
increase their crimes a hundredfold, we swear to de-
clare their names and denounce their transgressions ;
and when the 'drum sounds we will attack them, so
that they will not be able to stand —they will be
broken like a tile. But first we make known these
excellent admonitions in order to inspire them with
dread.
", A public notification by the people of Honan."
" The rebellious English, some time ago, wished
to take 'possession of Honan, in order to build bar-
barian factories and forts, and avail themselves of
this position to attack the city and levy the duties on
trade paid by various nations. We now rely on the
unanimity and joint assistance of the forty-eight
villages to put a stop to their operations and also to
their insatiable encroachments. They now want to
take possession of Shih-wei- tang, which is situate in
a most important passage leading to the eighteen pro-
vinces, and, being the principal means of communi-
cation between the northern and western branches of
the river with Fuhshan, &c., also the high road for
the exportation or importation of rice, its position is
as that of the throat to the human body. If any foreign
factories or forts are built there, they (the barbarians)
will pluck up courage and advance to the Bogue, while
we shall also have trouble inside; and it will be as
easy to attack and conquer Kwangtun as to turn the
hand. In future their ambition will have the voracity
of the silkworm, and they will seek to realise what
they covet. Men of knowledge consider this question
as involving the eighteen provinces; ignorant men
think it only concerns the small piece of ground. The
saying that when the lips are lost the teeth grow
cold,' may truly apply to the transfer of this land.
These things cool our hearts and are no small matters.
Only look ; Hong-Kong is not sufficient for them ;
they have already swallowed the Five Ports, but still
are not satisfied, but must forcibly take possession of
Hog-lane, of which they have stopped up nearly
the whole with a wall. All along the seashore they
behave cruelly and outrageously, presuming to kill
persons, and take territory by force. How are the
laws to be maintained, and how are they to be taught
to act with propriety and justice ? They say they
have no bongs to store their goods, and therefore
point to several places, which is the cause of much
wretchedness and misery to the people. Then they
spike the guns, sail up the river in their men-of.war,
and obtain their desire by coercion; but is this
behaving with true politeness ? Are not the Five
Ports (which are open to them) and Hong-Kong,
besides the spacious hongs of the old factories, ade-
quate for storing their merchandise ? 'We have ceded
to them territory in order to preserve peace, and to
no purpose paid millions of dollars; for they still
continue to harbour some sinister intention against us.
It is very evident that they have some designs upon
our country, and will not deny this nefarious purpose
to any intelligent person. We ought therefore to be
of one mind, and animated with one spirit of ami-
mosity against them ; and those who have power
should joyfully prove themselves faithful and patriotic
subjects. You must not therefore be ashamed and
remain inactive ; but show them you are a nation who
can exercise filial piety, brotherly love, loyalty, and
good faith. Let not a single sail of theirs return, but
thoroughly exterminate this detested brood."
While our paper is getting ready for press the guns
of the battery are saluting the Vernon, with the Ad-
miral on board.

It is difficult to form a correct estimate of the I
killed and wounded on the enemy's part, but, as 40
to 50 men were dead on the beach, ten men killed
found in the captured prahus, and the like number in
the prahus which escaped, beside those which may
have died in the jungle, we may reckon the killed at
80 or 100 men, and the wounded at double that num-
ber. The loss on the British side was one man killed
and seven men wounded; two mortally, and most
severely. Ten brass guns, varying in size from nine-
pounders to " lelas," and five iron guns (three to six
pounders), were captured.
Five prahus were taken, and the escape of the rest
is to be attributed to the small number of our boats,
so at one time eight prahus were lying on the beach
abandoned by their crews, and, had our boats been
sufficient to secure them, the other three would have
been overtaken by the Nemesis.
At the close of the engagement the sandy beach
was covered with captives flying from their captors
and by pirates abandoned in a hostile country, who
to the last sought some means of revenge. The night
closing prevented any measures being taken in favour
of the liberated captives, and when the morning broke
they were no longer to be seen, having taken to the
jungle from fear of the Borneons sent by the Sultan
to our assistance. It is to be hoped, however, that
the measures now pursuing to save these poor people
will be attended with success, and that many of them
may be restored to their native country.
Among the rescued captives who took refuge in
our boats are several Chinese and Malays recently
captured at Banka and Sinkep, a woman from Sian-
tan, and a young man from Mengkabong, to the
northward of Labuan, and these all agree in repre-
senting the extensive depredations committed by the
pirates. The pirates are stated to have visited during
this season the southern coasts of Borneo, the Straits
of Banka, Sinkep, the Anambas, the atunas, and
the north-west coast of Borneo, and were slowly on
their return to their own country when fortune de-
lived them into our bands. That the severe lesson
they have received may check their piratical habits
we sincerely hope, but we trust that such measures
may be taken by Government as effectually to eradi-
cate this piratical taint from the Malay character.
Piracy has heretofore been fostered by impunity, it
is to be cured by severe example, and when hun-
dreds of innocent people are yearly led away
into slavery in the vicinity of European settle-
ments—when the native commerce along the coast of
the Archipelago is entirely destroyed—we trust that
active measures may shortly be resorted to to remove
this curse from these shores, and the disgrace from
the British name of passively: witnessing or ineffec
•tually acting for the prevention of piracy and the slave
trade.

Any praise bestowed on the officers, crews, and all
engaged in this action would be superfluous,—they
behaved like Englishmen, and were opposed with a
dogged resolution worthy of a better cause ; and we
sincerely trust that their gallantry may meet with its
fitting reward—promotion for the protectors of com-
merce.

The' four boats which escaped to the eastward
touched outside of Labaun for water on the night
after the engagement, and a captive who escaped
stated that these prahus were kept afloat with diffi-
culty, being riddled with grape-shot. No tidings
had teen received of the other two. There were
between 200 and 300 pirates in the jungle, who were
being hunted by the Sultan's people. A Dutch offi-
cer's medal was found in one of the boats, a 9-pounder,
apparently of Dutch make, bags of Dutch doits, Banka
tin beat into balls, &c.
The Nemesis was coaling, and would proceed to
Sarawak with Mr. Brooke, and thence to Singapore,
and will probably arrive here on Friday or Saturday
next. The treaty with the Sultan had been con-
cluded.

"1 Our ancestor established the firm of Tung-wan
as Hong merchants, and the property he realised
(besides what he left to Nang-kung) he bestowed
upon several establishments for their management.
The territory of Shih-wei-tang was left to support
the expenditure of the ancestral temple of five
branches of the family, and, for the maintenance of
the widows and orphans, it was left to Leang-king-ta.
Now, in the fourth moon of the present year, we re-
ceived orders from the Government to deliver up this
place, and to hand over our title deeds for examina-
tion, and we should be paid the original price. This
command we could not disobey. When these orders
arrived, the widows and orphans of the five branches
were in great distress and perturbation, but they con-
sidered that this property was originally acquired by a
Hong merchant, and therefore it is a gift of Provi-
dence. If we do not give it up, we cannot escape
punishif we r
emeeeni
eotfhteh ev
aml
uaen do
of
rin
it,
we and,
shall o n
at he other
arouse
uset hand,he
in-
dignation of the villagers. Having well pondered
over the matter, we resolved to give it up
to the man-
darins for their use, without remuneration, so that
they (the villagers) could not say we had clandes-
tinely sold the property. The documents are clear
and explicit on this subject, and no deceit has been
practised, and we invite you all to come and investi-
gate it. We have heard that this has given rise to
resolutions being passed to seize upon the whole of
the rent of our relations, and to prevent the same
being paid. We shall then be without support, and
have nothing to depend upon to gain a livelihood ;
and thus misery will be entailed upon the whole of
our family through Shih-wei-tang. How could
benevolent and considerate people be prevailed on to
du this ? We have also heard it is rumoured that in
a few days those people will assemble all the males
and females of the villages, and lead them on to
destroyoa9imr
aanntcse
againststraltemouprle.famTilhye,rbe
uatreasalyso
tav‘g,eredaot
many el
kno Al whether these things are true. If
case we fear that some vagabonds will take advantage
of this opportunity to inflict great mischief, for which
we may not be able to get redress ; and therefore
make this announcement as an explanation of the
matter, and most humbly beseech that the case may
be looked into, and shall be very happy if our fault be
forgiven."
We select two placards from the patriot people, re-
garding Honan and Shih-wei-tang, which are curious,
taken in connexion with the communications on the
subject lately published by the Government
" We, the inhabitants of the territory of Honan,
hereby notify, that we are indebted to our high au-
thorities for having ascertained public opinion, and
for having sent a letter to the English barbarians, dis-
tinctly informing them that they must on no account

THE BORNEO PIRATES.
(From the Singapore Free Press, of June 21.)
Yesterday afternoon her Majesty's ship Royalist,
Lieutenant Gordon, from Labuan the 4th inst., ar-
rived here, bringing accounts of a very severe action
having taken place between the Hon. Company's
steamer Nemesis, and a number of pirutical prahus on
the 30th ult. We are in possession of full particulars
of this affair, and, as the details will no doubt be of
great interest to our readers, we issue an extra at
once, instead of waiting for our regular issue. As
the Admiral will probably by this time be at La-
buan, we may expect soon to hear of decisive mea-
sures being resolved upon against the pirates. We
now subjoin the narrative of the brilliant action of the
30th ultimo :

Early on the morning of the 30th of May the
Hon. Company's steamer Nemesis, with Mr. Brooke
and Captain Grey aboard, and having in tow a cutter
of her Majesty's ship Columbine, left the town of
Brune to cross over to the new British port of Labuan.
Information was received on the way down the river
that some fishermen had been chased at daylight, and
on rounding the point of the island of Moarra the look-
out of the Nemesis descried a fleet of Balanini or Sulo
pirates, in full chase of a trading prahu in the offing.
Immediately the steamer appeared the pirates, quit-
ting the chase, pulled in shore to the westward, and at
the same time cut away the small boats they had in
tow, whilst the steamer, pursuing at full power, lost
much ground by having to round the extensive shoal
which stretches from Moarra Point (Ujong Sapo) to
the islet of Pilong Pilongan.
The Balanini were first descried at half-past nine
o'clock a. e., and, about midday, finding the steamer
gaining upon them, came to an anchor.
At one o'clock P.M. the pirate fleet was plainly
made out from the Nemesis-11 large prahus, an-
chored in line, at a distance of ten yards from another
along a sandy beach, with their heads to sea, their
sterns (fast by stern warps ashore) in the surf, and
with a halser passing along from boat to boat. The
bows of the prahus were protected by ampilans,
formed of musket-proof planks; they appeared well
armed, crowded with men, and in this formidable
position awaited the approach of the steamer.
At 1 30 the pirates opened fire on the steamer, and
the action commenced in earnest at a distance of
about 200 yards, the steamer being in two fathoms
water, and rolling heavily in a ground swell.
For two hours a heavy fire was kept up from the
Nemesis, and the fire from the pirates being nearly
silenced, and their prahus evidently greatly damaged,
Captain Grey, with three cutters (one belonging to
her Majesty's ship Columbine, and two to the Hon.
Company's steamer Nemesis), resolved to make a dash
at the left of the pirates' position, whilst the steamer
poured in grape and canister upon the centre and
right, to prevent their rendering aid to their com-
rades.

On the advance of our three small boats, the pirates,
casting loose their halser which attached their prahus
together, pulled away to the eastward in a crippled
state, leaving two prahus in possession of our boats,
and numbers of men on the beach or jungle. The
Nemesis pursued to the eastward, and, one after an-
other, drove six of the flying enemy ashore, all of
Nbvuhti c he
uwerecould
notf or
bteh et a tkiemne abandoned
of our boats in possessiontheacti
meantime, whilst Captain.
Gr y
of,oehwas owing to theg
small number
thethelntwoprizes already
oprauutresn out mentioned
t of
fe o
tne six to
deserted
e wseeset uwra rnd ,
taondththee
eastward,Ne
isinfifvuell
the
last threePrahi
boats
were re-manned, and with a resolution praiseworthyr
in a better cause, bore down to the attack of our
three cutters. Captain Wallage, commander of the
Nemesis, perceiving this manceuvre, anxious for our
overmatched boats, and convinced that these prahus
must at all events escape to the eastward, returned in
that direction, while the sixth deserted prahu being
re-manned, and favoured by a breeze, crowded all
sail to the eastward after her three consorts, and thus
the four escaped. The five pirate prahus now ad-
vancing boldly towards our three cutters, perceiving
the retrograde movement of the Nemesis, made every
effort to escape to the westward, and a severe action
took place between the sternmost prahu and the boats,
the enemy defending himself with the utmost resolu-
tion, and inflicting a severe loss on our party. Whilst
Captain Gray was engaged in the capture of this large
prahu, the Nemesis pursued the four to the westward,
two of which were captured, while the remaining
two escaped in a completely shattered state, after
having
been several times deserted, and as often re-
manned.

Thus concluded this successful action with a pirate
force consisting of 11 prahus—two of the largest size,
four somewhat smaller, with crews of fully 50 men
each, and five with a complement of 35 to 40 hands.
The force of the pirates, at a moderate computation,
must be reckoned at 500 men, exclusive of captives,
and these, on the testimony of some rescued Chinese,
were above 100 persons.

Tn SUN, Lownow, 3101.TDAle
it my:pyni.msgistiq,._nyAllpa,
_27, 1847.

dispatches announcing the recent occurrences at
Canton :

" We have received the official notification pre-
sented to us by Keying, informing us that on the 19th
day of the 2d moon, the English merchants, with a
number of soldiers, suddenly entered the provincial
river. According to the investigations of the Vice-
roy, the said merchants alleged that their object
was to avenge the insults they had received from
the people of the Flowery Land ; they also
desire to go to Fuhshan to converse and argue
with the people, besides making a determined re-
quest to enter a portion of the provincial city. Since
the establishment of peace, the said foreigners have
been tolerably quiet, until now they have suddenly
entered the country with soldiers, and it certainly
was impossible to foresee such an occurrence and ar-
range accordingly. We imagine, however, they have
some other reason for being anxious to enter the city,
though in itself this is a matter of small importance.
The said Viceroy and his colleagues must not be dis-
, concerted at what has happened, nor must they ex-
hibit the least remissness, but command both civil
and military officers effectually to suppress the dis-
turbance, and not permit the existence of any cause
of alarm to the inhabitants.

"As the guns of every fort were spiked, Keying
must, therefore, demand the most severe punishments
for those officers who were charged with the defence
of the passes, but he must deliver up all the less im-
portant cases to the Board of Punishments.
" After the matter has been decided again present
a statement.

" This must travel 500 lee (about 160 miles per
day. Command it to be known. Respect this."
On the breaking up of one of the meetings held on
Thursday last (the 20th) at the Consoo House, some
vagabonds set fire to the new wooden boathouse, and
to a mat shed in the neighbourhood, outside the fac-
tories, but the flames were speedily extinguished with-
out doing any serious damage.
It is impossible of course to calculate upon what a
licentious rabble will attempt, driven from their former
haunts, and wrought upon by a people who believe
that their rights of property, which are sacred even
from the arbitrary grasp of their own mandarins, are
to be invaded by the hated foreigner ; but experience
has shown that unprovoked outrages on the part of the
Chinese are of extremely rare occurrence, even when
but slight means of resistance have existed; and it
seems improbable, therefore, that an attack will be at-
tempted in the presence of the Scout and Pluto an-
chored off the factories, with a company of the Royal
Irish quartered within them.
But if the matter is not settled satisfactorily now it
may be a perpetual source of inquietude; though few
merchants will probably be disposed to incur the
odium and annoyance of erecting warehouses on
Ronan, so long as the present facilities for storing
goods are offered by the brokers.
(From the China Mail of June 24,)
The recent attempts to burn the boathouse near
the factories immediately called forth a proclamation
from the magistrate of the district. Since then six of
the vagabonds have been convicted and condemned.
Three of them were sentenced to suffer 80 blows
with the great bamboo, and two the cangue (or
wooden collar) in perpetuity ; which, as is well
known, is nothing but a lingering death. The other
three are to be subjected to the cangue for one
month, with 80 blows on being released.
(From the China Mail of July 22.)
Business at Canton has been improving during the
month ; but the consequence of the shortsighted and
vicious system of making advances on goods shipped
on Chinese account are now severely felt. The losses
thus sustained have crippled native credit, and de-
stroyed the confidence with which foreigners were
wont to enter into large transactions with the
Chinese merchants, who are now hard pressed for the
means of meeting their engagements. Amongst the
brokers, too, with whom foreign goods are ware-
housed, some further instances of embezzlement, un•
known in former times, have recently occurred, and
one commission house of some standing has discovered
that no less than 500 bales of cotton have been
pawned.

Madras at 30 days' sight „
PRICES OF BULLION.

rs. 1001

Sovereigns, each Rs. 11 : 1 anna.

„ - Dragons, each „ 11 : 2 annas.
Bank of Ergland notes, per £ „ 10 : 6 minas.
Spanish dollars, per 100
German crowns, per 100
Sycee silver, per 100 tolas „ 102,12 to 10.34
Ck old leaf, per tola (range of quality) ~ 17,i