The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-20 00:00:00

CHINA.

The following is a letter from Hong-Kong, dated
Oct. 30 :

" The Peninsular end Oriental Company's steamer
Pekin arrived here on the 20. h inst., bringing dates from
England to the 24th of August.
" We regret to have to announce the death of Rear-
Admiral Sir Francis A. Collier, C. 8., Commander•in-
Chief of her Majesty's naval force is the East. Sir
Francis had been for some time in a precarious state, and
within the last few days his health had given some un-
easiness to his medical advisers. The death, however,
was unexpected. He died of apoplexy on the morning
of the 28th inst., at the residence of Judge Hulme, where
he had been staying since his return to China. The
mercantile community are under great obligations to
him for the ready protection he at all times afforded to
British commerce, and an address was handed to him
only a few days age, thanking him for the energy dis-
played by him in the extirpation of piracy in these seas.
" The vessels of war have been chiefly engaged this
month in the suppression of piracy. Captain Hay, of
her Majesty's brig Columbine; and Captain Wilcox, of
her Majesty's steamer Fury, have destroyed a formidable
fleet of 30, with their dockyards, not more than 40 miles
from this colony. Tho chief, Chui-Apoo, had, until
lately, a manufactory of gunpowder on this island. He
was also engaged in the murder of Captain Da Costa
and Lieutenant Dwyer, which took place in February
last. The Columbine and Fury, along with the East
India Company's steamer Phlegethon, were dispatched
14 days ago to the west coast in search of the
celebrated pirate chief, Chap-ing-tsai, and his formidable
fleet, alluded to last month. The expedition has not yet
returned, owing, probably, to the severe gales that have
lately prevailed, and to the difficulty of discovering the
pirates in their places of retreat. These piratical junks
average 500 tons each, carry -12 to 18 guns, some of
them 24-pounders, and chiefly of English manufacture.
The pirates have hitherto always been the first to give a
broadside: and they not only manage their guns well,
but fight desperately.
" The Chinese Government still retain the head and
band of the late Governor of Macao, on the plea that
the three Chinese prisoners have not yet been released,
which the Macao Government declines doing.
"The accounts from Shanghae are to the 23d of
October. The injury done to the rice crop had not been so
serious as was at one time expected. It is still:confidently
stated that the crop of silk is short, and that the entire
shipments for the season will not exceed 10,000 to
12,000 bales. The residents were suffering mach from
fever, the effects of the previous inundation. Several
deaths had occurred.

" The vessels of war in this harbour are hor Majestfa
ship Hastings, Captain Morgan, and sloop Royalist. The
Medea steamer is at Whampoa; the Pilot at Amoy;
Arab at Ningpo; and Mariner at Shanghae.
" The French vessel ca. war the Bayonneise, and the
American ship-of•war Plymouth and brig Dolphin are,
at Macao.

" Our latest dates are from London, August 24; from
Calcutta, September 15; from Bombay, September 19 ;
from Madras, Sept. 14; Singapore, October 10; Manilla,
October 16; Sydney, August 18."

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Telegraph and Courier.)
BOMBAY, Nov. 7.
REPORT OF THE BOMBAY MARKET PROM THE 3D TO THE
16TH INST. INCLUSIVE.
The London mail of the Bth of October arrived here
on the 7th inst.