The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-11 00:00:00

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock,

DESPATCHES FROM REAR-ADMIRAL

SIR JAMES STIRLING.

("From the Gazette of this Evening.)

ADMIRALTY, JAN. 10.

Despatches, with enclosures, of which the following are
copies, have been received from Rear• Admiral Sir James
Stirling, Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's ships and
♦easels on the East India and China Station.

REPORTING SUCCESSES AGAINST PIRATES BY RATTLER.
Winchester, at Sea, lat. 25° 17' N.,
long. 1200 10' E.
October 23, 1855.
Sir,---On the 28th of May I had the honour to report
that Commander Fellowes, of her Majesty's steam-sloop
Rattler, had made a successful attack on a piratical horde,
near Hong Kong, and I have now the satisfaction to for-
ward herewith reports from that zealous and attentive
officer, of further and more important successes.
2. To the last of the operations therein reported I ven-
ture to solicit the particular attention of their Lordships ;
for I feel assured that, while they will deeply regret that
so many brave men should have fallen and suffered in the
execution of the services described, they will appreciate
highly the gallantry and resolution exhibited, equally by
the officers, seamen, and marines, of the United States
frigate Powhatton, as well as by the officers, seamen, and
marines of her Majesty's ships who were engaged, and
will perceive that the success obtained reflects great credit
on Commander William Abdy Fellowes, who planned and
directed the attack.
Every attention shall be given to promote the recovery,
and provide for the comfort of the wounded men, and to
afford such of them, as may desire it, an early return to
their native coantry.—l have, &-c.,

(Signed)
His Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir J. Stirling,
Commander•in-Chief.

J. STIRLING,
Rear-Admiral and Commander•in-Chief,
The Secretary of the Admiralty.

Her Majesty's steam-sloop Rattler, off Mios Bay,
a 1855.
Sir,—l have the honouMry to 29inform you that I started
from Hong Kong nn Sunday afternoon, the 27th, and pro-
ceeded to the harbour of Samchow, here we arrived at
daylight on Monday, the 28th, and with the assistance of
some neighbouring fishermen and our own boats away
sounding, we were enabled to get up near to
where the captured lorchas were lying. Imme-
diately we hove in sight they all weighed and ran up to
what to us appeared a river, but was the continuation of
the harbour, forming an island ; the boats were sent away
fully armed, under the command of Lieutenant Wrey,
and after a good deal of firing the junks were run ashore
and deserted. I ordered them by signal to be all burnt ;
but besides the re-captured lorchas, three lorchas were
claimed by the Chinese we took with us ; so there were
burnt in all, six; brought off, five. We took four pri-
soners, one of whom was recognised as the Second Chief,
and one other was wounded by a musket-ball in the knee.
No casualties occurred on our side. Owing to the late-
ness of the hour before we could secure the prizes, I was
obliged to remain for the night, and got out this morning
with a very slight touch on the ground.
I need scarcely inform your Excellency that, from first
t') last, a most gallant spirit was shown by every individual
engaged, and as the whole affair was seen by myself, I can
attest the good behaviour of every one ; indeed the boat
attack on the five large junks on shore, which were firing
heavy guns until the boats got near, when they were de-
serted, was gallant in the extreme, at the same time pro-
per caution was used in approaching.
The boats destroyed were as follows, averaging from 50
to 60 men each :

One large junk, 14 heavy guns ; 24, 18, and 12-pounders.
One large junk, 12 guns ; two 24-pounders and ten
smaller guns.

Two finks from 8 to 10 guns ; 6,8, and 12-pounders.
Two large fishing-boats; ne big guns.
From 28 to 30 of their men were either killed or wounded.
The lorchas, which were also heavily armed, fired on the
boats, but were soon deserted when they found our two
smaller boats coming up in their rear.—l have, Etc.,
(Sigued) W. A. FELLOWES, Commander.
His Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir J. Stirling, Kt.

Her Majesty's Steam-sloop Rattler,
Hong Kong, 28th June, 1355.
Sir,—Since my last letter, dated May 29th, in
which I informed you of a successful expedition against
the pirates at Samchow, I have had information supplied
of two more robberies having been committed; the first
they could not make out any English ownership or that
the plundered vessel belonged at all to Hong Kong, so I
let them alone ; as to the second, on the 4th June Mr.
Caldwell came off to say an English lorcha had been cap-
tured near St. John's, with a very valuable cargo on board,
and the informants said they had no doubt the pirates
were still there. I got up steam instantly, and proceeded
ao as to arrive there at daylight, which was done, and the
boats sent into the harbour, where we unfortunately found
only one small piratical boat, which was burnt. I then,
from informatio❑ received from a boat, went as far as
Nampang, which we went completely round without seeing
anything. I then stood back and managed, by lying to
during the night, to fetch into Tyloo very early in the
morning of the t;th, and cruised round, as far as the
shallow water would allow, without seeing anything. I
then steered for the Ladrone Islands, and as we neared
them, observed two large piratical boats come round a
point, and when they saw us they ran in shore and deserted
their boats, the crews running away in all directions, car-
rying large bundles. The boats were sent in and the ves-
sels brought out. I then landed the boats' crews under the
command of Messrs. Wrey and Greer, to search for some
of the property we thought we had seen them secrete.
Nothing of any importance was found on shore, but on
board we found piratical flags—mandarin's and rebel. Mr.
Caldwell concurring with myself that there was no doubt
as to their character, they were towed out to sea, the guns
thrown overboard, and the vessels burnt. I then went and
looked into some more small harbours among these islands,
and it getting dark I thought it better to return to Hong
Kong, where I have remained up to this date without any
more zoports I could act on.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) W. A. FELLOWES, Commander.
His Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir J. Stirling,
Commander-in• Chief.

Her Majesty's steam-sloop Rattler,
Hong Kong, 6th August, 1855.
Sir,—My last letter apprised your Excellency of pirates
being once more abroad committing depredations. Now I
have the honour to inform you that I started from
Hong Kong on the 30th ultimo after these plunderers,
touching at Macao for information which led rc.e on the
31st to look into all the bays for some distance to the
southward of Macao ; but seeing nothing, I crossed over
to the Ladrones, taking a turn round all the islands in the
neighbourhood, with the like want of success. Not de-
spairing, however, of finding their haunt I retraced my
steps back to Macao, where, with the assistance of Mr.
Caldwell, late Government Interpreter, I obtained some
Chinamen who stated they knew their whereabouts.
Standing again to the southward as far as Tyloo I came
up with part of the junks the pirates had captured ; but
the pirate chief, with several armed junks, keeping in
shore, where the water is shallow, prevented the ship
reaching him or our shot and shell doing him or his ves-
sel any harm. Suspecting the pirates would remain in
their fancied security, I hastened beck to Hong Kong, land-
ing the Chinamen at Macao on my way, called on his Ex-
cellency Sir Jno. Rowriug on the "d, and, with his con-
currence, had an interview with Captain M'Cluney,
of the United States steam-frigate Powhatton, who on my
personal application placed a volunteer force at my dis-
posal, consisting of two paddle-hex boats and a cutter,
fitted each witla 12-pounder howitzer, and manned with
66 seamen and 28 marines, under the command of Lieute-
nant Pegram. With this additional strength and the
Er.glet, a small steamer drawing seven feet of water, lent
by Mr. Caldwell for the occasion, I quitted Hong Kong
once more on the 3d instant with the steamer and boats in
tow of the Rattler and anchored the same night as near
the point on the north side of Kulan as practicable. At
daylight on the 4th all the boats of the Rattler and the
Powhatton, manned and armed, were taken in tow of the
Eaglet, the depth of water not permitting Rattler to pro-
ceed
farther, and stood at once for Kulan, which was
found to bo empty ; but, looking round, a creek, appa-
rently on the main land, was discovered, where the mast-
beads of several junks could be distinctly seen, and about
the same time a lorcha was observed to leave the creek
with the evident intention of escaping, but to prevent
her doing so, I despatched the Rattler's pinnace,
in charge of Lieutenant Wrey, and Powhattou's
cutter, to endeavour to cut her off; the boats on
corning up with her found she was in possession of the
w.ual sailing letter, and the master stated he had that
rooming effected his escape, after being plundered of
everything of value, The Eaglet soon towed the boats
abreast of tho creeks, the pirates as we neared firing seve-
ral ineffectual guns by way, I suppose, of defiance; we re-
turned in exchange five 24-pounder rockets that I had
procured before starting. These, fired from the steamer,
Alarmed the pirates, numbering in all 34 junks, crowded
f,uns and men, as they immediately hoisted their sails and
made for the head of the creek. Perceiving this the boats
pushed off in chase. On reaching a small island at the
head of the creek, the larger junks made a stand, with
broadsides towards us, firing with much rapidity and in
excellent direction, but the boats returning their fire with
shell and grape, and closing rapidly amidst a shower of
shot, made a dash and the junks were ours, the crews
teeing to the water. Leaving a small party :
of men in
civarge, the boats pursued the others, who had, with a
light air, gained the middle of a large bay, or rather la- I
goon, which opened out of the creek, and succeeded in
taking many of them.
Nine war junks, mounting 130 guns of all sizes, and
nine small junks (traders) th pirates had detained were
osptured.
We felt ourselves obliged to burn and destroy the war
junks, as also two of the trading junks ; night approaching
and being a great distance from the steamer compelling us
to do this to prevent them falling into improper hands.
This success, obtained from a regularly organised pirate
fleet. was, I am sorry to say, attended with the loss of two
men. killed and eleven officers and men wounded on the
pure of the Americans, anti three men killed and seven
men wounded belonging to this ship ; while the lose of the
pirr,tes runet have been immense, for taking the number
of men in the junks, at the time of our opening fire, to be
1,0000 men, their killed, wounded, and drowned, could not
hr eve been less than 500 men ; the shell and grape from the
Loats, guns, and musketry of the marines must have told
upon them severely, as they stood fighting at their guns
with unusual firmness.
Five of the junks are deserving more than ordinary men-
tion, being built of very substantial material, large and
I.n°°°,Y. evidently built for war purposes, as they differed
L many respects from trading junks; their armament,
besides the usual complement of spears, muskets, stinkpots,
akn acolamrpgerised.
many large guns ; there was a 68-pounder
Pounder not weighing less than 50 cwt., 32,
24, 1?, and l 8
6-pounders; one junk bad 21 guns mounted.
.ct is impossible to speak too highlof the Arnericem co-
operating party
engaged they were with the Rattler's
emulating each other in the thickest of the attack. It
was in capturing a junk which blew up, killing two anti
veauuding 11 of the Americans,
an I capsieine
U.S
,
'that I witnessed the cool braveryof Lie. la do, S.N.,
to whose timely rescue I am -indebtedet fore myu' life ; but
any warmest thanks, in particular, are due to Lieut. Peg-
ram, the American senior officer;
the men, and coolness under a heavy fire, and
of
',revery when surrounded by a persevering and determined
indeed, everyg
foe, was conspicuous to all ;
eatud revengeful
leelonging to that frigate acquitted thernselley
eel; itnd man
nip satisfaction. 'much to ,
While bestowing all doe credit on ourArnerican friends,
I cannot pass over the conduct of Mr. R. Brownsdon, Pay-

f matte; -it' oharge of the brit outtific. whole Vat, in as nt•
i tack on a junk had three men killed and seven men
vo ark) by stink pots and spears ; nor that of Mr. John James,
the boatswain,who gallantly7attacked a junk in a five-oared
gig with musketry, till Lieut. Pegram generously came to
his aid and enabled him to take possession. Lieutenants
Wrey and Greer, and Mr. Lomax, mate, in the pinnace,
returned from their chase of the lorcha, in time to burn all
the junks we had captured, when I was obliged to retire
with the wounded. I regret for their sakes they were not
in the action, as they have always when the opportunity
offered greatly distinguished themselves.
In conclusion, I must express to your Excellency my
entire satisfaction with the conduct of every one employed
under me; indeed all exhibited on this occasion the same
gallantry and coolness under fire that they did on the
three former occasions, when I had the honour of com-
manding them.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) W. A. FELLOWES,
Commander.
P.S.—I placed the use of the hospital at the disposal of
Captain M'Cluney for the treatment of his wounded, who
at once accepted my offer.

W. A. F.

List of the Names of Men belonging to her Majesty's
steam-sloop Rattler, Killed and Wounded, &a., in the
Engagement of the 4th August, 1855, with the Piratical
Fleet near Kilian.
KILLED.—John Massey, Gunner, R.M. Artillery ;
George Mitchell, A. 8.; James Silvers, Carpenter's Crew.
WOUNDED.—John Lindsay, Gunner, R.M. Artillery,
burnt severely; David Lloyd, Gunner, R.M. Artillery,
burnt severely ; Richard Clark, Stoker, slightly wounded
and burnt ; James Poulter, A. 8., burnt severely ; John
Eade, burnt severely ; James Paull, boy, Ist class, burnt
badly ; Wm. Robinson, Gunner, R.M. Artillery, contused
head.
MissiNG.—Wm. Oliff, Private, R. M., supposed to be
drowned.
(Signed) NV. A. FELLowEs, Commander.
(Signed) F. B. PRITCHARD, Surgeon.
Her Majesty's Steam-sloop Rattler,
Hong Kong, 6th Aug., 1855.

List of Killed and Wounded in the Engagement with
Pirates at Kulan, on tho 4th August, 1855.
United States Boat Division.
KILLED,—Joseph A. Halsey, landsman ; Isaac Coe,
landsman.
WouNDED.--Lientenant Pegram, contusion of hand ;
Lieutenant Rolando, burn of hand ; John Pepper, seaman,
mortally (dead) ; B. Adamson, marine, gunshot, danger-
ously (dead); J. Pendergast, landsman, fracture of left
clavicle and burns ; Samuel Mullard, marine, burn, very
severely (dead); Frederick Hommell, marine, burn, very
severely; P. Walderschmidt, marine, burn, very severely;
Joshua Lewis, seaman, burn, very severely ; William
Taylor, captain after•guard, burn, very severely; Charles
Tingwell, seaman, cutlass wound.
(Signed) ALBERT SCHRIVER,
Assistant-Surgeon, -U.S.N.,
(Copy) -U.S. Steam-Frigate Powhat ton.
(Signed) W. A. FELLOWES,
Commander H.M.S. Rattler.

TRANSMITTING REPORTS FROM COMMANDER
VANSITTART OF CONFLICTS WITH PIRATI-
CAL JUNKS.

Winchester, at Hong Kong,
9th November, 1855.
Sir,—l have the pleasure to transmit herewith a report
from Commander Vansittart of her Majesty's sloop Bittern,
detailing certain operations against pirates in the Gulf of
Leotuag, together with a copy of my reply to that officer
in acknowledgment of the services above referred to.
I have also the honour to forward the accompanying re-
ports from Commander Vausittart, in relation to a later
action between the Bittern and a greatly superior force of
junks, in Shiepoo Bay, on which occasion the pirates ap-
pear to have commenced hostilities. I also forward my re-
ply to Commander Vansittart's report upon that service
and I cannot recommend to the notice of their Lordships
in terms too high, the skill, gallantry, and resolution
displayed by Commander Vansittart, and by the officers,
seamen, and marines who were engaged.
I regret to add that success was not achieved without
serious loss, and I beg to recommend to the consideration
of their lordships the case of the family of Mr. Turner,
late Master of the Bittern, who fell in the last-named ac-
tion while gallantly conducting the ships towards the
pirate junks.—l have, &c.,

, .
J. STIRLING,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty.

His Excellency Rear-Admiral
Sir James Stirling, Kt.

Her Majesty's sloop Bittern,
Woosung, Sept. 2.
Sir,—l have the honour to report the return this day of
H.I. sloop, under my command, from a successful cruizo
in search of the pirates referred to in paragraph 5. and en-
closures of my letter of proceedings to your Excellency of
the let August; bad weather and ether circumstances de-
tained us until the 7th ult., when we started from Woo-
sung in tow of the Confucius steamer, that vessel manned
and armed from the American frigate, having been sup-
plied by the Chinese authorities with necessary officials,
pilots, and informers.
2. At the pert of Teing-hae-wei, near Staunton Island,
the Confucius obtained information of the pirates' move-
ments, the fleet numbering by various accounts from 37
to 40, including, as the Chinese said, two European ves-
sels, with Europeans on board, had proceeded northward ;
this went to confirm the information I had already received
of Englishmen having joined themselves to these villains,
rendering them vastly more formidable ; so I decided to
prosecute the search, and in tow of the Pavushan followed
the Confucius round Sbangtung promontory, and she
having examined Wei-hai-Wei, rejoined us in Che-fon
Harbour. which we found rudely stockaded, in prepara-
tion for the pirates ; they-hatilowever passed on, and un-
fortunately the shortness of coal obliged the Confucius to
give up the chase.
3. Passing through Ml3-Tao Strait and striking north-
ward for Ross Bay in the Gulf of Leotung, at length on
the 18th ult., the privates were observed in the unex-
plored bight northward of that bay, ending in the sizeable
river which leads to the city of Fuchan ; the Pavu-
shan having towed us in, we still found ourselves obliged
to anchor between two and three miles outside the pirates,
in two and a half fathoms ; the boats returned with sound-
ings that rendered it doubtful if they could be approached,
although over the bar of two fathoms, at about half a mile
distant from the pirate fleet, we found a hole of three
fathoms, which was buoyed after dark
4. On the following morning the pirates numbering from
thirty to forty, including two lords 48 with canvas sails,
formed two divisions, and with a leading wind bore down
in pretty style, and opened, a respectable fire on her Ma-
jesty's sloop, which weighed and stood off to lead them
out. I tacked and returned their fire, perhaps somewhat
to soon, although they had already struck the ship, and
continued working their guns with spirit ; for they then
began a clever manoeuvre, joined their two divisions, and
running for shoal water and a reef, kept in such a position
that it was necessary to yaw np to bring our guns to bear,
each time increasing our distance, and improving their
chances of escape. Owing to the continued) down-pour of
rain, and misty weather, it was difficult to count the exact
force opposed to us, but that Europeans served the guns of
two of the largest seems highly probable ; for having ob-
tained their range, they continued firing until they were
dismasted and in a sinking state. As one boat was disabled
another would take it in tow, and although surrounded with
wreck I was glad to heave aback and work out of a dan-
gerous corner into which they bad led us, taking pos-
session of any of their vessels. Eight of their number,
however, were sunk or abandoned.
5. Having communicated with the authorities, on the
following morning we proceeded northward to release the
merchant fleets. These we found had taken shelter high
up various streams ; upwards of 100 of them in a river
leadine to the city New-Chang, of which we anchored in
4?, fathoms, in lat. 40 deg. 38 min. N. lung. 122 deg.
0 min, E., eight miles distant from the low entrance
to the river. Between two or three miles within the bar
is the seaport itself, of respectable size, with large estate.
lishments of grain. Here we learnt the pirates had al-
ready bees, and, disappointed in obtaining their calculated
ransom (the junks that had ventured past them having
paid 1,200 dollars each, others having been burnt that had
not the money). they seized a Chinese of no great rank,
and, quartering him, sent his remains on shore in a basket
to the authorities, with a threat that unless 100.000
dollars were weie immediately forthcoming, they would
treat the mandarins in the same way. Having obtained
their booty, they were loitering on the coast for merchant
craft when we fell in with them.
6. Turning to the southward, and searching various
corners, we came up with thirteen of the fleet, westward
of Mid-Tao Strait, and the day being favourable, se-
cured eleven of them, which I sunk or burnt; one only
surrendering herself, was taken in and given over to
the authorities at Tang-chow-foo - this, quite one
of the smallest, had a crew of forty-one. The
prisoners assured our interpreter that a lorcha, which
was one of the number, this day captured a white
man and two Portuguese, as part crew, and that they
escaped to the hills on our leaving her stranded to
secure others making off with sweeps. She did
not, on this occasion, return our fire; but when on shore,
after having suffered severely from its effects, opened
with her big gun upon the cduntry people, and clearing a
lane, a great part of her crew got away, armed with
baggage.
7. Finally, on the 30th ultimo, northward of Staunton
Island, we overtook another of the fleet, the crew of
which must haee been prepared to land, an expecting an
attack by boats, would have blown the boas ders up ; for
no sooner did our shot pass through her, than the crew
took to the water, and landing with spears, made for the
hills ; one man remaining•aft, threw a fire-ball forward,
and sprung overboard immediately, before the explo-
sion took place. This completed twenty, out of a well
provided daring fleet that we were enabled to destry, be-
sides probably having inflicted considerable damage on
many that escaped us during the thick weather of the 19th
ultimo. On different occasions, when the boats were em-
ployed, they were under thecommand of the Second Lieu-
tenant Mr. Brooker, Master Mr. Turner, and Acting Mate
Mr. Todd, whose names I am glad to bring forward for
favourable consideration.
8. I have troubled your Excellency somewhat fully, as
the strengths of the armaments of these vessels, with
their crews averaging not less than fifty men each, and the
apparently established fact that' Europeans have joined
them, proves the extent to which piracy has arisen, and
the formidable scale on which it is now conducted. I
em convinced a merchant vessel could only have escaped BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED.
ofsu cht h
tas flseseatsoty George 11 Teatherhead, joiner, Nowcastle-upon-Tyne.
would have rendered 4htheer ffaretegemenotreefeclemrrs- BANKRUPTS.
tai n, for these pirates sweep with ease three and font Robert 7 2urner, draper, Ludgate-hill, to surrender, Jan.
23, at twr ~ and Feb. 19, at half-past one, at the Court of
knots, and with wind free
Bittern. That they would not many hesitate •hem distanced the
manntoerattitack mer- Bankrupt, Graham, official assignee; Shepherd, Clif-
chantmen is evident from the vigorous ford's-inn , Fleet-street.
and maintained their fire upon us ; their James' Wilson, ship broker, Grafton-road, Kentish-town,
they opened
, Jan. 31 a nd Feb. 22, at eleven, at the Courtof Bankruptcy.
seven to fourteen and upwards in
occasionalrll"e' tx2T Centime, official assignee, Aldermaubury ;A. Reed, Iron-
pounders downwards ; perhaps an 32 pro e " monger-1 ,ane.
may be met with, but a nice sort of medium thel-.Beilise Th°l"; as Hampton, corn merchant, Broadwater, Sussex,
most common in use. This fleet, all of which is mild Jan, ,at twelve, and Feb. 19, at one, at the Court of
the west coast build, and of from I should say go Bankruptcy. Lee, official assignee, Aldermanbury ; Van"
to upwards of 200 tons burthen (excepting two, deecom „ Cree, Laws, and Cornyn, Bush-lane, Cannon-st.
which seemed considerably larger), had a hide crow's neet Gear and ongdee, draper, Welton-in-the-Marsh, Lincoln,
(said to be musket ban proof) at the main and foremast 72eb. 6 27, at twelve, at the Leeds District Court.
head, capable of sheltering men who sling the stink-pot to / Carrie k, official assignee, Hull ; Farrow Alford.
a considerable distance; vast quantities of these were ward Rheam Sanderson, seed crusher, West Kinnald
found, and an almost incredible supply of ammunition, ry, Lincoln, Feb. 6 and 27, at twelve, at the Leeds
pikes, knives, &c., on board those captured.
0, It is impossible to estimate the amount of trade, LDiivsterirpcotoiC;o2furstridaChadr,riLcoke,dso.fficial assignee, Hull ; Peel,
thrown open for the present, if Chinese are to be credited , ' John Richards, ship owner, Cardiff, Jan. 22 and Feb.
Lilly to the value of two or three millions of dollars; th ,
' 19. at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Miller, official
prima/ors talked of two hundred thousand dollars having ; assignee, Bristol ; Bevan and Girling, Bristol.
been amongst the fleet, and assured us a considerable poi Alexander Anderson, innkeeper, Stourbridge, Jan. 25
tion of it went down in the largest of their vessels whir la and Feb. 22, at 11, at Birmingham. Christie, official
had unstained their fire with such spirit; it would he. assignee, Birmingham; Addenbrooke, Stourbridge; E.
been well to have brought away the heavier guns, but. the and if. Wright, Birmingham.
delay would have cost us some of the fleet; the offvcers Thomas Whitehead and Joseph Laney, dyers, Morley,
saw qt,eantities of rich furs and other booty on board those Yorkshire, Jan. 28, and Feb. 25, at 11, at the Leeds Dis-
vessels which they burnt. treat Court. Hope, official assignee, Leeds; Naylor, Leeds.
10. I awl happy to say none of our people were wounded, 1 James Pratt and Charles Almon, earthenware manufac-
toms, Cautieford, Yorkshire, Jan. 28, aid Feb. 18, at 12,

GEORGE GORDON,
Acting Surgeon.

Approved.
(Signed) E. W. VANSITTART,
Commander.

Winchester, at Hong Kong, Oct. 30, 1555.
Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your letters of the 22d of September and of the sth Oct.,
In relation to your ,operations against the pirates in the
neighbourhood of Shei-poo ; in the course of which, with
the aid of your well-trained and efficient ship's cempany,
you appear to have accomplished one of the most remark.
able exploits within my knowledge.
It will afford me the greatest pleasure to bring to the
notice of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
3 our transactions above mentioned, and to point their at-
tention to the excellent conduct of all who were engaged
in the octurrences referred to, and most especially to the
eases of Lieutenat Brooker and of the late lamented Mr.
Turner, and of Messrs. Todd, Newton, and Sinclair, and
of the captains of guns, Mattless and Hurneyman.
The satisfaction caused by the good conduct thus evinced
would indeed be without alloy if it were not accompanied by
deep regret at the losses and injuries sustained. Al-
though personally but little known to me, I was well
aware of Mr. Turner's merits ; and I trust the Admiralty
may, with its usual liberality, consider the position in
which his family are left by his death. To the other cases
reported in your return of casualties I shall give my earliest
attention on the arrival of the Bittern at this port, with the ,
hope of alleviating in some small degree the fate of those
severely wounded, by au early transmission to their native
country.
With reference to the part which fell to your own share
in these operations, it will be highly gratifying to me to
bear testimony to the zeal, skill, and intrepidity you have
displayed in this, as well as oq two previous occasions
within the present year, and I feel assured their Lordships ,
will feel as much pleasure in receiving, as I shall have in
communicating so favourable a representation of your con-
duct in your present command.

I have, &e.,
(Signed) JS. STIRLING,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
Commander Vansittart, her Majesty's sloop Bittern.

In consideration of the services, mentioned in the above
despatches—
Commander Edward Westby Vansittart and Comman-
der William Abdy Fellowes have been promoted to the
rank of Captain.
Lieutenant George... Augustus Cooke Brooker has been
promoted to the rank of Commander.
Mr. John James, Boatswain 'of the Rattler, has been
advanced to the 2dClass.
Mr. Richard Brownsdon, Paymaster of the Rattler, Mr.
George Gordon, Acting-Snrgeon of the Bittern, and
Mr. George B. Newton, Assistant• Surgeon of the Bittern,
have been noted for favourable consideration.

cue ebly Was hurt in a trifling manner; a round ghat teak
an awkward score between two and three inches deep out
of the bowsprit, besides rending the spar; the carpenter
tells me it can be rendered permanently secure by a fish
we have prepared.—l have, &c.,
Signed; E. W. VANSITTART,
Commander.

Winchester, at Hong Kong,
October :10,1855.
Sir,— I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the sth September, in which you report
that her Majesty's sloop under your command, accom-
panied by the Confucious and Pavushan steamers, the
former manned and armed from the United States frigate
Macedonia, and the latter employed by the parties inte-
rested in the object of your intended expedition, and
supplied by the Chinese authorities with necessary
officials, pilots, and informers, had proceeded to the
head of the Gulf of Leotung, and had accomplished the
capture or destruction of 20 junks, whose piratical out-
rages had for some time previously infested the coast of
China to the north of the Yanetszee-Kiang, and greatly
obstructed the legitimate channels of trade.
I cannot but express the satisfaction I feel at your re-
port of the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Brooker and of
Messrs. Turner and Todd, nor can I allow the present
occasion to pass without conveying to you the expression
of my high opinion of your own personal merit in the
direction of the expedition, the success of which reflects
the greatest credit on all concerned ; and it will afford sue
great pleasure to forward to the Admiralty a copy of your
communication and of this reply.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) JS. STIRLING, Rear-Admiral, &c.
Commander Vaissittart,
Her Majesty's sloop Bittern.
Her Majesty's sloop Bittern,
Sheipoo Harbour, September 22, 1855.
Sir,—lt is my painful duty to report the death, at 8.55
a.m., of Mr. Charles Turner, late master of her Majesty's
sloop, under my command. Being in tow of the Pavushan,
Mr. Turner on board that newsier had successfully piloted
us into port on the 18th instant, and it was some time
after, during the heat of the action, whilst altering the po-
sition of the steamer, he was led to pass, outside of us
into the direct line of all the piratical tire that went over
the Bittern, when he received his death wound from a
round shot which tore away part of his right side.
Your Excellency is well aware of the loss her Majesty's
service sustains in the premature death of this valuable
officer. A thorough sailor and a first rate master, doubt-
less when represented by his commander-in-chief, his
services will be favourably considered by the Lords Com-
missioners of the Admiralty in awarding some pension or
assistant to his family. His mother, Mrs. Turner, the
widow of an old Lieutenant who died a Retired Com-
mander, resides in Parker's-place, Exmouth, Devon, and
with two daughters was, I am informed, chiefly dependant
on the support she received from the late lamented officer
and another son in the merchant service.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) E. W. VANSITTART,
Corn mender.
His Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir Jas. Stirling,
Kt., Commander-in-Chief, &c.

A List of Men who have received wounds or hurts on
board her Majesty's sloop Bittern, 18th Sept„ 1855.
William Hanvey, aged 25, private, R.M.' wound of
right leg by round shot, amputation below the knee.
Thomas Ellis, aged 21, ordinary seaman, wound of left
leg by round shot, amputation below the knee.
James Brownlee, aged 15, boy 2d C., wound of left leg
by a splinter from round shot, amputation below the knee.
Mr. Chas. Turner, aged 32, ''master, very severe lace-
rated wound of right side of abdomen by a round shot.
Died on the 22d Sept.
Mr. G. A. C. Brooker, aged 25, lieutenant, slight splin-
ter wound of right cheek.
John Ridley, aged 26, A. 8., slight contused wound of
right hand.
John Flynn, aged 23, A. 8., contusion of scrotum and
testicles.
George Scott, aged 19, boy let C., slight splinter wound
of right foot.
Elijal Mordey, aged 30, Corporal, R.M., contused wound
of left Ain.
John Claw, aged 2:3, Private, R.M., contused wound of
right heel by a shot.
Benj ,min Matthews, aged 42, Serjeant, R.M., splinter
wound of scalp, back of head.
l'Pth September.—Wounded on shore.
Rcb,rt Funneil, aged 32, A. 8., lacerated wound of left
cheek and face (slight).
Andrew Caifral, aged 21, Ordininar Seaman, contused
wound of lett band (slight).
Robert Livingstone, aged 22, Ordinary Seaman, con-
tused wound of fingers of left hand (slight).
John Bennett, aged 28, A. 8., contusion of left arm by
bullet (slight).
Henry Fordham, aged 25, A. 8., wound of left foot
(slight).
Men who sneered from the Sun whilst on Shore, Sept. 19.
James James, aged 24, A. 8., severe headache and fever.
William Woodley, aged 19, Boy, let C., severe head-
ache and fever.
Peter Pinkerton, aged 21, Ordinary Seaman, severe
headache and fever.
George Tweedole, aged 23, Private, R.M.. severe head-
ache and fever.
Thomas Stevens, aged 30, Private R.N., very great pain
o? head, and fever. Died on 24th September.
John Wallis, aged 28, Private, R.M., severe headache
and fever.
Charles Wichelo, aged 24, A. 8., severe headache and
fever.
(Signed)