The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-26 00:00:00

PIRATES IN THE CHINA SEAS.

The following is an extract from a private letter:—
" O❑ the 26th of March Captain Hely, commanding
Messrs. Dent and Co.'s store-ship the Amite, stationed
in the liver Min, whilst proceeding up the river to the
town of ,Foochow, in two China boats with eight men,
was attacked by six large piratical junks, carrying
40 to 60 men each. They commenced a heavy fire,
and made sail upon him evidently with the view
of running his boats down, but a well directed and con-
tinued fire from a large swivel duck gun and muskets
by his crews disinclined the pirates to close quarters,
though their boarding nettings were triced up eight
feet high. The boat following his own was, however,
intercepted by one of the junks, and one of
the Lascars was knocked overboard. The hazard
was great, but there was no other means to save the
man's life. He ranged his boat right athwart the junk's
bow, gave her a raking, and engaged in band in hand
fight with the crew. The struggle was desperate; be•
sides the continual fire of small arms they heaved stones
and stink-pots (pots filled with powder-bags, having
slow matches attached, which are broken by being
thrown on an object and explode) upon his crew, and
wrested the pikes from two of his men's hands. The
Lsscar wae, however, picked up alive, a tow-line was
made fast, and Captain Hely had the triumph of sailing
both his boats away and proceeding on his course, the
light wind giving him a superiority over the heavy junks.
Considering the immense force of the pirates and the time
the engagement 'Jested (half an hour) the escape of Captain
Holy and his small crew was miraculous. Seven were,
however, severely wounded whilst alongside the junk by
spears and pikes; he himself was struck on the head by a
stone, carrying away his cap, but without injuring him,
and one man only ecaped unhurt. Captain Hely has
no doubt that the pirates had received timely notice of
his intention to visit Foochow, for the shore was crowded
with spectators watching the contest and cheering on
the pirates. His fire proved effective, for the Chinese
authorities, who were taking measures to secure the pi-
rates, informed him that five were killed and forty
wounded, many of them severely."

SPORTING NOTES.
No. XCII.
ODDS AND ENDS CONCERNING GOODWOOD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Yesterday. afternoon and evening brought about
several important alterations in the market with regard
to the Goodwood events. It came out last night that
Iris, Phlegra, and, perhaps, Bonnie Dundee would run
in opposition to Hernandez and Misserima for the Grat-
wicke Stakes; 10 to 1 was repeatedly taken about the
two outsiders, and 3 to 1 was the highest offer against
either Iris or Misserima. Hernandez declined a fraction
of a point. I see nothing in the race, considering his
pretensions and condition, that stands a chance of con-
quering him. The second " move" last night was a de-
cided current setting in, in favour of Claverhouse for
the Ham Stakes; the Goodwood horses were nothing
like so firm as they have been for this stake. It was
also tolerably evident that another Goodwood nag (Wil-
liam the Conqueror) would have to succumb to Lord
Exeter's Nutshell for the Great 300 Soya. Stakes. The
Drawing Room Stakes and the two 300 Soya. Stakes
were, however, booked as certainties for the home
department. With the exception of Presto's,
Harpsichord's, Clarissa's, and Humphrey's friend-
less condition, the Goodwood Stakes remained in
statu quo. On the Cup, however, one or two curious
" moves" were apparent. Cariboo in the first instance
declined to 7 to 2, and in one or two instances 4 to I was
laid, he then recovered to 3 to 1 offered; Essedarius once
more made his appearance in the mallet at an outside
price; Cossack retired to 10 to 1 taken, and Nancy
oscillated all the evening between 3 and 4 to 1; Hesse
Homburg was sent to the right-about, while a new
aspirant for Cup honours in Clincher, on the strength of
a large outlay, advanced to 8 to 1, not to be obtained at
midnight. The betting, this morning, up to half-past one
o'clock, has embraced the following transactions:—Ham
Stakes-4 to 1 eget Claverhouse; 5 to 1 agst Father
Thames. Gratwicke Stakes-5 to 4on Hernandez; sto
2 eget Iris; Bto 1 agst Phlegra. Goodwood Stakes-
-6 to 1 eget Grand Duke; 8 to 1 agst Narcissus; 9 to 1
apt Backbiter; 100 to 7 eget Miss Whip colt; 100 to 7
agst Pitsford; 15 to 1 agst Cariboo; 200 to 13 eget
Presto; 18 to 1 agst Duc-an-Durras. Goodwood Cup-
-3 to 1 agst Cariboo; 7 to 2 agst Nancy; 7 to I agst
Clincher; 10 to 1 agst Cossack; 12 to 1 agst Landgrave.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.
July 26, 1851.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S—YESTERDAY.
GOODWOOD STAKES.
The only bets were 20 to 1 to a small sum agst Duo..
an-Darras, and 25 to 1 to about 401. agst Bacton. Offers
to lay 9 to 1 agst Backbiter, and to take 16 to 1 about
the Miss Whip colt, and 20 to 1 about Cariboo. Presto
was quite friendless.