The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-04 00:00:00

NIVGAGEMENTS WITH THE PIRATES I
IN THE CHINA RIVERS.
We are enabled to lay before our readers the fol-
lowing most interesting and copious detail of the
above naval engagements, which we have been com•
pelled to omit for want of room ; it comprehends
fully all the movements of the expedition :
Th• expedition, consisting of the Columbine, Fury,
and Phlegethon, started 9 I.st., on Monday, the Bth of
October, 1549, and reached the island of St. John's at
noon of the 9th, where we learned through the inter-
preter, xir.
D. Be Caldwell, from a fishing boar, that
the pirates had not been there for sixteen days, and that
they were, most probably, at a place calld Poet-seen,
further south.
At five P.M. of the 9th, reached an anchorage under
an island named Mung, when Mr. Caldwell boarded
le large trading junk coming from the westward,
from which he learned that she had only been released
from the pirates at fien-pak a few days before; that
they had stripped the junk of everything, and even
taken their wearing apparel—which by appearance
was true, since not a thing could be seen but the
boat's tackle; that the pirates had left Tien-pak and
gone to Now-chow or Hoi-how (could not say which),
but at either place we should probably find them. That
the chief had 30 I.irge junks with him, and was the
celebrated Shap-'ng-tsai, and that they were manned
with from 80 to 90 men each.
Both Captain Hay and Mr. Caldwell landed at Mamee,
and had an interview with the maadarins,who told Captain
Hay that Shap•'ng-tsai and his squadron had last been
heard of at Hoi. how beyond'Now chow, and that another
ehief,named Pa-tow had recently joined him,and that there
was ne doubt we should find him at Hoi-how, advising our
calling at Now-chow en route for more certain informa-
tion. Shap-'ng-tsai had visited Ma.mee four times this
year, and the mandarins expressed themselves well
pleased at the prospect of so formidable an
enemy being destroyed. Made Now-chow on
the 12th, and had an interview with the mandarins,
who informed us that Shap-'ng-tsai had passed
through 22 days before, with 60 junks large and small,
and had intended, they felt pretty sure, to go to Gui-
chow, in the gulf of Tonquin, as he fancied he was pur-
sued by English vessels; that five months previously he
had stripped the forts of Now-chow of all their guns, the
forts being now without any.
Saturday, the 13th, passed over the flats, having been
towed by the Fury, and anchored in Hoi-how roads at
about three sex. Captains Hay and Wilcox, with Messrs.
Scott, Caldwell, and Soames, waited on Hwang, the man-
darin in command, who received the party with great cor-
diality, and informed them that he had very recent infor-
mation of the whereabouts of the pirate fleet, as a boat
from the neighbourhood had come across the day
bofore, from which he learnt that they had visited
Pack-hey, and burnt several of the houses, killed
at least a hundred people, men, women, and
children, and had also carried off several women,
and that he was certain, if we pursued them im-
mediately, we should catch them at a place called Chuck-
shan with thirty-one junks, and at the same time stated
his desire to accompany the expedition, taking with him
some junks to bring back the prisoners to Hoi-how. Capt.
Hay expressing his thanks for this officer's civility, said
it would afford him great pleasure to meet his wishes,
and the Mandarin Hwang, a blue button, rank of
major-general, requested the party to accompany him
at once to the commander-in-chief's to explain matt ?rs,
Etc. The party left the general's in chairs, and pro-
ceeded to the city of Chin-keang-foo, about six miles
from Hoi-how. This is an exceedingly pretty coun-
try, and we were received with the utmost civility
and attention. Not less than 1,000 people pressed
on the mandarin's house, although it was getting
desk, for a chance of seeing the Fanquis ; but the
greatest good humour and order were maintained. His
Excellency Ho, the commander-in-chief, after a very
short delay, sent to the waiting-room to say he was
ready to receive the party, cards having been pre-
viously sent in with the general's compliments.
We found him dressed in the usual manda-
rin dress, and his button red; a young man cer-
tainly not more than forty, with a well-shaved forehead,
and neat. moustache. We were received by his Excel-
lency with great kindness, and after the usual chin-
eaning were soon stowed away on chairs to the right
and left. Our party were admitted by the grand en-
tranee, whilst iLvang entered by the side door, and
joined us in the presence.
Mr. Caldwell soon opened the subject, and the object
of the visit of her Britannic Majesty's ships. His Ex-
cellency, in a very earnest manner, begged us to accept
his own and his country's best thanks for the interest and
determination taken in the destruction of the pirates, by
whose atrocities the whole coast had been devastated, the
trade stopped, public and private property rendered
unsafe, and the sanctity of private life violated by the
desecration of their homes and the violation and abduc-
tion of their women; at the same time stating that
he felt much regret at his not knowing of our in-
tended visit, as he should have liked to have
given us a grand reception. His Excellency most
warmlfsent red into the scheme for the destruction of
the pirate fleet, and asked Captain Hay to allow the
commandant of the land and sea forces, Hwang, to ac-
company us, which Captain Hay immediately assented
to; his Excellency at the same time acquainting Hwang
t 2 ee. he was to equip as quickly as possible some junks to
proceed in company, and that he was at liberty to draw
on tl2e.Treasury for any sums of money that might be
reculie:te. To complete the arrangements it was pro-
posed by the commander in-chief that we should visit
another high mandarin, who, it appears, had something
to do with facilitating the affair; so, utter a very plea-
sant visit and most polite conge, we proceeded to the re-
sidence of the Tou-tae in question, well escorted by a
'pod-tempered crowd, preceded by lanthorns cf all
cuss and description,. We were received at all the re-
idences with music, trumpets, &c., and salutes of three
guns from guards at the gat sways. The residence of the
high manderin was a very neat one, with an artificial
garden in front, which, as it was getting dark, was
partially illumin•ated. Here the mandarin, surrounded
by several others, was ready to receive us, which he did
most court ously, when the same speeches were re-
peat aci, and we were requested to wait for breakfast next
morning before d- parting for the pirates. Captain Hay
said that " delays were dangerous," and as Hwang with
great n-,al said he would have all his affairs settled, and
be ready by noon of Sunday, Captain Hay, in answer
to numerous invitations, said that his principle was,
" that it was better to work first and have the fun
afterwards," which, in other words, seems to be a
maxim of their own; so they readily agreed to defer ci-
vilities until our return. We now took leave, escorted
by Hwang, who accompanied us to the landing place,
having first inquired of Mr. Caldwell if he would remain
for the night at his house. This we declined, and, as the
water was shallow in the harbour, he directed a boat with
a lanthorn to show the charinel.
On Sunday morning, the 14th, boats came off with
roast pigs, fowls, ducks, kids, vegetables, and fresh beef,
for each ship, as cum-sham: for the ships' companies,
from the governor-general.
At a little past noon Hwang embarked on board the
Fury for better accommodation, attended by his military
secre ary and aide-de-camp, after issuing his final direc-
tions to the eight junks to form his squadron and accom-
pany the expedition. At about two P.M„ under a salute
from the batt ,ries, we stood across Hainan Straits in the
direction of Pack-boy, at the head of the gulf of Ton-
quir, where Hwan:: said we should find eight tow beats
belonging to Shap-'ng-tsai's squadron, pulling about
eigley oars each, which he thought we had better destroy
first en route. It appears that they were left at this place
to bring off the plunder sifter their recent attack thereon.
Hwang is no doubt a first-rate fellow, has been wounds d,
and. a few months since, beat Shap-'ng-tsai off from
Hoi-how, and wan exceedingly civil to Lieutenant Mould,
of the Amazon, and the party that went down in the
Canton steamer a month ago.
It is a great stroke, and an advance in the right road,
and speaks volumes f)r Captain Hay and Mr. Caldwell,
whose invaluable services brought about this coalition of
force for the destruction of the pirates, and one that will
doubtless raise the British nation in the estimation of
the Chinese people, who, along the whole coast, are now
pouring out their heartfelt thanks for the destruction of
this formidable band of marauders.
Nor can we speak too highly of Hwang, who, being a
high official, so promptly made his arrangements for so
early a departure, proving himself to be far advanced of
his counteymen in the economy of time and the value of
dispatch:in attacking an enemy.
On Monday evening, at a little after sunset, we an-
chored at Wy-chung, and Hwang went on shore, where
found that the eight pirate boats had left Pack-hoy
and gone to Chuck-shah, where the whole fleet was said
to be cleaning their bottoms, and that they had com-
enced doing so five days before.
On the afternoon of the 16th of October, the squadron
reached Chuck-shin, and we learned from the people
that, in consequ-nee of their not cutting grass for the
burning of their junks bottoms, the pirates had de-
stroyed the town, killed a number of the inhabitants
had run off wit'i women and children, and after commit.'
ting great enormities, had gone further down the coast
to a place staked Hoo-nong in Cochin-China, where it
was reported some junks were taking in cargoes of

grain.
Ow the 18th proceeded in further pursuit, and, search-
ing the harbour of Goo-to-shsn at five P.M. on the 18th
observed a suspicious looking junk at anchor under a
headland. She hoisted her sails with much precipita-
tion on our appearance., We, however, fired a shot
ahead of her to try and stop her, to gain some intelli-
gence if possible, but she immediately commenced
sweeping, and made for the land, under fire from the
Columbine and Fury, over some shallow fiats that
obliged the Columbine to anchor. The Phlegethon pro-
ceeded in chase, and ultimately destroyed her. She
mounted six guns, and was a scout left there by the
pirate chief. A great number of her people were killed
and drowned, and the remainder escaped in the dusk
into the interior. A junk was burnt to the water's
edge.
On the morning of the 19th weighed for Hoo-nong,
off which island we came to an anchor at 1 r.m., and the
Phlegethon went in with Captains Hay and'tWillcox,
the mandarin, and Mr. Caldwell, as interpreter, for in-
formation.
They returned in the course of the afternoon with the
intelligence that Shap-'ng-tsai was in a
with large fleet only a few miles from us, harbour
and
that at the neighbouring town of Fa-luny, they were
preparing for an attack on the morrow.
Early on the morning of the 20th, as Captains Hay
and Willcox were about to proceed to the place pointed
Out, some large junks under sail, apparently coming
out, were observed from the ships, but, seeing the
vessels of war, stood in again. No less than sixty-two
junks of different sizes, forming the celebrated fleet, at
W 1-?4t length presented themselves to our longing eyes. We
weighed immediately, but could not get competent people
to take the vessels over the bar. At tour P.M., after
twiny ineffectual attempts to get at them, a ri old man es-
cap"l from the village near the pirate position, and Rent
4)11 board the Phlegethon, and kd us through the

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