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

difficulties of the bar in fine style. On nearing the
fleet we found they had moored a number of their
largest vessels to defend the entrance, and at about
halt-past four they opened fire on her Majesty's
forces from their broadside guns, their shot at first
falling short, although fired in good direction. Fury
and Phlegethon now opened upon them with shot,
shell, and rockets, Columbine quickly following, as
soon as her guns could be brought to bear. At about
five P.M., the firing on both sides was maintained
with spirit, when a shell from Phlegethon blew Shap-'ng-
tsai's junk bang into the air, crew and all, with a (ear-
ful explosion, and oa the smoke clearing away scarcely
a vestige of his proud flag-ship could be seen above
water, excepting his flag, and a part of his poop railing,
from which for some time amidst many explosions the
flag, until consumed, continued to fly.
This magnificent spectacle was followed by the entire
destruction by fire of the whole of the junks anchored
in her vicinity. The boats of Columbine, Fury, and
Phlegethon completed the affair, and of er dark the
heavens reflected the havoc going on, no less than twenty-
seven of the largest junks being in flames, exploding
right and left as they passed majestically across the
stream atter their cables were burnt through, their guns
going off in all directions as they became heated, but
fortunately hurting no one.
It does not often, in these piping times cf peace, fall to
the lot cf many people to see so grand a sight
as fell to the expedition on the night of the 20th
of October, and it is one that cannot soon be f ir-
goten. The Columbine having been le ft at the
entrance to destroy the first block of junks, the
Fury and Pnelegethon were in hot pursuicas long as
they could see. At about right P.M. the latter vessel
returned and took the brig in tow, and passed through
the fleet of burning junks, until we reached the anchor-
age where the Fury was, whea we came to for the
night. The fires lasted till daylight.
Early on the 21st groups of piratical junks were in
sight, which seemed to be as great strangers in the
labyrinth of erodes as ourselves. Before night 24 more
were totally destroyed, and their people killed, drowned,
or in the hands of the Cochin Chinese, who were hunt-
ing them down with bamboo spears, &c., or they
perished in the swamps which, for miles around, bound
the waters we were in. A gallant affair took place this
day. Lieutenant Hancock, of the Hastings, in the
paddle-box of the Fury, attacked 9 large junks, who
tried their best to beat him off, and although they
maintained a well directed fire for nearly two hours,
were at last, by the beautiful practice from his 24-pound
howitzer, forced, after terrific slaughter, to give in, and
their junks met the common fate. Nothing but the ex-
ceeding good management of the boat saved his people—
not a soul was wounded or hurt, although grape in
showers fell around, and his ammunition was reduced
, to two rounds.

On the 22d the completion of the destruction was re•
sumed, and by sunset six more junks had shared the
fate of their comrades, and the affair was over. No less
than 5S junks had been burnt and destroyed.
The fleet of Shap-'ng-tsai on the 19th consisted of 64
armed piratical vessels, which may be classed as follows:
1 of 42 or more guns, and about l2O men.
16 of 30 do. do. each 75 „
42 of 16 do. do. do. 40 „
sof 6 do. do. do. 30 „

64-1,250 guns, from 6 to 32-pounders, 3,150 men;
and of that force there escaped-
-20f16 or more guns, and about...each 40 men.
4of 6 do. do. do. 30 „
. .. .. ....

bearing away, it appears, the chief, Shap-'ng-tsai, with
his moat devoted followers, altogether about 300 men.
As the shells were falling pretty thickly about the
junks, Shap-'ng-tsai, if he has really escaped, which,
notwithstanding the testimony of the prisoners, appears
doubtful, must have left his junk only a minute or
so before her explosion, as he kept up his fire
until the explosion, and one can hardly think his
people would remain at their guns after their chief
had fled. Such of the junks as were boarded and set
fire to by the boats exhibited the most unequivocal evi-
dence of the destructive fire of her Majesty's forces.
Their quarters were clear, the sponges, rummers, &c.,
by their guns, and in good order. Ammunition, flannel
cartridges packed in boxes screened by blankets, were
found ; indeed showing that order to some extent ex-
isted in the celebrated fleet that has latterly kept the
west coast of China, from Canton to the gulf of Tonquin,
in such a state of alarm.

If the vessels of war could have got in to attack them
earlier in the day, not a man or junnk could have Qs-
taped ; those that did escape were small junks that could
barely get over the bar at the other end of the stream
near Fa-fung, and that at high water only, which it is
reported occurred on the night of the 20th, the forts at
Fa-lung firing o❑ them as they passed, the reports of
the guns being heard at intervals through the night.
Hwang, the mandarin, who witnessed the attack and
destruction, teas in high glee, and was most active and
useful throughout. All now being over, such of the
miserable pirates as had not fallen into the hands of the
Cochin Chinese must have perished, for the tides rose in
most places over the swamps surrounding the scene of de-
struction, and all further anxiety as to their escape ceas-
ing, the vessels of war put to sea at noon of the 23d, and
made for Hoi-how, where we arrived at night on the
28th. Early on the 26th Hwang, accompanied by lobe
captains and several of her Majesty's officers, landed,
and were received with the utmost enthusiasm by the
officials and the populace, who thronged in numbers to
the landing place, and adjacent heights and gateways,
and lined the streets to the residence of Hwang ; we
should think from 15,000 to 20,000 Chinese composed as
good ordered and civil a mob as any country could pro-
dace. Salutes, gongs beating, banners flying, with
bands of music, completed the reception.
Shortly after our arrival at Hwang's residence, his
Excellency Ho, the Governor-General, arrived from
Ching-king-fio, followed by the principal mandarins of
the district, including a well-known official from Canton.
Pretty speeches ware made on all sides, the interview
was a highly interesting one, and it is presumed that so
large a meeting of mandarins and her Majesty's officers
has not taken place for some time. No less than 27
British officers, and 10 or 12 Chinese mandarins of high
rank, were assembled in the maj sr•general's reception
hall. Part el her Majesty's officers being in full uni-
form, added much to the novel scene.
His Excellency Ho was very desirous that the squa-
dron should stay a few days for entertainments, &c., but
this could not be complied with, owing to the anxiety of
the commanders to return to Hong Kong. As his Ex-
cellency was desirous of seeing the Fury, and Captain
Hay purposed leaving the same afternoon for Hong-
Kong, it was proposed that he should at once embark for
that purpose, which he accordingly did. During the in-
terval a gale had set in from N.E. with a very heavy
sea, which hardly allowed his Excellency to get on
board. However, he reached the Phlegethon, where he
spent some time, and, notwithstanding the violence of
the weather, he proceeded to the Fury, where he disco-
vered much more enlightened ideas than we anticipated;
noticing minutely differences between the engines, &c.,
that casual observers would scarcely do. After his in-
spection of that splendid vessel, he landed under
a salute of guns from the Phlegethon's boats.
As the Fury and Columbine were to proceed at once,
the former vessel waiting a olty longer for wood
and water, it was with considerable difficulty his Ex-
cellency could be landed, owing to the violence of the
gale; Vie shore was reached at last, and his Excellency
landed, the boat's crew being obliged to remain all
night, when they were most kindly treated by our old
friend Hwang. The weather continuing bad, we did cot
leave Hoi-how until the morning of tie 28th.
His Excellency the Governor-General sent off boat
lolds of pigs, fowls, ducks, goats, bullocks, &c., and a
letter for Mr. Bonham.

So has ended one of the most successful and important
expeditions a the present day. The Chinese people
from Canton to Cochin China may now, through 13ritish
skill and prowess, proceed with their wonted occupations,
so long disturbed; scarcely a trading vess.l on the coast
has been safe from the celebrated pirato chieftain. Native
trade will receive a stimulus, and the British people be
raised in the estimation of a nation who have hitherto
looked upon us with suspicion and distrust, but who now
see that we havo other and higher motives than a desire
to molest or intrude upon them except for the common
good. The fact of destruction, and not loot, being our
object, did not escape the observation of the people asso-
ciated with us. The entreaties of his Excellency Hwang
to save some of the junks could not be complied with.
All this has been achieved without the loss of a man.

We heard from the prisoners that the morning Shap-
'ng-tsai saw the vessels of war, namely, on the 20th, he
beheaded an envoy from Seu—a mandarin, named
Seung-akee, and also his own agent and boats crew
from Hong-Kong, who had gone to warn him of our
approach, all of whom he suspected of treachery, and
of having shown us his haunts; he is said to have ex-
ecuted them early in the day, whilst we were trying to
get at his fleet. As they were being executed, guns
were fired, which we saw, but could not understand.
Seu's envoy, who had been sent to treat with the villain,
was once himse't a noted pirate, had been taken by our
friend Hwang originally, and had since reached higher
honours than his captor.
It appears to have been a boast of this celebrated
vanquished chieftain that the Fanqui ships could not
follow him into the Gulf of Tonquin, but it has been
pretty well proved that, by determination and firmness,
there are few difficulties that cannot be surmounted
when experience guides the officer and judgment
mileshi ch
between the e x
directs the man. The flats or reefs, through or over
w
13Nedowiti-ocnhopwasagnedd'lleaxit-ellnd
at forin somenear places
y fifty
with barely three fathoms water. At the best of
times there is a swell, with heavy rollers sometimes
breaking entirely across these reefs. Going down with
pilots from Now-chow, at this time with better water,
the dangers were not so apparent; but returning the
same road, with a fresh wind from N.E., they looked
appalling. Having passed a narrow place on Sunday
afternoon, skirted by rocks over a l art called the bar,
with eight feet only at low water, we were obliged to
anchor between the reefs, when the Phlegethon pro-
ceeded on ahead. Whilst here, at about ten P.M., it
blew a gale, with a dirty appearance, and a swell set in
by no marina pleasant. The gale le ft such a sea on the
bar ahead of us, that in trying it on Monday, the 29;h,
it was found impractible, and Fury, with Columbine in
tow, had to return to an anchor, which was by no means
an easy thing to effect in a narrow channel, with scarcely
eighteen feet water, and a heavy sea running. But this
work was most skilfully managed by Certain Willcox,
Fury just touching the ground. The bar was again at-
tempted on the morning of the 30'h,and got over, carry-
ing three fathoms and a half, but a fearful sea with
rollers broke over the vessels, and we arrived at Now-
chow in safety ten at o'clock, and left again at two P.m.
The pilots from this island proved themselves to be ex-
cellent and trustworthy. ;Here again the news of our
success had spread like lightning, and people flocked to
the beach to look at the vessels.

The Earl of Carlisle returned to town on Saturday
from Windsor Castle,