Washington sentinel., 1854-04-30
China.

The Chinese ship Hamilton arrived at San
Francisco, March &, in SO days from China,
bringing dates from Hongkong to 10th Decem-
Der. The siege of Shanghai still continued,
but 'the imperialists exhibited such con-
temptible front, that even those who, up 10 n
recent period, entertained some hopes for re-
version TO the old order of things, are changing
sides; and sympathy with the rebel Triads, low
and unworthy in department though they APP
pear to be, is becoming the fashion among oil
classes"
1t was rumored at Shanghai that the rebels
who evacuated Annoy had proceeded to and
captured Fuh-chow; but there was no truth in
their having gone there Mt oil. Indeed, the re.
port, to any one remembering the large body
Of Tartar troops stationed there, bore on It's
face the stamp Of improbability.
"GREAT DESTRUCTION OF THE PIRATE FLEETS
BY THE HERMEs-SHARP FlGHTrYG.--The Brit.
ish ship-ofwar Hermes reached Annoy on the
llth December, and reported having had seye.
raj engagements with the numerous piratical
vessels on the coast. The Hermes had stated
out Of Annoy on the oath of November, in con-
sequence Of intelligence having been received
that the English brig Fortuna and the Portu-
guese lorcha, No. 20 had been captured by the
pirates. On the 25th the Hermes discovered
22 pirate junks near village. AS the Her.
mess boats neared the beach, they were fired
on by the pirates, numbering body OF 500
well.armed men.
After little sharp fighting on both sides,
the pirates retreated and the English took pos
session of the junks--nineteen Of which were
found to be heavily armed with guns and spears,
and large quantities of powder, ball, and stink.
pots. All these vessels were set fire 10, and
from the loudness of the reports, the quantity
Of powder on board must have been enormous.
Next morning the Hermes moved further up
the bay, making for an inlet where were seen
good many junks' mast-heads. Before reach.
ing them, a boat rowcd alongside with two Por
tuguese, one of them master Of the Portuguese
lorcha No 10, which he said had Just been
plundered by the villagers, headed By the man
DARN of the place. They have succeeded in
recapturing her from the pirates who first took
her.
The English landed, the mandarin fed, the
doors of his house were broken down, and with
in was found part Of the lorcha's cargo.
Captain Fishbourne, of the Hermes, then di.
rected large junk lying off the mandarin's
house to be set on fire. just rs this was ef-
fected, about five hundred men rushed out OF
the walled village with q hideous yell, and at
once opened fire upon the Hermes's party from
gingalls and matchlocks, but precautions had
been taken to prevent surprise; party being
drawn up ready to salute them, which was done
most effectnally, aided by few shot and shell
from the ship, one Of which pitched into the
mandarins house, and soon silenced them.
The junk was then burnt. Next morning anoa
ther large pirate junk, heavily armed, was dis.
covered, run on shore, and burnt. On the next
afternoon, November %, the Hermes chased
and destroyed three more pirate junks.
On the morning Of December l, the Hermcs
came upon eight moro pirate vessels under