The Empire County argus., 1855-07-14
three Weeks Later from China.

By the arrival of the British bark Francis at
San Francisco, we have dates from Hongkong to
the 26th April
The long continued civil war in China is at last
producing the bitter fruits of famine and starva-
ton. The China Mail saws:
We are informed, on creditable authority, that
from four to six persons die daily in the Lower Ra-
zaar, from kind of derious fever, brought on bv
want. In Hongkcng the price of rice at the COM
mencement of the year was 81 80, but now it is
S4 81 to 81 o5. In the neighborng province of
Kwang-Tung the people are reported to be diving
IN large numbers from starvation
The pirates have established regularly block
ade OF the eastern entrance of Hongkong--an en-
trance which, it is true is but little used by coast.
ers and never by foreign traders. The China Mail
says;
The entrance to the harbor by the northeast is
hockaded by pirates (ex-patriots) and the Admiral
does not seem inclined to do much towards clearing
the passage. Not only was one of the lorchas
pundered but market boats and traders are cap.
fured daily and their crews murdered nor do we
see the slightest chance Of any Improvement, un.
less the local government purchase and man stea.
mer Of their own, perfectly independent of the
navy and ready to start at moments warming in
any direction where pirates reported to be
cruising.
On the 18Th April, Chinchew trader. with
cargo of rice, &C., valued at $1,000, intended for
the Hongkong market was captured by six pirate
Ju"N' '''SiNo 'c hyy u-niooh; piuDuercU ana tnen
given up to her crew.
On the 10TH a fishing boat was captured and
carried off from the neighborhood of Chek-chu
The same day, lorcha, on her return from q
wrecking expedition to the Pratas was plundered
by large feet about ten miles outside the Ly.,u-
moon Her captain represents the pirates covered
from head to foot with bloodn having Just massa-
cred all but three board a crowded passenger
boat, which had unfortunately fallen into their
hands. The lorcha was three times stopped by pi-
rates before she reached the harbor.
On the 23d, passage boat, while sailing near
Lintin, was captured by two pratical boats, and
one OF the passengers wounded; and the same day
IL market boat. while sailing off the Ly-yd moon
was attacked by Il piratcal junk, from which a
number of stinkpots thrown on board One
old man was killed by spear thrust and two 9TH
ers wounded The beat was then pundered of her
cargo of pigs, fowls. &c.
In regard to the piracies near Hongkong. and the
failure Of the English and American men war to
suppress them, the Hongkong Register says
The perverse and foolish manner in which the
British tleet has been prevented from putting down
the pirates who intestng these waters and des-
troylng trade, will soon show its fruits when we
are left with small and inadequate force on the
coast. We mi ght in this emergency look for some
assistance from the United States navy. but from
all learn this able and efficient force is as
much, if not more, under the trammel of absurd
ana foolish regulations as our own navy, while her
officers, as far lis we have seen of Them seem more
afraid of responsibility than the British