The Sun. — 1849-12-20 (London, England)

CHINA.  The following is a letter from Hong-Kong, dated Oct. 30 :  " The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer I Pekin arrived here on the 20:h inst., bringing dates from England to the 24th of August. " We regret to have to announce the death of RearAdmiral Sir Francis A. Collier, C. 8., Commender•inChief of her Majesty's naval force in the East. Sir Francis had been for some time in a precarious state, and within the last few days his health had given some uneasiness to his medical advisers. The death, however, was unexpected. He died of apoplexy on the morning of the 28th inst., at the residence of Judge Hulme, where ho had been staying since his return to China. The mercantile community are under groat obligations to him for the ready protection ho at all times afforded to British commerce, and an address was handed to him only a few days age, thanking him for the energy displayed by him in the extirpation of piracy in these seas. " The vessels of war have been chiefly engaged this month in the suppression of piracy. Captain Hay, of her Majesty's brig Columbine; and Captain Wilcox, of her Majesty's steamer Fury, hare destroyed a formidable fleet of 30, with their dockyards, not more than 40 miles from this colony. The chief, Chui-Apoo, had, until lately, a manufactory of gunpowder on this island. He was also engaged iu the murder of Captain Da Costa and Lieutenant Dwyer, which took place in February last. The Columbine and Fury, along with the East India Company's steamer Phlegethon, were dispatched 14 days ago to tho west coast in search of the celebrated pirate chief, Chap-ing-tsai, and his formidable fleet, alluded to last month. The expedition has not yet returned, owing, probably, to the severe gales that have lately prevailed, and to the difficulty of discovering the pirates in their places of retreat. These piratical junks average 500 tous each, carry 12 to 18 guns, some of thorn 24-pounders, and chiefly of English manufacture. The pirates have hitherto always been the first to give a broadside; and they not only manage their guns well, but fight desperately. " The Chinese Government still retain the head and hand of the late Governor of Macao, on the plea that the three Chinese prisoners have not yet been released, which the Macao Government declines doing. " The accounts from Shanghae are to the 23d of October. The injury,done to the rice crop had not been so serious as was at one time expected. It is still:confidently stated that the crop of silk is short, and that the entire shipments for the season will not exceed 10,000 to 12,000 bales. The residents were suffering mach from fever, the effects of the previous inundation. Se7eral deaths had occurred.  " The vessels of war in this harbour are her Majesty's ship Hastings, Captain Morgan, and sloop Royalist. The Medea steamer is at Whampol; the Pilot at Amoy; Arab at Ningpo; and Mariner at Shanghae. " The French vessel of war the Bayonnaise, and the American ship-of-war Plymouth and brig Dolphin are, at Macao. " Our latest dates are from London, August 24; from Calcutta, September 15; from Bombay, September 19 ; from Madras, Sept. 14; Singapore, October 10; Manilla, October 16; Sydney, August 18."