From the Friend of China, March 6.

We have been favoured by art eye-witness with the following account of the Medea's action with pirates. A smart and well-executed expedition ; the time occupied from the first order to get up steam until anchor was dropped on returning to Hongkong being twenty-eight hours.

News having been received here from the Mandarin at Cowloon that seventeen pirate junks, supposed to be under the command of Tsui-Apoo, were lying in a bay about fifty miles off, the Medea was ordered to get under weigh, which we did, leaving this at half-past one o'clock for Cowloon, taking with us Mr. Caldwell, with the pinnace and forty-nine men from the Hastings, viz.: twenty-four sailors under command of Lieutenant Webber, one midshipman, one naval cadet, one assistant surgeon, and twenty-five marines under Lieutenant Holland, where we waited a short time to take a Mandarin on board. Commander Lockyer being very anxious if possible to finish the business that night, cracked on all steam, and in three hours and forty minutes, viz., at fifteen minutes past five o'clock, we found ourselves in presence of thirteen pirate junks, four of which appeared to be upward of 250 tons, mounting ten guns and upwards.

The piratical fleet were lying in a small bay in the island of Kuto, and it was evident they had perceived our approach by our smoke over the land, as on rounding the point we found twelve of the pirates sweeping in, while one remained at anchor. On rounding the point we were all ready for action, bulwarks down and the men at their guns. We immediately opened fire, when the pirates without offering any resistance commenced jumping over board, we continued our fire and succeeded in killing about 150. Night was falling, and Mr. Brodie, the master, was sent to take possession of the junks in shore, the men not having vacated all the junks, some resistance was offered, when Commander Lockyer in his gig with commander Wainwright, a volunteer, accompanied by Lieutenant Webber in the Hasting's pinnace, with some marines under Lieutenant Holland, R.M., and Lieutenant Gibbons in our cutter, started to render assistance ; the pirates were soon driven on shore with considerable loss, and five prisoners were taken, the night coming down very dark, with a heavy fall of rain, prevented the crews landing to scour the island, the junks however were brought out to the steamer, which had been in considerable danger from one of the junks that caught fire having drifted down on her, however by the exertions of the first Lieutenant, Mr. Wood, the steamer was kept clear. In the morning eight of our captures were burned, four were given up to the Mandarin, who restored them to their owners ; they had only been recently captured and fitted out for piracy, the proprietors were in the village and were identified by the Mandarin.

While this was going or, a party of marines and blue jackets were sent on shore in command of Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Holland, accompanied by Commander Wainwright, the Mandarin, and Mr. Caldwell, to scour the island ; the villagers turned out to assist as bearers, but the party only picked up fifteen, the rest of the pirates having seized the fishing boats on the island and made for the mainland during the night. We were informed by the Mandarin that a party of soldiers had been despatched the day before overland from Cowloon ; however, not much exertion was to be expected from them, especially if leading into danger, so we did not see them.

Having concluded the service, we returned to Hongkong where we anchored at 4h. 10m.

The nine small junks succeeded in throwing their guns overboard, and our account had therefore to be taken from the gun carriages. Of the twenty prisoners captured, two died of their wounds during the night.

From the rapidity with which we were hurried off we found ourselves only able to muster a poor dinner the first day ; this morning, however, a deputation of the villagers waited upon the captain with the acceptable present of a couple of bullocks, a lot of fowls, and a supply of fruits, as an acknowledgement of our services in ridding them of their unwelcome visitors. One fisherman was unfortunately killed.

To the account of the Medea's cruize, which appeared in last week's issue, a postscript was appended, mentioning the seizure of the boats which had been despatched by the pirates from Cat-6 with the cargoes of the Chinchew traders. The information reached us as the paper was going to press, so that we were unable to give full particulars, which, however, we shall now endeavour to supply. While Mr. Caldwell was at Cowloong (sic), handing over the Medea's prisoners, he was told by the Mandarin that the boats in question were then in Hongkong disposing of their cargoes in barter for arms and ammunition, and he was requested to endeavour to capture them, which he promised to do. On his way back to Hongkong, he observed two fishing boats near the village of Shum-shui-poo, (Little Cowloong,) and it being very unusual for such vessels to anchor there, he determined to examine them, and on pulling a little closer, found a harbour-boat alongside. Bearing in mind the description of the pirates given by the mandarin, and it being manifest that these junks had not lately been engaged in fishing, he was convinced of their identity with the boats in question ; and accordingly with his four European constables, took advantage of the crews being below in consequence of the rain, and boarded them. On opening one of the hatches, he found a portion of the cargo with which the Chinese Commandant had said the pirates were loaded ; and he therefore secured the crews, seventeen in number, and brought them to Hongkong. Unfortunately one of the prisoners, who was recognised by Mr. Caldwell as having been lately before the Supreme Court on a charge of piracy, but got off through some defect in the evidence, made his escape while being brought on shore ; but the others with the two boats were delivered over to the Commandant at Cowloong. who made a formal demand for them. Friend of China, March 14, [1850].

SG & SGTL Vol 7, p. 145

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