EXTRACTS from the Remarks of H.M.S. Columbine, (1849), J. D. Hay, Commander on the Coast of China.

Remarks, &e., January, 1849.

31st.-In company with Mr. Scott, and Mr. Crowdy, and Mr. Jackson, our consul, (whose hospitality to all the officers was conspicious), we paid a visit to the famous monastery of Kushan. The monastery is about 970 years old, carrying us back to the times of Alfred, and coeval with Oxford. We proceeded from the city on the 1st of February in chairs, about fifteen miles in a north-east direction, through well cultivated plains, thickly peopled. On arriving at the foot of the mountain which is about 3,200 feet high, we found a wall running round its base, and two neat and massive gates admitted us to the sacred precincts. A small stream crossed by a neat bridge, and on the banks of which some trees flourished, having been crossed, we commenced on foot our toilsome ascent. A zig-zag road about fourteen feet wide occasionally so steep as to be paved with steps, conducted us after a four-mile walk to the monastery, which is about 2,000 feet above the sea. The foot of the mountain to an elevation of about 1,000 feet is clothed with the pinus moutana. Above that elevation trees of every description appear to thrive, and the monastery covering about four acres is embosomed in a secluded dell, covered by magnificent timber of ancient growth. The fraternity is Buddhist and consists of 170 brethern. The Abbot a man of polished manners treated us with civility and gave us ample accommodation. On the ensuing day we visited the peak, and wandered over the grounds varied by foliage of every hue, and cascades, natural and artificial of every form, then left our kind friends.

February 12th. We proceeded down the river to wait at the mouth for the Scout. Between this and the 17th we used every exertion to obtain pilots for the ship, and the Scout, in which we succeeded; and on the 20th the pilots carried both vessels out past the knoll, without shoaling the water to less than four fathoms. They, however, to keep this depth of water made a more tortuous course than the chart prescribed, and passed the knoll more to the southward than the line of the square hill on with it in Collinson's plan. On the necessity arising for a ship of more than twelve feet draught to enter the Min river, no difficulty would be experienced, if pilots were employed. By anchoring under the White Dogs, in the north-east Moonsoon, or at Matsushan at all seasons, a boat might easily procure a pilot, and the dangers of the navigation and shifting banks obviated by their local experience. If the Min be ever intended for a place of trade, her Majesty's ships should encourage the native pilots, who would eventually become as expert in the management of square-rigged ships as the pilots in the Canton River, and if assured of employment would no doubt have a pilot station at the White Dog group.

This evening the Scout parted company for Hong-kong.

July 28th.-A Parsee merchant having died at Canton, his body

was brought down to Whampoa to be interred on the 29th. That community have a plot of ground which they rent as a cemetery. It is situated on a hill on Dane's Island at the upper end of Whampoa Reach. The Parsees pay for it through the English Consulate. At about noon I received an intimation that the funeral was to take place, but that the Parsees anticipated some opposition, which shortly after I found to be the case.

A very large and turbulent mob had assembled determined to stop the funeral. I decided at once on landing my marines and armed boats' crews, and proceeded with them to the spot. Their objection to the burial appeared to me to be a pretext for raising money, and the Consular agent agreeing with me in this view, I judged that the boldest and most determined course would be the safest.

Through the interpreter I commenced a parley with some of the most respectable looking, and in the mean time suddenly ordered the 2nd Lieutenant to seize on and hold the hill, which, the crowd being taken by surprise, he effected, and then landed the body and carried it up with a guard, without firing a shot, or once using a bayonet. For this service we received the thanks of the Governor of Hong-kong, the senior naval officer, and of the Parsee Mercantile Communities.

On the 4th July being at the Consulate, Dr. Bowring the Consul, Lieutenant Bridges, and Mr. Ball an American Missionary, succeeded with myself in walking round the walls of Canton without much molestation. I must say when we started, which we did at 5 A.M., I hardly anticipated getting back in a whole skin, but our guide Dr. Ball, spoke the dialect remarkably well, and was recognized as a Syuntzing or teacher, and much respected, so that we returned at eight o'clock in safety, having examined the forts at the back of the city, which when once captured, no very difficult operation, are the city's worst foes. We were a little abused, however, in our walk in some of the very bad localities which adjoined the wall.

Aug. During the whole of our stay at Whampoa, we avoided as much as possible drinking the river water, and by occasionally visiting Hongkong re-established the health of the ship's company, obtaining there some drinking water of the best description. Whenever we did want water at Whampoa, I caused it to be procured from a spring on Dane's Island, which afforded about one ton per day. I should recommend this precaution to all ships stationed in this river.

We experienced the greatest civility from the inhabitants of Dane's Island and of French Island, round one of which islands I walked sometimes alone almost every evening, and certainly every morning of our stay. I was never molested, and so civil were they that six of the ship's company had leave in rotation every day, and never in the four months was there any disturbance arising from this cause.

Sept. 14th. We experienced a Typhoon, the heaviest part of which from north-east to north-west, we rode out during the night in Anson's Bay. It adds another to the many proofs of the truth of the hurricane theory. The centre having passed a little to the southward of Hong-kong,

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reached St. John's on the 17th, and there caused shipwreck to seventeen sail of Shapng-tzai's fleet, which was at anchor in Satter Bay, Howcheun Island, and which place I visited in the Phlegethon steamer. the 20th, when in search of that chief. I went into Boddams Cove, in Portoy Island (one of the Grand Ladrone Group.) It is a very snug anchorage for one or two ships, mooring to the shore, but a sailing ship could hardly warp or tow out with the wind fresh from the eastward. I would, however, with a very low barometer off the Grand Ladrone, prefer to go into Boddams Cove for shelter, rather than suffer a Typhoon at sea off those islands. There are no dangers at the entrance of the cove, and when in and secured to the shore, nothing could disturb a vessel.

23rd-Some information of a piratical fleet in the neighbourhood of Hainan having reached Captain Troubridge, he sailed in Amazon with Phlegethon to search the coast, leaving me temporarily senior officer at Hong-Kong. The U.S. American Commodore, having written to Captain Troubridge this morning from Macao, to say that he had detained two piratical vessels, who had been prowling near the receiving vessels, and had some English merchandize on board, which they could not account for, and that he wished to give them up to us, I consulted with Mr. Bonham, the Plenipotentiary, and decided to go over and take charge of them. I sailed for Macao, where we arrived at 6h. 30m. P.M., and having seen Captain Gedney, U.S.N. of U.S.S. Plymouth, I went on shore to call on Commodore Gersinger, with whom I arranged to take over the 1st and 3rd Lieutenants of the Plymouth as witnesses, and I placed an officer and prize crew in each vessel. At 6 A.M., having sent Mr. Walker, (mate,) and Mr. Goddard, (midshipman,) with prize crews on board, we wayed; and Mr. Walker's sailing badly took her in tow.

24th. Mr. Goddard having unavoidably parted company at nightfall, found himself surrounded by some other piratical vessels, and very properly bore up and took refuge under the guns of the Plymouth. As he was unable to fetch the place where I waited for him under Santao, Captain Gedney most kindly sent an officer and additional force, under Mr. Goddard's orders, and although the officer was senior in rank to Mr. Goddard, with the most positive written order to obey him. Captain Gedney's delicacy in this affair was very praiseworthy. The prize reached in safety on the 26th.

27th. On arriving at Hong-Kong, I found from Commander Willcox, of the Fury, who had arrived during my absence, that Sir Francis Collier had parted company with him in the Hastings a few days before. Both the American prizes under my convoy, having arrived in safety; I determined on the suggestion of Mr Bouham, to proceed to sea at night, in search of a piratical fleet, reported to have attacked the town of Pinghoi, in Haarlem Bay, a few (two) days before. The admiral being so close at hand, I did not like to employ H.M.S. Fury, for coal was so scarce at the time, that only 200 tons were procurable for the Queen's service, and the information though good, was Chinese, and not NO. 2.-VOL. XXI.

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to be relied on. I therefore turned the station orders and letters over to Commander Willcox, wrote to Commander Lyons of the Pilot, to be on the look out at Amoy, and having embarked, Mr. D. R. Caldwell, of the police force, (an officer who speaks the Chinese dialect of the South like a native), and the two Chinese who had brought the information, I proceeded to sea, and the wind being very scant, swept out through the Lymoon Pass. The two Chinese on board, one of whom was a respectable person, and would take no money, told me that Chaia-poo, the murderer of Captain D'Acosta and Captain Dwyer, and vice-Admiral of Shapng-tzai's fleet, had lately separated from that noted chief, and had come with upwards of twenty sail to Haarlem Bay, blockaded the harbour and burned the port.

28th. That he (my informant), and his companion, having volunteered to seek the English assistance rather than permit their townsmen to pay a ransom, had carried their small boat across the neck of land at the back of Fokai Point and come down in it to Hong-Kong. In the evening we reached Haarlem Bay, and were told that Pinghoi had been forced to pay the ransom the day before, and that fourteen sail of the pirate fleet had gone on to attack the town of Tysammu, in Honghai Bay. I continued the pursuit, and had intended to anchor until daylight at the mouth of Tysammu Inlet, and for this purpose had commenced to shorten sail, when about eleven at night, we saw a village smouldering, his sure handy work, and shortly after observed two well formed lines of seven sail each, running to the south-west. I again made sail and stood on until I could fetch the rear ship of the lee line and tacked; but the wind heading us off a little we fetched at about a quarter before midnight, three from the rear of the lee line, and passing under the stem of a large nineteen gun-vessel, hailed him to know who he might be. He replied to Mr. Caldwell (who was with me on the forecastle) that he was an honest trader, bound with a cargo of salt to Hong-Kong, and that he knew nothing about his companions. I then desired him through Mr. Caldwell to heave to that I might examine him, threatening otherwise to fire. In the mean time we could see him tricing up fire-balls, stink pots, and boarding nettings. And so cautioning him once more for the sake of humanity, I commenced the action with three rounds quick firing, at about ten yards, which he returned with much spirit.

29th. I then wore, firing my port guns into his second astern, whom we soon silenced as well as his follower, compelling them to desert them. I now found the disadvantage of a tiller and no wheel, for it was impossible to manœuvre the ship and fight the stern guns, and as my first antagonist had now a good position, he raked me twice before I could return his fire. At last having got round, we punished him severely, but the leading ships of his line having gone on, and the weather line still holding its course, apparently with the intention of sacrificing a ship or two to save the others, the firing and calm separated us for a time, and as they swept faster than we did, the action ceased excepting a few distant shots. We continued the pursuit, occasionally sweep

ing, and though a mist obscured them for a time, at daylight we saw them about a mile and a half from us, running in line abreast, with a light air from the eastward. At about 11h. 25m. A.M., when the chace seemed nearly hopeless, the whole line hauled to the wind together on the starboard tack, as if with the intention of giving battle, but in a few minutes the cause became apparent. To our joy, the P. & O.S. V. Canton came round Fokai Point from to leeward, and I hoisted Marryat's signal "All in sight are enemy." She did not need this to stimulate her exertions. Without waiting to make out the signal, she commenced firing on the head of the line, and then came within hail. I went on board, (having authorized the person who went with me, to charter if possible), and found that she was chartered by an American gentleman, to go in search of a missing vessel the Coquette, supposed to have struck on the Pratas Shoal, during the late Typhoon. He would not forego the charter, but most liberally put her at my disposal, and her master Mr. Jameson, agreed to it. She then took us in tow and brought us within 1000 yards of one of the largest, on our way sinking one, and compelling the crew of another to jump overboard, whilst many more of the crews deserted from the others. Upwards of 200 were passed in the water, and others in boats pulling for the shore.

The Canton, however, was built of iron, and one shot having gone through her at some risk to her engines and steam chest, I cast off tow. Off Coast Islet, about nine miles east of Fokai Point, is a small inlet, Pank Island, not surveyed, although described in Captain Collinson's directions. Into this our immediate antagonist ran in close action, and I followed. We took the ground. But the pinnace and cutter were immediately hoisted out, and sent in under Lieut. H. Bridges, first lieutenant, Mr. Charles R. Goddard, midshipman; Mr. Charles Crowdy, midshipman in the pinnace; and Mr. George R. Harvey, midshipman; and Mr. James R. Bleufold, clerk, in the cutter to cut her out, and our gallant friend Captain Watkins, the American also volunteered to assist. They succeeded he had anchored out of sight of us in the ship, and up at the head of the creek in which we were aground. A small Chinese fort opened a harmless fire on him and he was at bay. At last driven from his guns by the shot of our boats,-Bridges carried him by boarding, and the pirate with the impetus of despair, rushed below to blow them into the air, and two marines and a seaman were killed, and Mr. Charles Goddard, a most promising young officer, mortally wounded: whilst our wounded were increased to three marines severely; two seainen dangerously, and four slightly wounded. Thomas Hardiman, and Thomas Cook, boatswain's mates, distinguished themselves. The whole of the pirates but one were destroyed-we kept him for information. The few that reached the shore after the explosion were mercilessly butchered by their own countrymen, who came down to thank us. In the mean time we had hard work in getting the ship off. All the gunroom officers, purser, and surgeon, &c., worked at the capstan, and when off, the Canton towed us out. When the boats returned we went down in tow of the Canton to Haarlem Bay, and found that the rest of the pirate fleet were in Mirs Bay.