Page 271 - INDIANNAVYV1

—
HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY. 239

Bumpkin Island near Indramay river on the Java coast, and
here they remained until the 2nd of August, in expectation of
being joined by some frigates with intelligence. The expedi-
tion then set sail, and, the same day, were joined by the ship
having on board Colonel Mackenzie, who had reconnoitred the
whole coast and reported that the most eligible spot for the
disembarkation of the army was the village of Chilliugching,
distant about ten miles from Batavia. The fleet, therefore,
which had brought to in the afternoon, again got under weigh,
and every preparation was completed for effecting tlie disem-
barkation witliout delay. On the evening of the 3rd, the fleet
made Cape Carawang, and, early on the following morning, ran
in for the moutii of the Marandi river. Here the ships anchored
during the interval between the land and sea breezes, and, on
the latter setting in, again got under weigh, and having reached
Chilliugching about two p.m. on Sunday the 4th of August, the
signal was immediately made for the troops to land.
On the 31st of July, while Commodore Hayes, with the
'Malabar' and 'Mornington,' was proceeding through the Straits
of Gaspar, he fell in with two large Chinese junks bound from
Batavia to Amoy. By the orders of Council, Batavia being in
a state of blockade, they were good prizes, and were, in fact,
laden with Dutch property valued at =£600,000 sterling. The
junks were captured by the cruisers, and Captains Deane and
Maxfield proposed to send them to Prince of Wales' Island for
condemnation, but Commodore Hayes declined to adopt this
course for reasons set forth in the following letter, which he
addressed to the commanders of the ' Mahibar 'and '^lor-
nington ' :
" Hon. Company's Sbip-of-war ' Malabar,' at sea, July 31, 1811,
"Lat. 50" 41'S. Long., 106" -46' E.
" Gentlemen,—As the Government of China seeks every pre-
text to embarrass the lion. Company's commercial transactions at
Canton, I am induced to believe the cai)tured junks taken
possession of by your respected ships under your innnediate
command, may be made a plea to interrupt the important trade
in that quarter, which is now not only considered of vital
interest to them, but to the State generally. I feel myself
imperiously called upon to prevent any occurrence which may
1)e productive of such destructive eifects ; I am, therefore,
impelled to direct you to withdraw the prize nuisters and crews
from the junks in question, and to commaiul you to permit
them to proceed towards their original destination. In thus
exercising my authority, perhaps exceeding its legal bounds, I
am not insensible of the great sacrifice which must be made by
enforcing the foregoing connnands; but I trust we alike feel we
liave the honour to serve the most liberal masters in the world,
and I congratulate myself upon the conviction that the oflicers