The Sun. — London, England, 1821-05-21 00:00:00

NI) I SUP7LEMENT TO TIIE LONDON GAZETTE, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1821. INDIA DCYA.II.I3 MAY 16, 1821. • Dispatches have been received at the East India House, from the Government of Bombay, respectively dated the' th and 15th of December, 1820,' of which dispatches, and of their indo sures, the following are extracts and copies : Extract from a Dispatch from the Government of Bombay to the Court of Directors of the East India Company, dated the fith December, 1820. We have the honour to inclOse a- report from Lieutenant- Colonel the, Hon. Ji. Stanhope to the Adjutant-General, of the first eperations of the force* under his command in the. pro yince of Ok.amandelt, which have led td the reduction ot the fort of Dv.-ark - f - .. Your Hono:=l)lc.s. Court-will; vie 'are. persuaded, view with satisfaction the judicious and prompt decision of that Officer, and his considerate humanity in the hour of victory ; as well as the will, discipline and gallantry evinced , by the Officers and tnibps of every rankand deknption. Copy of a Lett:::r from Lientenarit-Colonel the Honourable L. :', , tanhope,- to the.Adjutant-General at Bombay, dated Camp near DWa'rka,-NovemTher 27, 1320. STA—For the information of his Excellency the Commander in -Chief, it is with the greatest satisfaction that have-the ho .nont to announce the fall of Dwarka. On the 24th instant, the troops disembarked at Kutch Gud. Finding that Veowalla had been plundered and, abandoned, that the peaceable inhabitants had been carried off into tife jungles, and fearing the same System might be adopted here, I an cticediately pushed forward a detachment consisting of 500 Se poys, and the squadron of the Ist cavalry under Lieut.-Colonel Turner, as a check to such a measure. On the 25th I followed with the remainder of the force, with the intention of reducing the tower of Rupen Sunder, which commands the entrance of the creek, in my way, but which I found had been abandoned during, the night. On my arrival I was met by a Va.keel, who _professed great submission, but refuted to comply with the only"terms I con ceived myself enTowered to grant; that is, unconditional' sur render as spifiea in the proclamation, issued in conformity to the instructions with which 1 had been honoured, a copy of which I forwarded to Mooro Manack as my ultimatum, grant ing him till 12 o'clock for consideration, when I received a mes sage proposing, that I should allow him to send his brother to Bate, to consult with the Rajah, in concert with whom he had gone into rebellion, or to allow of his coming in person to treat with me cinder the guarantee of being allowed to return, should terms not be agreed on between us. A proposition of the same nature had been made in the morning, and I PerceiVed that procrastinationiwas the object ; I, therefore, returned for an swer, that I did not object to receiving him on the terms ha proposed, and that his brother should' be permitted to go to ate, if he wished it, but that I would not suspend operations one minute. Deeming it a matter of some importance, on account of the effect it might have on the minds of the other rebel chieftains, who had taken up positions in the different jungles, as well as on that of the Rajah of Bate, that a protracted systeth of war fare should not be adopted, I caused the field artillery from the east side, and the Nautilus cruiser, under the command of Lieutenant Middleton, on the west, to fire intp the town, more under the hope of hastening Moore MOnack's decision than with the expectation of making any serious impression on the place, the walls of which'are of stone masonry, with numerous towers af the angles and projecting in the faces, and much too strong to be affected otherwise than by battering guns, of which I possessed but two, which were on board the boats, and in the landing of which there wouldhave been some delay. This object was partially gained, inasmuch as it brought out several persons successively, amongst whom was the chief of Wasseye, and the-head Brahmin of the Pagoda, and at last Mooro Monaca himself, who, however, would accede to no thing short of having a provision made for him, and being al- Jawed to remain in Okamundel. --Having thus failed in the way of .negotiation, I determined on endeavouring to cut off the retreat of the garrison and to 'take the place by- escalade: - Having this in view I strengthen, ed and advanced the picquets which I had posted, and, the morning gun served as' the signal for the advance of three co lumns of attack, each consisting of 70 of the 65th, and 150 se poys of the 2d battalion of the 3d, and Ist battalion of the sth regiments of native infantry, and each party leaving 50 sepoys in reserve. The storming parties moved to the points of attack, observing the greatest order, silence and regularity, which was not in The least discomposed by the sharp fire from the wallS and towers on their .near approach, and during an interval of some mi nut7s, owing to the height of the walls, while adjusting the The ladders beiiig raised, nothing could exceed the ardour of the troops,which soon cleared the ramparts, notwithstanding the des perate resistance of the Arabs and Scindians,who, after discharg ing their matchlocks, fought sword in hand, but who being 'once dislodged, were at length, with the greatest impetuosity, driven along the ramparts through the town into the Pagoda, in which, and its inclosures, I expected the main resistance, having even taken it idto my calculation (from a personal knowledge of the means of defence), that I should be obliged to breach the wall ere it could be carried .; but the gallantry of Lieutenant Fad.en of his Majesty's 65th regiment, and Majors Digby and Stannus and the ardour of the troops, surmounted this di fficultyby gain ing the summit of a lofty house, through intricate passages lead ing.to a trap-door, from whence a descent was made into , the area of the Pagoda. • The g arrison now endeavoured to effect its retreat into the ad joining j ungles to the southward and eastward of the town, but were met by the different picquets I had posted, and, hemmed in as they were, a dreadful scene of carnage ensued. A' large body of them were first met.by one of the two troops of the Ist native cavalry under ,Captain Soilleux, by whom 'they were charged in a' nost brilliant manner: being near the shore of a back water; the bed of which, is deep and muddy (and which passing under the south wall of the town, winds to the south ward, parallel to the sea beach), they retreated through it, and were followed by the cavalry, but made a stand on the bank, where they were again attacked, though under great disadvan tage, as it was with difficulty the horses could struggle through the mud, and it was here that the gallant Captain Soilleux re- ceived two wounds, one of which deprived the service of the right hand of a brave and excellent officer. from this position the enemy again threw themselves into the water, where it became deeper, and widened into a sort of lake; two large bodies of them got into clusters, and the rest of the expanse of water was studded with them, and they defended theruselVes for, I should think, an hour between two bodies of infantry, which I before alluded to, under Lieutenants Levery and' Parry. At length, after great numbers had been killed, I caused our parties to cease firing, and after long persuasion the few that remained of one party . were induced to surrender.— Endeavours were then made to save the other in the same way, but they continued to fire, and it was not until two six pounders had been brought against them with grape that they could be induced to give in. Almost every one of the few remaining were badly wounded, - and the whole, after eoliectiag all that could be fount] alive, amounted only 'to fifty or sixty, and I have reason 1 to feel confident that with the exception of theese and fifty which Were found in the Pagoda, none of the garrison escaped alive out of 550; of which it is supposed to have consisted. The women and children'and . peaceable inhabitants had some' days before gone off' into the jungles, or into Kattywar, and the brahmins had; with my knowledge and approbation, retired to the inclosure of a pagoda outside the town, so that retribution hats fallen. alone on that class which never gave, and conse quently never expected to receive, quarter. His Excellency Pam sure, derive satisfaction from this report of the good conduct of the troops, all of whom admirably performed their duty, and owing to the -peculiar; character of the operations,' nearly the whole . were engaged. It must, how ever, always happen, that - some are more brilliantly engaged than the rest, and on this occasion his Majesty's 65th regiment, and the detachment of the :Ist cavalry, were fortunate in the opportunity •of displaying that high courage, tempered with coolness and discipline, - which cannot be too much admired, and reflects the greateat credit on Major Dighy and Captain Soilleux, commanding the detachment of these. regiments. _ Nothing could however be better than th 6 Conduct of the se cond battalion of the 3d, and the first battalion of the sth native infantry, which, although much divided, skewed that zeal and gallantry" which my knowledge of their excellent discipline would have led me to expect. The detachment of artillery maintained during the affair of yesterday, and in that of this day, daring the short time they were engaged, that gallantry for which that corps has so' long bAn celebrated. Nor could any thing be better than the conduct of Lieut. Hart and the pioneers, in carrying and adjusting the ladders,' under a galling fire. To Lieutenant-Colonel Gilbert of the sth, and - Turner of the 3d Bombay Regiment Native Infantry, and to -Major Digby of his Majesty's 65th Regiment, fo r their coolness and gallantry in leading the stormingparties, I am greatly indebted. I also fed greatly indebted to Captain Soilleux, who com manded the detachment of the Ist cavalry ; to Captain Manson, . * Detachment of Artillery, Ist Cavalry, one squadron Pio neers, one company of his. Majesty's 65th Regiment, six com panies 2d and 3d Regiments Native Infantry, Ist and sth ditto, ditto. 1- A _piratical province in Guzerat, situated between the 22d and 23d deg. of North Lat. :Or Juggut, North Lat. 22 deg. 15 min. E. Lon. 60 deg. I nun. who commanded the artillery ;, to Lieutenant Remon, of the Engineers ; to Major Stannus, my Assistant Adjutant-Gene ral ; to Capt. Wilson, my Assistant Quarter-Master-General ; to Lieutenant Wilkinson • inji . Assistant Commissary-General, who acted as my personal Staff; and to Lieutenant Marriott, my personal Brigade-Major, whose numerous wounds however put him HORS DE COMBAT at the first moment of the assault, and now render him incapable of becoming the bearer of my dispatches, but whom I most earnestly beg to recommend to the notice of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, as an Officer of great merit, whose exceeding gallantry has on many occasions brought him, to public notice. I do myself the honour to forward a return of the killed and wounded, and also a copy of my order issued on the occasion. I have the honour to be, &c. (SignJAIT L. STANHOPE, Lt.-Colonel., [The returns of - the killed and wounded we gave on Friday.] Extract from a Dispatch from the Government of Bombay o the Court of Directors •of the East India Company, _dated Dn. 15, 180. We have the honour of transmitting to your Honourable Court, Copies of a Dispatch from the Political Agent at Kiahma, confirming the intelligence we had previously re ceived of the.'failure of the expedition against the Arabs of Alashkarah, in the Gulf of Persia. Copy of a letter from Captain T. P. Thompson, of the 17th Light Dragoons, to Francis Warden, Esq. Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, dated Muscat, November 18, 1820. SIR-I have to communicate the ill success of the attempt to co-operate with his Highness the Imaum of Muscat, against the Arabs Of the tribe of Beth Ben Ali, after appearances which led to expect a different result. In my last letter, I stated that the Messenger, sent Niith the coinrnuracations directed by your letter of the Bth June, 1820, had been cut to pieces, and that six companies of sepoys, with eight pieces of artillery, had, in consequence, been conveyed to uscat. ' The landing at Alashkarah, at this season of the year, as described in the letter of Lieutenant Colinson, of the 29th of September, already transmitted to Government, and confirmed by other accounts, appeared to be really impracticable. In ad dition to this, it has been stated. by Lieutenant Collinson, though not included in his letter above alluded to, that he saw a force of five or six' hundred men collected behind the sand hills, from which it was apparent that the force of the enemy would be nearly the same, whether it was encountered. at• Alashkarah or at their residence in the interior. The landing at Soor was secure, and the road to the principal residence of the tribe lay through a line of country , in possession of the Imaum, who had a town within three miles of the enem, to which he had already been transmitting his preparations for an attack. Under these circumstances, the chances appeared to be more favourable for advancing against the hostile force from Sour, backed by the power of the State of Muscat, than for meeting the same force on the beach at Alashkarah, under the disadvantages of a precarious disembarkation, without the con junction of the Imaum, and with exceedingly inferior results in the event of success. The detachment sailed from Muscat on the 22d of October, and arrived at Soor on the 24th, where it was disembarked. The Imaum's force had previously proceeded towards Soor by land. On the 25th of October information was received that the Arabs had abandoned and set fire to Alashkarah, together with 14 of their boats, and had retired to their principal residence. 'The crews of the Imaum's vessels landed; and brought - off two two boats and three guns, and destroyed such fortifications as were left. His Highness the Imaum, who had directed his force towards Soor, for the purpose of marching against the principal resi dence of the tribe, in conjunction with the British detachment, arrived there on the 26th, bringing with him one thousand fighting men, besides men to draw the guns, 600 camels for the use of the detachment, and 300 other cattle. On the Ist of November the whole force marched from Soor, carrying with it two six-pounders, two howitzers., and two iron eighteen-pounders. The remaining two eighteen-pounders were, left at Sour. After considerable difficulties in transporting the guns, the force entered the level province of Jahlaii on the sth of Nov. On-the oth of November the whole force arrived at a town belonging to his Highness, named Salad Beni Bon Hussan, within three miles of Balad Beni Bon Ali; the residence of the hostile tribe, without any loss, either by sickness or accident. The evening before arriving at Beni Bon Hussan, a report had been circulated that the enemy intended to attack the camp in the night. On arriving at Beni Bon Hussan with the Imaum, I directed the camp to be pitched in an entrenched po sition, consisting of a ditch flanked with towers, which inclu ded a space sufficient for a camp between it and the town, and as the camp had begun to be pitched in the Oen plain before our arrival, I caused it to be removed. A summons was the same evening conveyed to the enemy from his Highness, demanding the surrender of the persons who had killed the Sheik of Rassal Hadd (the messenger men tioned in the former part of this letter), and of the fortifications of the tribe, with their arms. His Highness proposed that the summons should be sent in the name of the Officer commanding the British troops ; but I represented to him that it was desirable to avoid the appear ance of a double command, and that his Highness, as a Sove reign, must, of necessity, take the lead. At the same time 1 communicated the substance of some points which I was anxi ous to cause to be explained in the summons ; and he desired me to give them in writing, and caused them to be inserted. What I was thus anxious to insert was an explanation of the motives which had induced the appearance of the British troops, in conjunction with those of his Highness.' It briefly stated, that the causes of the war, on the part of the Imaum, were already known. That the causes of a war, on the part of the British, were the piracies of the tribe by sea, their refusal to answer whet remonstrated with, and their having killed the messenger ; that the causes on the part of the two Powers were distinct and separate ; but that, each having cause, their forces were united. The messenger returned on the same night, and brought for answer, from the hostile Sheiks, that the first messenger had been killed without any orders from themselves, and that they were ready to give up the persons concerned: that they had no desire to be at war with the British : that they were willing to surrender their fortifications ; but that they could not surrender their arms, because the Imaurn would, in that case, give them up as prisoners to the British. 'Under these'circumstances, I felt considerable expectation that the terms I had demanded would be finally complied with. At the same time it appeared that the way to promote this effect, would not be by exhibiting any thing like an anxiety to come to terms. On his Highness ' therefore, asking my opinion, I told him that I thought it would be bcst to proceed, without delay. before the place, with which he entirely coincided, and• directions were issued for marching on the • following morning. In concurrence with the opinion of his Highness, I directed that the heavy guns should be left in the entrenched camp, which, for the present, was to be considered as the depot : that such stores only should be taken forward as the officers at the heads of departments should judge necessary for present use ; that the tents should be left standing in the entrenched camp, -with the exception of such as might,be desired by the Medical Department, and of a laboratory_ tent for the artillery: and that men should be warned to take with them the tools which they used for cutting wood, in addition to such as might be furnished by the departments for the purpose of sheltering themselves from the sun. • The Imaum's fbrces, and the people of Beni Bon Hussan, were, of course, perfectly acquainted with the position of the enemy's town. The representation given was that it was placed with its back to a deep date grove, which lay between it and Beth Bon Hussan : that, it was, consequently, necessary to go round the toWn, in order to come at the assailable front, and that this front was in a sand plain, and protected by one ormore diches cut in the sand, to which the enemy was, said to be making additions. _ _ _ On 'ihe evening of our arrival at Beni Bon Hussan, I communicated to the officers all the information I had received respecting the place; and I further stated to them, that it was my wish not to seek any contest with the enemy till he h a d ar rived at our position round the town ; that the artillery appear ed to be the point in which our superiority was most decided; and that our object should be to get it into its position with as little contest as the enemy would permit. The Imaum left a portion of his troops in his camp in the plain on the outside of the entrenched position of the British.— The four light guns were manned with all the Arabs who had drawn the six, who also carried their arms. The Imaum's force had accumulated on the road, and the number which marched that morning has been stated by his Highness at 2,000. The number of sepoys amounted to three hundred and twenty, exclusive of the old picquet of sixty men, which was ordered to follow the stores for present use, and to bring up the rear. The number of the enemy, from repeated and varied in quiries, amounted to nine hundred, and there were said to be eight guns, of small calibre, in the place. The artillery were directed to have their limbers completed with ammunition ; and I made a point of ascertaining, by per sonal inquiry, that a proportion of case-shot for the howitzers, and of spherical case, for the six-pounders, made part of the stores conveyed from Soor, and were actually present in the limbers. • On leaving Beni Bon Hussan, the light company of the Ist battalion of the 2d regiment was directed to take the lead in extended order. In the event of meeting an enemy, it was di rected to retire as most convenient, and to form behind the line in reserve. The new picquet of 60 men preceded the head of the column by a short distance, and was, directed to support the light company, if required. Two guns were at the head of the column, after the . pcquet, and two followed. Soon after leaving Balad Beni Bon Hussan, the Imaum in formed me that the report of the morning was, that the enemy had resolved on attacking the force, by day if they could, and if not by night. Information on this was communicate,d to the detachinent. who appeared to consider the appearance of the enemy outside his works as a most desirable mode of bringing the question to a decision, 'Alter proceeding abont a mile and a half, the column cleared the jungle, and entered on an open country : with a view to strengthen the line," the picquet in advance was directed 'to fall in upon the head of the column, and, act as a company under the command of its officer. On issuing from the jungle, the Imaum's fcirce appeared on the left, and. the Imaum with a few horse was seen riding for ward to reconnoitre. The date-grove at the back of the town at the same time began to be distinguished on the right. His Highness soon afterwards returned, and said, that the road lay ftirther to the left. I requested him to select a guide, and he fixed upon the Sheik of Hiskem, who accordingly pro ceeded. - The guide soon afterwards began to turn considerably to his left, or from the enemy, and was followed by the column. On proceeding further, a small number of the enemy on horseback became discernible in the direction of the town. The front towards the plain also began to open : some of the enemy on foot were afterwards observed on a ridge on the outside of the town, formed (es is usual in this country) of earth, thrown out of the date-groves to arrive at a better sod. The force con,. tinned to move in its former direction. Observing that the dateLgrove extended in the direction of the camp at Beni Bon Hussen, and afforded facilities 'for an advance upon that place, and also that. the old picquet of 60men had not appeared, I felt apprehensive that in case of any event this party would be found neither at one place nor at the other, and therefore dispatched a written order to the Officer to remanv in camp till further directions, and if met by the order to return. As'l was dispatching this order, an Officer rode to me, and said the enemy were numerous on the ridge. Conceiving this might be connected - with the reported intention to attack, di rected-the column to halt and form line. The lithium also .drew up his fore.; in good order on the left. But no, appear ance of the enemy's moving being observed, the column pro ceeded towards its original object. A short time after -the column was in motion, some shots from the light infantry announced a movement among the enemy, and the light infantry were seen retiring as had been directed. The enemy soon appeared in motion on the top of the ridge, and from the, direction which he took, it was evident that his design was to turn the right by moving on a point be, gond it. • _ I immediately directed the troops to form columns of sections to the right, and pass as quickly as possible behind the guns, the head of the column inclining towards the former rear, so as to make the new front parallel to the enemy's attack, form line, charge bayonets, and advance. The lait movement was un happily not executed by the troops. Seeing them hesitate, as no time was to be lost, I ordered them to fire; and the line opened its fire upon the enemy. The Imaum with great promp titude moved his force to the right to close the interval, and a part of his men moved along the rear of the Sepoys engaged, and opened a fire of matchlocks upon such of the enemy as were again attemliting to come round the right. The enemy at the same moment detached a part of his force towards the left of the Sepoys, where they were met and vigorously encountered by the Imaum. On seeing the direction of the enemy's attack, I immediately rdde off to lead the right, which was the point attacked. The enemy continuing to press forward, I was unable to leave the extremity of the right, lest the sepoys should misconstrue my departure, and . give way ; I therefore continued upon that point, encouraging the sepoys to keep up their fire. On observing the enemy within twenty yards, I again made an effort to induce the sepoys to use their bayonets; but without success ; and while I was doing this, the whole of the sepoys turned together, and threw themselves on the Imaum's troops, who were behind. As soon as the sepoys gave way, I rode round them to endea vour to make them turn, and in doing this, I found myself in the middle of the•lmaum's matchlocks, who were still keeping up their firs towards the right. Finding no effect produced there, I rode to the place where the sepoys appeared to be the thickest, and endeavoured to make them turn round, A few of them turned and fired their muskets into the air over the heads of those that followed, and immediately resumed their flight ; I also addressed myself to such of the officers as I met with, and to sonic of the Europeans of the artillery, but without effect. On perceiving the'lmaum at a distance, I rode towards him, and found he had just been wounded. He had endeavoured to rescue a European who was cut down, and one of the enemy fired at him so close that the powder entered the wound ; the ball passed through his right wrist. • After the sepoys had given way, I saw the Arabs advancing upon the whole front against the lmaum's army, and I then saw thy 'manes force turn round and give way. On afterwards comparing observations with his Highness, he said that the enemy who attacked the right, appeared to him to consist of about 450, which agrees with what I observed, and that the,party detached from these towards the left, consisted of about 150. The enemy, as far as I observed, advanced only with the sword till the sepoys gave way. But as soon 'as that happened, his matchlocks were brought forward with -very fatal effect. The pursuit was continued in the, direction of the camp of Beni Ben Hussan inclining a little to the right or towards the hills. Finding all efforts unavailing, on approaching the camp, I made the Arabs who were outside throw themselves into the intrenched camp, and called for the picquets. On finding them, I directed_the officer of the pic ,- piet_and an officer of artillery, who had neither of them been in the action, to make prepara tions for defence, while I took out the picquet to the front. I particularly recommended this duty to the latter officer, by say ing to him, " You are of the artillery ;" I at the same time di rected Mr. Sub-Assistant Surgeon-Fallon,- of the Honourable Company's eruizer Prince of Wales, to take, the best means for securing the sick. On proceeding with sixty men of the picquet, I found myself on the flank of the pursuit. As soon as the enemy observed us, he advanced threatening with the sword, which was the first op portunity given for distinguishing him, and the piquet opened its fire. The enemy then ceased to advance on the front of the picquet, and began moving rapidly round the two flanks, with a view to cut it off from the town, which made it necessary to re tire. The Jemadar of the picquet, Jemadar Rutten Sing, of the Ist battalion 2d regiment, displayed great courage, and would willingly have led the party into the middle of the enemy. It is to be regretted that he had not an earlier oppor tunity for exertion. On returning with the picquet to the camp,l found that Mr. Sub-Assistant Surgeon Fallon had removed the sick and fol lowers into a fortified house, distributed ammunition and arms, posted his people at their stations, and made the best prepara tions for defence. His Highness, the Imatun, was of opinion that the -town might be maintained till reinforcements could arrive, as the inhabitants had long been at war with the Beni Bon Ali without being overpowered. In this opinion I was anxious to support him. The Sepoys were distributed at the towers,_ and the troops of his Highness kept in readiness to de fend the intrenchment; and I was exceedingly anxious to get the remaining guns into some serviceable position, .but was unable to find either of the Officers formerly mentioned, or any of the persons belonging to the artillery. The enemy' advanced upon' the front during the night, and was received by a heavy fire from the Sepoys, and by the Imaum's troops behind the intrench meats. Daringl this period, Mr. Sub-Assistant Surgeon Fallon was exceedingly active in keeping . the Sepoys to their posts, and supplying them with ammunition. In the morning it was discovered that the two other Officers, instead of obeying the directions , given them, had gone off on the preceding evening to Spor, carrying with them every person belonging to the artil lery department. Soon after daylight the Sepoys of the towers reported that the people of the town had evacuated it during the night, and I found it impossible to keep them -longer at teir posts. It was also represented that the Imaum's followers were retiring. On inquiring of his Highness, he appeared unwilling to admit it ; but while 1 was with him a communication was brought from a body of his followers to say they were retiring to their homes. He replied calmly, " - tell them that those who will leave me, must leave me ; ' but soon afterwards he communicated to me that it would be impracticable for him _to maintain himself in the town. His followers were diminishing, and the town appeared to be almost totally deserted. The Sheik of the town, with a few attendants, continued to stay with the Imaum, and to ask his orders. The departure of the officers with the artillerymen appeared to have removed the last hope of holding out any prospect of assistance from the detachment, either in maintaining the place or continuing ope rations against the enemy : On the Iniaum's repeating his opinion that he could not main tain himself in the place, I asked him what he intended to do ; he replied, "ifit is the will of God, we shall die." I told him we must do that *hen there was nothing else left. He answered, that he would do any thing which I should point out. I told him we must destroy what could not be removed, and retreat. I asked him what he could remove. He said he could remove the sick, and give a camel for each of the Sepoys ; he after wards added that he could find camels for some musquet am munition. As soon as the Imaum came to a decision, he appeared to be anxious to put it into execution, and I felt apprehensive that if it was delayed, he would be left without a guard. He desired me to destroy the remaining guns and the powder. 'While he gave directions to his people, an artilleryman, wounded in three places, who had conic in during the night, fortunately • found some spikes ; and Dr. Fallon, with the assistance of some pio neers, emptied the powder barrels into a well. The carriages would.have been cut in pieces, but the departure of the artil- lerymen rendered It impossible to find tools. The itnaum pro , posed setting fire to-them ; I objected to it, on the ground that it would be the signal of dispersion to his folloWers, and of pur suit to the nerdy. But I prompted the - Bedouing to remove every thiiig which Could he carried off; and. I apprehend very little was: left to the chance of falling into the hands of the enemy. „ . As soon as the Ithaum began to move the sick were placed upon camels, but it was found impossible to procure them for any other purpose. • After proceeding eight miles, the imam proposed moving Upon. Muscat, from a belief that the passes ter Soor would be occupied by the enemy. The march Was con tinued at intervals during the night, arid the next morning the detachment reached Uhubly. The retreat lying"through a line of country belonging to the Imaum, was not interrupted. His Highness, with myself and Dr.. Fallon, and the remains of the detachment, arrived at Muscat on the 17th. . During the whole of these circumstances, the Imaum played - an admirable character, and, though wounded, persisted in remaining with the detachment, and causing it to be sUpplied with provisions, camels, shoes, and every assistance which his country could affiird. Idis Highness is anxious to return to the attack, if he can be furnished with the assistance of a body of European troops. In hopes of facilitating this object, L have written to the officer in command of the troops reported to be in Scind or Cutch; to ask whether an European and a native battalion can-be sent to the assistance of his Highness. I have also proposed the bring ing .of four brass twelve-pounder guns, with ammunition, which the lirtaum is of Opinion. would be sufficient for the defences, and of two howitzers of -horse'artillery, with harness, for which his. Highness engages to find horses. Against an enemy of the habits of the Wahabees, field artillery would appear to be of very limited utility, unless it is small in number and peculiarly well provided with the means of motion ' • and on the late occa sion, the principal object in bringing forward the guns was, that they might be conveyed to their position against the de fences, under convoy of the whole force. I have dispatched the above letter on the chance of its pro- . clueing an advantageous effect in the event of troops with ves sels being "on'the *Ant of leaving Cutch, and shall.proceed to make such preparations as are in my power at Deristan, for co operating with his Highness ; .at the same time I shall be anx-. ious to receive the communications of Government upon the subject. _ _ E - vents have shewn that the whole line of operations, either from Soor or from Muscat, is in possession of the Imaum, and his town of Beni Bon Hassan is 'within three - miles f the enemy. The Imaum is of opinion that the towns of Beni Bon Hassan and Hishem will be under the necessity of Making a temporary accommodation with the enemy ; but that it will last only till his re-appearance in force. As a mark of the feelings of the country, some Europeans of the Artillery who escaped from the combat were concealed for four days in Beni Bon Hassan, and sent down on camels to Soor. No accident or dis appointment occurred throughout, till the troops gave way be fore the sword. What occurred when they were supported by two thousand of the Imaum's troop's at. Beni Bon Ali, would have occurred without the Imaum at Alashkara ; , and the forma mode of advance, as far as there have been opportunities for 'judging, would appear still to be the safest. A boy came - into the troops at Beni BOn Hassan on the niorn;. ing of the combat, who says he belongs to Bombay, and was taken five years ago with four other boys, in a, vessel with two masts.and twenty-six hands, "Nacl,odah's name Ibrahim, bound to Muscat with rice;' the vessel's name he has forgotten. He says the Arabs disniissed the restOf the crew, took out the rice, and set the vessel on fire.—Three of the boys, he says, remain at - Beni Bon Ali, and one is gone he knows not whither. Two boys belonging 'to Mangalore have also come down to Soor, and are mboard his Majesty's sloop Curlew.—These in cidents identify the Beni Bon Ali with piratical operations. In concert with the Imaum I have taken measures for sending the remains of the detachment as quickly, as possible to Denis tan. His Highness has offered two pieces with limbers, for the same place, which I have accepted. He appears afraid of being disturbed on that side by the Arabs, where there have already been some disputes on fife subject of boundaries. I have assured him that the resources of the British will be every where at his disposal if required. I have determined on sending to Bombay the two officers mentioned in a former part of this letter, with directions to re port their arrival to the Adjutant-General of, the army. lay sole reason for not placing them under arrest without delay is, that suclica proceeding might involve a necessity for publishing at the head of every regiment in - India; that a detachment - of sepoys had been deserted by its officers ; and. I would not do what might confine the Government to any specific course. At the same time I shall transmit charges to the Adjutant-Gene ral with lists of evidence against -the event, of its appearing to be desirable to proceed in that manner. The loss of the detachment engaged, has necessarily been most severe, as must always be the case when troops wait to be attacked with the sword, and then give way. Of the officers' in the action, Lieutenant Boswell, Ist battalion 2d regiment, and myself, are the only ones hitherto known to survive ; Lieu r tenant Morley and Gidley, and Sub-AssistantSurgeon Fallon, were not in the action in 'the morning. I beg leave to .notice the services of Dr. Fallon, as having been extensively useful during the defence made in Beni Bon Hasian, and during the march to Muscat ; and as being thg only officer able to be of any assistance who staid by me and the detachment, and arriv ed with them at'Muscat, Lieut. Boswell having been incapable of duty, from fatigue and injuries received. The number of men who retUrned.with me to Muscat, or who arrived at Soor after the action, amounts to four hundred and forty six, of whom one half are followers. _ I feelstrongly convinced of Fthe necessity for the permanent residence of at least two European companies at Deristan, to make the detachment efficient for the purposes for which it is designed. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) T. P. THOAIPSON, Captain 17th Light Dragoons, Commissioner and Agent. COUNTRY MARKETS. AND FAIRS, - DURING THE' LAST WEER. iNlay 12. Wheat, 57s 3d ; Rye, Os Od ; Barley, 24s Od ; Oats, 20s Od ; Beans, 29s 6d; Hog Pease, —s Od; Pale Malt, 62s Od per quarter; Oatmeal, 23s Od per bowl of 14011 is; Find Flour, per sack, 45$ Od ; Seconds; 43s Od ; Thirds, 40s Od. • MAIO, ET HARBOROUGFI, May IS.— Wheat, —s a ; Rye, —s a s; Barley, 2ls a 235; Oats, las a 21s ; Beans, old, —s; Pease —s a—s ; Malt_---•3 a —s; Fine Flour per_sadk, 46s ; Seconds, 445; Thirds, 418. , „ . VeeiNcn.Am, May 16.—Wheat, 44s a BAs; Barley, 22s a 24s ; Oats; 20s a 22s ; Beans, —s a —s—Old, —s. Lou GHBOROU GU, May - I 7.Wheat, 60s; Barley, . 265; Oats, I 8s; Beans, —s ; Malt, 64s ; Fine Flour, per sack; 47s ; Seconds, 44s ; Thirds, 42s Od. • EX!..T 1:14 $ May 17.—Peice , of Wheat per bushel,- Gs 9ji.l. DEVIZES, May 17. • Best Wheat 27s d a 29s Od Oats . Barley .... 24s ud a .27s Od .1 Beans l4s Od a 17s Od i'l9 Sacks of Wheat, sold at the average of 25s 41d. Sat.isutruv, May 13 Wheat Barley WAIININWER, May 14. - Wheat .... ' 38s Od .a 52s Od Oats Barley .... 21s Od a 27s Od j Beans 31s Od a 35s Od WESTBURY, May 16% Wheat 4Bs a 52s Od I Oats Barley 22s a 2Gs Oil I Bemis —s a —s Od. Peas AVINDSOR Wheat, per 1d 101 Os a 161 Mil Barley, per Id 24s a 27s Nlay 19. Beans, .per qr 28s a 34s Pease . Rye Oats 7 - • 22s a Vis Srmr.:Es, Wheat .... 121 Os a 161 10s Rye Oats April 18. Pease, per qr —s a —1 Barley Beans UEADING, May i 9. . . Wheat • 50s a 70s Od Beans Barley 23s a 27s'6d Pease Oats Old Wheat . .. —s a ..-.s. SH!lewsiiunr, .May 12. Wheat, 38 qts Barley . ds Od 26s 1 lid 13 Winches- Oats; e 57 qts = Peas . Os Od if —s Od 'or 256 qrts.. Hides, 3Ad per lb—Calf Skins, sd—Tallow, 4d.. YARMOU rif, May I7.—Our Market on Saturday was libe rally supplied with Barley, and baying but few purchasers, caused extreme dull sales, and may be noted 2s per quarter cheaper. Not having much Wheat at Market, and the de mand being brisk, caused an advance of from 2s to $s .on the best sorts, and from Is to 2s on the seconds. Oats are a rery.onll sale. Nothing doing in Peas and Beans. Wheat, White ... 52s a 56s I Beans Red .... 98s a p9s Peas, Boiling —s a—s Ba, ley (Malt) .... 21s a 22s Grey --- (Gr.), IBs a 20s --- New . • —s a—s Oats LYNN, May 17.—qur Market on Tuesday was well supplied with Wheat, and prime samples sold on much the sarite terms as last week. Barley of the first qUality scarcely supported last week's price; and the inferior kind a dull sale, and little doing fherein. In other articles little or no alteration._ Flour unaltered. Wheat ..., 60s Cd a 589 Od Pease, Wh. —s Oda —s Od Sec Od a—9 Od Grey 3os Oda 32s 6tl Bailey 2ls Od a 23s Od Leans ..... 27: Oda 29s Od -- Fine . —s Od a—s Od rve a od Oats boNcasTtn, May I. Per Load: Wheat ..., 14s Od a 18s Odßeans ll s . O ri a 14s , nd Superfine .. 20s 0,1 ai I s 6+4 I New -•+s Od a—s Od Ohl —s 0,1 a —s Od i ,Grey Peas .. —s Od a - s - Od Rye „ . _ • Pet QUArt tr. ": Oats superfine Fine new LIVERPOOL COR7sI EXCHANGE, Niay 15.—There was a full supply of Wheat and Oats from Ireland to-day, but not touch grain coastwise. Having bad a good attendance of buyers, fine Wheat obtained a stnalladvance,.bur there was no itn proVetnent in other descriptions.. Barley was Id to . 2d per 13011) cheaper. For Oats there was some inquir, but the holders being unwilling to give way in price, few were sold, and se condary qualities were a trifle lower, 'Lye, Beans, and Peas, same as last week. Flour is to 2s per s;:ck dearer. Wheat,. English • 7s 5d a 8s 3d per 701bs. . F° lris t ri ig . n . • Gs' 8d a 7s 50 ..----. Barley, English Foreign - Oats, • Potatue Malt, Fine .. - 7s 94 aBs 3d per 36qts. Beans, English Flour, per 2801hs. 41s a 43s•—Seconds, 39s a 40s-- American Flour, —s a —s per barrel of 19(ilbs. net. Import. of Grain fur the Week ending May 14. Wheat, 8,534 qrs ; Rye, —; Oats, 6,24 ; • Barley, 120; Beans, 80 ; Pease, —; Oatmeal, 371 ; Flour, 1317 sacks,- 1021 barrels. LOUTH, May 16. _ . Wheat 47s a 63s.thl Barley 43s 3 27s Ott `Oats 11.3 c LiNcf , r,s, May 16:—Average price.' Wheat 47, a 58s Od Barley 23s-a 24s Od Oats Peas —s a —0 Od HULL, May 15 There has been a larv,er supply of grain to-day than we experienced in one last Market, trot the farmers will net sub mit to present prices, and consequently iso business of im portance has been transacted, and prices may he quoted as our last. Grain brought coastwise.—Wheat, 550; Harley, 1.50; Oats, —; Rye. Beans and Peas, 218 (pallet's. Grain carried coast wise.—Wheat ,—; Oats, .2080; Barley, —; Tares, —; and Peas, quarters. • Wheat, English, per quarter ----- New Oats, Old —7-- New Riga Oats 42s 46s a 50s —s —s.a —s' —5 —s.a --s 1-2 s 16s a 17s —S —s a —S ............................ —s —; Beans ........................... —s 25s a 30s Bark) , ................................ czis 23s —s English Tares ........................ —s —s a ---s Foreign ..................... Itapeseed CHESTER, May re —S —S a —} per last Winchester Measure, 5-0 s 4d--Barley,_l.6l7olide—at6aptes:_qus,•,tortdelr: NAtcrwlcti, May 12. Wheat, per 75 lb. Ss Od a 8s 4d—Carley, 39 rats, Os Od a Os ad—Oats, 3sAd a Os ad. OpIIIIAM, May 12.—Wheat, 50s Id—Oats, 20s. BAIINARIXASTLE, Nlay 113.— , Wheato l's•a - Iss—Beans, B ar l e y, 7s a Bs—Oats. 4s Gd a 5s per boil—Beef and Mutton, 6d—Veal, 7d—Lami), 10t1 per In. 'llAntAN - G , TuN, May 17.-Beef, 6s afis per stone, sinking offal—Mutton, 65 1 4 7s pre-atuuk!. ST may•l6.—Wheat, 42s a Iss 9d p er h o llOats, I- - NKweAsTLE, m a y ii. Wheat has adv ance d from 4s to 45 per quarter—siiip.Wheats sell readily at an advance of 2s per quarter—Bye is Is a . 2s per quarter lower—Barl ey meets a sI T o u d t i t t c 2 " s N 3I -; per bushel. - heavy sale, although offered at a redaction Of Is per quarter_.— In Malt, Beaus, and Pease, nothing done—Oats are about is perquarter . dearer. , 111011PETH, May 16.—Beef, 5s 6,1 a 6s 6{l per stone, sicking °gals—Mutton, 6s 6d a is—Wheat, 46s a sbs.-11.3e, Stis---'• Oats, 17s 4d a 20S per quarter. - • -- Piices of Corn, per Qmarter. . _ WINCHESTER, May 9. ---Wh e at, 5U5 a 54s—Barley,. .225 a 24s—oats, 19s a-215.. . ALRESFORD, May 17.—Wheat, 48s a Ms—Barley, 22s a 4i —4 %al9, 21s to 235. BMINGSToKE, May 17.—Wheat, 48s a 60s—Barley, 22s a 245—Oats, 175 a 225—Beans, aUs to 335., FARNHAM, May 17.—Wheat, 53s a 55s—Barley, 42s a 5.49 —Beaus, 38s a 545-o:its, ~ I2s a 4. —Yca'e, 87s a 58s. ' . . NEwBUItY, May I7.—W twat, 44s a tis A 969 --Oats, I bs a-245—8ean5,", , 30s a 39s—Pease,-'2Bs a 30s. NE WroaT (Isle 6i Wight), May la.—The. average price a Wheat, on Sa urday,• wa's 131 Os tale per load,- Barley, its - ptr quarter. NORTRAMPTON, May 12. O. Wheat .;. —s Od a .-s Od N.. Bean - ... 2as 041 a 305 ga, N. Wheat 50s Od - a 57s Oil 0. Brans • . —s 0(41 a—s 0 ,1 11,rley - V. 15. Ocl a 9.1 s 6(1 N. Peas ...., —s MI a—s Oa N. Oats l7s Od a 24s Ott ,O. Peas .... —s Od a --5 A O. OatS ! —s Oda —s Od i ltve "......, —s Od a —s 0(4 1 DaVr.NTRY., May 16. Wheat sos Od a 56s Oil Beans ...: . 1 283 - Od a 335 0 1 Barley 2ls .0d a 25s Od ;log Petit - Oats - By customary measure. BIRMINGIIAM. Wheat.... 53 9,i a 7s 641 Beans .... 3s 3d a 5s a Barley.... 2s 6d a 3s - 6+l W. Peas .. as' Od a 5s Od Oats .... is ad a as o+l Gr. cm .... is Gd a. 4s ti'l Per WincheEler Measure. WoI.VEI,IIA I'TON. Wheat.... 7s ed a is -6d I Oats 3s sd a 4s a d Barley.... 4s . Od a 4s &II Beans .... Os Od a 04 Od WoncEsTEn, May 11. 6s' td Oats ........ es 9d Wheat Barley Os• Otl a 45 Perot At Oswestry Fair •tore Cattle and Sheep were much in re quest, and sold well ; as did good Horses; but ordinary and' were a ding. Seventy-three carts with small stores and wea u : Ling Pigs lined Church-street, and went off briskly a l a dvaoce;i : prices ; larger Pigs were low. Of Cheese there was a sn''' supply,.at from 4d a 6d per 11)-11aCon, 6d a 741. At Southampton Fair, on Monday last; there was a consi" derable show of horned Cattle. Cows With their Calves Wer e in abundance, but the prices asked for them could not b 4 obtained, and a great nurnbtr were driven off unsold ; thol e that were told fetched less prices than have been known t4:4( several years. There were but very few. Horses for sale; al • it was remarked that this fair, where formerly there, has bee t ' nearly a thousand foresters, could now hardly muster te cl. Small Pigs were in great plenty, and fetched front 14s to The pleasure fair was much enjoyed by the holiday foll±:„.„. BIRTHS. Yesterday, at Bromicy-cominon, Kent, the Lady of ge v:6'. Aleux, - Esq., of a daug_hter.. 14 Yesterday morning, at her house in Spring-garden, 1 Elizabeth Smyth, of a daughter. On Saturday, the I:1th inst. at Isleworth, the Las.. ,l yc f the Rev. William Greenlaw, of a son. . . __.....• 'MARRIED. ,40 1 Last week, at Southampton, Captain Honyman, Navy, to Margaret Henrietta, daughter of - the, late Jauncey, and daughter-in-law of Captain Shippard, 1 1 "' Navy. - • On Thursday, the ,17th inst., at , Lambeth church, J'" pi Vim; Esq., of Great Surrey-street, to Ann, eldest danglit ' l e ft Anthony Nelson, ,Egq., -of Clapham. The happy couple to wnor his estate, near Eltharn, Ke 30 °1 • On f Thursday last at St. George's n t. , Hanover-square, „ I l e s, John Chest2r, of . the Royal Artillery, 'to Sophia eldest daughter of Mr. Charles Stuart, Surgeon, of 0 .1 street, Brunswick-square. DIED. • "`di cv On Tuesday last, aged 84, Mrs. Elizabeth Martin, the w , of the late Mr. Edward lifartin, who was near forty Y e " „-. Clerk in the Bank. On tiro sth inst., at Hucknall Torkard, Notts, Joh' and on the following. orning Mercy. his, wife, the form er lb - 71,. the latter 69 years. From their great attachment to eiie r other, they were called the " TWO DOVES." They were n t oc known to quarrel, nor ever went out on business svithpu ti ; cornpanying each other. .They were buried in the same g r l' en i, after affording in their lives an .example of conjugal attacbo in the midst of poverty, perhap s rover equalled. „ At Ayr, on the 6th inst. Mr. John • Wilson, ag 3 "" years printer of the Avr Advertis.r. 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