The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-22 00:00:00

period. The ttoops were literally worn out. On this height
there was no water, or mesas of obtaining any. The coolies
wen all away, conveying the wounded to the hospital ship,
as is always the case, accompanied by some of the troops.
The great force of the enemy then marched to lateroept the
coolies. The latter had thrown all their provisions away. This
made it imperative to retire to the strand, where the troops
might repose and refresh themselves, to to-organise the co.
lawns, and the more so as the boldness of the enemy was so
great that they made a sally upon our troops.
A retreat wu now cemmanded ; a very difffeult operation
under existing circumwances without being attacked, having
to pus a defile where only one man could much behind the
other. The artillery having passed the defile, the remainder
of the troops followed. Lieut. Vat Swieten, who still kept
possession of the redoubt No. 1, found means of retiring and
joining the re't of the trolis, fortunately without loss,
although comp'etely hemmed In. The retreat from place to
place was so well conducted that we reached the beach with-
out being attacked, where the last of the troops arrived at
about helf-put 2 p.m., where they took up a position so as
to prevent a surprise during the night while all bivouacked.
The list of killed and wounded during the Bth and 9th of
June comprised 14 officers, 104 European, 25 African and
113 native soldiers. It is unfortunate that we have to mourn
over the loss of so man! brave men; their memory will ever
be held in honour, and many a tear of sorrow will be shed
for them. This loss will not be compensated by the great
number which the enemy are maid to have lost.
The above statement shows that our troop!, af'er a most
daring attack which does them the greatest honour, having
overcome a contiderable force, were obliged to retire from
their conquest for want of ammunition and wave, end
ehrcted a most dangerous retreat in the best order. In con-
sequence of circumstances of state of a most important end
genet al suture this expedition was hurried and shortened as
much as pis 'ibis.

DUTCH EXPEDITION AGAINST THE 800L00 PIRATES.
Notwithstanding the very severe lesson the Sooloo or
Balangigni pirates received from the Spaniards in Fe-
bruary last, it would appear they bad, in a great mea-
sure, recovered from the shock and returned to their
old pi actices with new vigour. The Dutch from Ba-
tavia have lately made a wait to the Sooloo Archipelago,
with the view of suppressing piracy, either by inducing the
Sultan to diecountenanee the peanuce, or, in the event of his
refusal, to punish him. The Dutch force way too weak to
effect much good, and risked • defeat. The following,
translated from the Jarcychs Couran I, 28. h June, furnishes
an account of the Dutch expedition :
It was last year determined by the Netherlands-India
revernment to make representations to the Sultan of the
Soule° Archipelago against the continued piracies
committed by has subjects against the Dutch pro-
vinces, and to demand front him the delivery
of the Netherlands subjects who had been kidnapped,
amongst whom was the brother of the Sultan of Batjar, in
the Moluccas, and to make the Sultan of Sooloo answerable
for the depredations committed by his subjects, particularly
on the coasts of Bence and Borneo. Capt. Lieut. Van Bream
Honckquest, commanding H.M. brig Koerier, was charged
with the conveyance of the letter concerning this matter,
assisted by the pensioned official, Van den Dungen Urono-
vials. The Koerier sailed to Macassar, from whence she was
to be accompanied by H.M. brigantine Bank, but this vessel
hang absent on • cruise the embassy was undertaken in
company with H.M. brig De Heal, under command of Capt.-
Lieut. Stavenise de Brasuw.
After touching in the Roads of Kerns, both vessels reached
Sooloo on the 18th April, and anchored in front of the town
On the same day Mr. Vanden Dungen Gronovius landed to
inform the Sultan be would band him a letter from the
Governor General of Netherlands India, and requested that,
according to custom, it might be sent for. He was received
by the S,tltan, Mahomed Faidlal Alluthier, and 112M0 Datoos
in a friendly manner ; and it was agreed that the letter
should be sent for on the following day, under • mutual
'elute of 21 guns. On the afternoon of the 19th five mes
sengers from the Sultan aroceeded on board of the Koerier
to get the letter; half an hour afterwards they returned,
accompanied by 11. r.: Van den Dungen Gronovius, under a
salute of 21 run, &flu having in vain endeavoured to per-
suade Captain Van Bream Honckquest to go on shore with
them. On reception of the letter another salute of 21 guns
was fired; after the lapse of half an hour, Mr. Van glen
Dungen Oronovius returned, and stated that he was received
in an assembly of the most gorgeously-attired chiefs; but
this meeting was not so amicable as that of the previous day.
Several Datooe wi-hed Mr. Drowning to remain while the
letter was being read; thrice he took leave of the Sultan,
but still the Datoos insisted on his being seated; however,
the Sultan at last allowed him to depart, and he again re-
turned to the vessel.
On the 20th three Orang Kya came in the name of the
Sultan to any that they had searched everywhere for the
brother of the Sultan of Hatpin without finding him, and
that they were ordered to proceed to the islands to make •
further search, but for that purpose • longer time would be
necessary than the three days mentioned in the letter as the
limit. They were answered by an uouranoe that the in-
structions received admitted of no longer delay. Towards
sunset • flag was hoisted in the Sultan's fort, under a salute
of eight guns, and shortly afterwards two Arabs, scum-
panied by some followers, brought a letter containing the
si
Sultan's reply. These Arabs remained on board while the
letter was read. The letter contained an seknowl
of the truthfulness of Balangigni having done much
to the Netherlands subjects ; that the Sultan's ad
had no effect, being ~is dad by the inhabitant,. and thee
on that account he (the Sultan) had. agreed te punk the
Spaniards to make war on Balangigni ; that the Spaniards
had successfully conquered them—one part of its popu-
lation were killed, and the other half had either fled
or been carried away together with the women and chil-
dren ; that such of the 13.1langigni as returned in three days
prayed for pardon, and had been repeatedly forgiven, after
having sworn to forego piracy, and that the Sultan would
make war upon them as soon as ever they broke their oath.
The Sultan also acknowledged the reasonableness of the
demand for the delivery of Netherlands subjects, stolen by
the people of Balangigni, and promised that every one
should return to his country, but that it was a difficult matter,
as black rulers had less command over their subjects then
Europeans. And further, that he had now for the first time
heara the news of the capture of the brother of the Sultan of
Batjan, and that they would hasten to examine if he was
still in Balangigni •' that it was possible he was dead,
or carried away by the Spaniards, and that search
should. be made for him and his followers, and
if found they should be sent back. Captain Van
Brunt Honckquest remarked to the musengers that
several points had been left unanswered, and sent these
back with the message that not only the brother of the ,
Sultan of Batjan was not delivered up, but that not one of
the number of Netherlands captives now on the Sooloo
Wands were forthcoming, from which he should conclude
that the Sultan was inimical to the Netherlands government.
Capt. Van Bream Honckquest also demanded to know why
they. were then occupied with a number of men erecting and
arming batteries, and declared to the Sultan that he would
allow the full stipulated time of three days for the Sultan to
reply Wall the demands contained in the letter.
At about 12 o'clock oa the `22nd the Sultan sent some fol-
lowers on board, who pretended they were tome to watch
any evil-dispond persons; they were rent back with the
remark that those on ban would keep watch themselves,
sr treat as enemies such as were bold enough to undertake
anything against them. In an hone afterwards the Sultan
sent confectionery, fruit, &a. on board, part of which was
kept and pert returned ; upon which one of the Arabs, to-
wards evening, came testifying the Sultan's sorrow at their
having sent back the presests and offering some goats whisk
were not accepted, as a satisfactory answer was not given or
the delay accounted for. On the evening of the 22nd the I
stipulated term of three nays expired. taper Van Brunt
Honckquest did not, however, open his fire until 8 o'clock mei
the 23rd. At 10 o'clock the usual flag was hoisted at the fort''
although our firing from both ships was kept up for fully 20
minutes, it was answered on their side slowly but with effect
from invisible port-holes or openings. After continuing for
an hour to discharge our guns on the enemy, without per-
ceiving the slightest indication of a conflagration, boats were
sent on shore, which set tire to houses and vessels in fear
different places, so that the flames were soon seen rising.
About half-past twelve o'clock the enemy's fire slackened
considerably, and it was determined to get turther out from
the batteries. At half-put three o'clock the anchors were
weighed, and both vessels went further out, still firing and
receiving the enemy's fire, and answering it whenever the
position of the vessels permitted. The firing was kept up
until sunset, when it anted on both sides, and last on ours.
In the meantime the conflagration r.n shore continued and
the flames increased, until the appearance was weakened
ay the ligfire was ht of the
discovered beh risin moon. hind I
the n the afternoon
great batteries
according to accounts given by the fugitives, it
was in the dwelling of Captain Lent, from whose bat-
tery_ no more guns were fired afterwards. Oa board of
H.M. brig de Haat, one boatman named A. De Jong, sad
the mandoor of the native sailors, were killed, and sena
European sailors were wounded slightly. Oa board of the
Koerier there were none either killed or wounded ; the
latter vessel, however, received seven shots in her hull, sad
part of her rigging was damaged ; the Hsi had her prinsipal
rigging cut away by the enemy's shot, and received three
balls in her hull (12 and 18 pounders).
During the engagement twen.y-six person thud mans
to escape from the shore, and were taken en board the
vessels; they were from different islands of the Indian
Archipelago, and almost all taken by Balangigni pinta. Of
the fugitive' eight Manilla men were given over to the resi-
dent at Menado, to be sent to the Spanish possusions: six
from the Moluccas remained also /length; of the remaining
12, all Chinese from Sambas, Pontianak, and Banes, eight re-
quest to be allowed to remain at Macassar, which was
granted, to that only four men were brought on to Batea:a,
from whence they will be sent to their homes.
From this expedition greater effect mould net hesepeeted.
The minion was executed with care and orange worthy of
the name of Netherland, and it shove, on the part 0 the.
Netherlands government, that piney will not be permitted
to go unpu • ed ; that no composition for = tax
will cause them to be spook awl that the N
Torment deems it me es Its first duties to protect C
safety of the sea whom/ ins leg is seen.
No amount is given or asides oak of or mianteomm
Mr. Windham, or of his aroma Yekdrib, °Mt. Welk.
Mr. Windham his resided at Mae flts mon than twenty
years, and his loam soar the Oars, romit.have boon di-
smayed bi the andlogration. ham tie dionsoince of no
motion being mei of the miaow Veisidgele,
kalde that well was away wadies at lam pies ef the ArCill
pale. It wadi most that kw, if any. a( Os Sodom sell
daring the engsgmoot • drawls( thoonlika soil bamboo
dwellings will net sit astraskallY, an time Na 1128. be re-
plead. The Dalub, hem was manifestly toe wok. sad will
incite thep =ea= the amok by again re-visiting
the un of the Dutch provinces. The
Dutch edam to Sooloo entirely failed in Its object

Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
dam from the Governor of Omsk, and also frees the
goeernors of the osha North amebas colonise..