The National Register.
London, England, 1821-05-21 00:00:00

_ . 5.--.

,NUPPLL.VE4VT.IRY GAZETTE.

Emetics ef a toter front Cvtaio T. P. Thom/Isom. of the 17th
Light Dragoons. to Francis Warden, Esq. chief Seeretartito
the meet of Bombay, dated Muscat, the tats, of o-
. I Neo.
Sift.-1 have to communicate the ill-success of
the attempt to art-operate with his highness the Is-
maum of Nluscitt against the Arabs of the tribe of
Ben Bon Ali, after appearances whirl; led to expect
a different result. Iu my last letter I stated that
the messenger sent with the communications di-
rected by your letter of the Bth of Jo' e, 1890, had
been cut to pieces, and that six companies of sepoys,
with eight pieces of artillery, had, in consequence,
been conveyed to Muscat- The detachment sailed
from Muscat on the 22d of October, and arrived at
Sour on the 24th, where it was disetnbarked. The
Intaurn's force had previously proceeded towards Sinew
by land. His Highnes the Imaum, who had di-
rected his force tow; a Snor, for the purpose of
marching against the principal residence of the tribe
—in conjunction with the British detachment, ar-
rived there on the 26th, bringing with him 1.000
fighting men, besides men to draw the guns, 600
camels for the use of the detachment, and 300 other
tattle. On the Ist of November the whole force
marched from Soor, carrying with it two 6-pounders,
two howitzers, and two iron 18-pounders, and on
the Bth of November, arrived at a town belonging
to his Highness, named Bahad Beni Bon Hussun,
within three miles of Bahad Beni Bon Ali, the resi-
dence of the hostile tribe, without any loss, either
by sickness or accident. A summons was the same
evening conveyed to the enemy from his High-
ness, demanding the surrender of the persons who
bad killed the Sheik of Raul Huh!, and of the for-
tifications of the tribe, with their arms. The mes-
senger returned on the same night, and brought for
answer from the hostile Sheiks, that the first mes-
senger 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 Imaum would
in that came, give them up as prisoners to the Bri-
tish. Under these circumstances, I felt cimaider.
able 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 thought it would be best to
proceed without delay before the place; with which
he entirely coincided, and directions were issued on
the following morning. 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 moving has been
stated by his highness at 2,000. The number of
seapoys amounted to 320, exclusive of tbe old ti-
quet of 60 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
inquiries, amounted to 900, and there were said to
be eight guns of small caliber in the place. The
artillery were directed to have their limbers com-
pleted with ammunition ; and I made a point of
ascertaining by personal inquiry, that a proportion
of case shot for the howitzers, and of spherical case
for the six-pounders, made part of the stores con.
'eyed from Snor, and were actually Hassan,
in
the limbers. On leaving Beni Bun Hassan, the
light company of the lst battalion of the 2d regi-
ment was directed to take the lead in extended
order. In the event of meeting an enemy, it was
directed to retire as most convenient, and to form
behind the line in reserve. The new piquet of 60
men preceded the head of the column by a short
distance, and was directed to support the light corn.
pany it required. Two guns were at the head of
the column, after the piquet, and two fujowed.—
After proceeding about a mire and a hslf, the I
column charged the jungle, and entered on an
open country—with a view to strengthen the
line, the piquet in advance was directed to fall
in upon the head of the column, and act as a corn-
pan under the command of its officer. A short
tune after some shots from the liglir infantry an.
noueeed a movement among the enemy, and the
light infantry were seen retiring us bud been di-
rected. The enemy soon appeared ia motion on the
top of the new , and from the direction which he
took, it yas evident that his design was to turn the
right by mining on a point beyond it. I iane-
diattly direited the troops to forte colutnns of sections
to the right, and pus.. cs quickly as possible behind
doe guns, the loeuti of time column inclining towards
the former rear, Mt us to make the new tront putallel
to the enemy's cutatk, ham rine, charge bayonets,
and advance. The last incoveinen'i was unhappily
tout executed by the troops. Seeing them hesitate,
as no tittle was to be host, I ordered them to fire ;

THE NATIONAL REGIS TEA

and the line opened its fire upon the enemy. The
Imaum with promptitude moved his throe to
the right to close interval, and a part of' his men
moved along the rear of the seapoys engaged! and
opened a fire of matchlocks upon such of the enemy
as were again attempting to come round the right
The enemy at the same moment detached part otitis
Circe towards the left of the sepoys, where they were
met and vigorously encountered by the Immune On
seeing the direction of the enemy's attack, 1 imme-
diately rode (Alto lead the rig:it, which was the
point attacked. The enemy continuing to press
forward, I was unable to leave, the extremity of the
right, lest the aepoys should misconstrue my depar-
ture and give way. I therefore continued upon that
point encouraging the sepoys to keep up their fire.
Ou observing the enemy e ithin twenty yards, I
again made an effiirt 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. A few of them turned and fired their
muskets into the air, over the heads of those that fol-
lowed, and immediately resumed their ; I also
addressed myself to such of the officers as I met with,
and to some of the Europeans of tl,e artillery, but
without effect. On perceiving the Imaum at a dist-
ance, I rode towards him, and found he had just been
wounded. He had endeavoured to rescue an Eu-
, rupean 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.—
The enemy, as far as I observed, advanced only with
the sword until the sepoys gave way ; but as soon
as that happened, his matchlocks were brought for-
ward with very fatal effeet. After the sepoys had
given way, I saw the Arabs advancing upon the
whole front against the Imuum's army ; and his
force then give way: The pnrsuit was continued
in the direction of the Beni Bon Hassan, 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 fa. piquet&
011 finding them, I directed the officer of the piquet
and an officer of artillery, who had neither of them
been in the action, to make preparations for defence,
while I took out the piquet to the front. I parti-
cularly recommended this duty to the latter officer,
by saying to him " you art of the artillery :-1 at
the same time directed Mr Sub Assistant Surgeon
Fallon, of the hon. Company's cruiser Priam of
Wales, to take the beat means in his power firr
securing the sick On returning with the piquet to
the camp, I found that Mr. Sub Assistant Surgeol
Fallon had removed the sick and followers into a
fortified house, distributed ammunition and arms,
posted his people at their stations, and made the
best preparations for defence. His Highness the
the Imaum was of opinion that the town might be
maintained till reinfiwcements could rrrive, as the
inhabitants had long been at war with the Beni Bun
Ali without being overpowered. In this opinion I
was anxious to support him. 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 Sour, carrying with them
every person belonging to the artillery 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 their posts. On the Imaum's repeating his
opinion that he could not maintain himself' in the
place. I told him we must destroy what could not
be removed and retreat. I asked him what be would
remove. lie said he could remove the si,k, and
give a camel for each of the sepoys : he afterwards
added that he could find camels for some musket
ammunition. As Soon as the barium came to a de-
cision, he appeared to be anxious to put it into etc-
' cution ; and I felt apprehensive that if it was de-
layed, he would be left without a guard. He
desired me to destroy the remeini ig guns and 'the
powder. While he gave directions to his people,
an arr.lleryman, wounded in three places, who had
come in during the night, fortunately found some
pikes ; and Dr. Fallon, with the assistance of some
pioneers, emptied the powder barrels into a well.—
fhe carriages would have been cut to pieces, but the
departure of the artillerymen rendered it impossible
to find tools. The Imaum proposed setting fire to
them; 1 objected to it, on the ground that it would
be the signal of dispersion to his followers, and of
pursuit to the enemy. But I prompted the Bedouins
to remove every thing which could be carried off;
and I apprehend very little was left to the chance of
falling into the hands of the enemy. As 'tam as the
Imaum began to move, the sick were placed upon
camels, but it was found impossible to procure them
for any other purpose. After proceeding eight miics
the lithium propia.A moving upon Muscat, from a
belief that the passes to Stour would be occupied by the
enemy. His Highness, with myself and Dr. Fal-
;el, and the remainder of the detuc..ment, arricc,l at
Muscat on the 7th. A boy came into the troops
at Beni Hun Hassan on "the attuning of the combat,

,

-


- • ---- -
who says he belongs to Bombay, ana was taken five
yearn age c•ith four other buys, in a vessel with two
masts and 26 bands, Nachodales name Ibrahim,
bound to Muscat with rice; the vessels name be has
forgotten •He says the Arabs dismissed the rest of
the crew, took out the rice, and set the vessel on
fire. Two boys also belonging to Mangalore have
also come down to &or, and are on board his
Majesty's sloop Curlew These incidents identify
the Ben Bun Ali with piratical operations.—
I have determined on sending to Bombay the two
officers mentioned in a former pan of this letter,
with dip ctions to report their arrival to the Adjar
tent General of the army. My sole reason for not
placing thew under arrest without delay is, that such
such a proceeding might involve a necessity fur
publishing at the head of every regi.•ient in India
that a detachment of sepoys had been deserted by is
officers ; and I would nut do what might confine the
government to any specific course. At the same
time 1 shall transmit charges to the Adjutant-Ge
neral with lists of evidences 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; Lieute.
nants Morley and Galley, and Sub-Assistant-Sur.
geon Fallon, were not in the action of the morning.
I beg leave to notice the services of Dr. Fallon, as
having been extensively useful during the defence
made in Beni Bon Hassan, and during the march to
Muscat; and as being the only officer able to be of
any assistance who stayed by me and the detach.
ment, and arrived with them at Muscat,Lieutenant
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 ate fullowers.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) T. P. THOMPSON,
Captain 1111) Light Dragoon',
Commismiefier and

THE QUEEN.
On Monday evening last Drury-lane theatre was
honoured by the presence of her Majesty the Queen,
rather unexpectedly. At a little before seven
o'clock, her Majesty arrived at the theatre. at-
tende by Lord and Lady Hood and Mr. Austin, in
her carriage and four, with the firotanen in state
liveries. No preparations bad been made for her
reception, nor was the manager in the house on her
arrival. Her Majesty was ushered into the stage-
box in the dress circle, opposite that occupied by his
Majesty on Wednesda. Her Majesty did not on
her entrance present herself at the front of the box,
but remained behind the lattice work, and it was
not until nearly the end of the first act of the play,
which was Lord Byron's new tragedy of the
Doge of Venice, that the presence of her Majesty
was made known to the audience by some persons
in the pit, who having seen her Majesty's carriage
on the outside, came in and shouted out " The
Queen ! the Queen I" The cry was electric—the
whole audience rose, and her Majesty presented
herself, when she was received by loud and continued
acclamations. She bowed most gracioudy, and then
retired to the back of the box. " God save the
Queen" was called fur from all quarters, and the
tumult was so loud as to put a stop to the per-
fornrance, when Mr. Thompson, who performed a
character in the play, came forward and stated, that
be was requested to ask their pleasure.—" God
save the Queen" was the general answer. The
audience were shortly after informed that none of
the vocal perfumers were then in the house, but
that they would be in before the afterpiece began,
when they would gladly execute the commands of
the audience. At length Mr. Elliston arrived, and
said that into very arduous situation in which he
stood, he would endeavour to gratify their pleasure,
and that at the end of the play the vocal performers
would be in the house, when they would execute
their commands by singing the hymn called for, lu
the mean time, he begged that the performance
might be allowed to proceed. This address suc-
ceeded, and at the end of the tragedy the whole of
the company came forward and sung " God save
I Queen," which was loudly cheered by the house.—
The dress-boxes were filled by respectable company,
who received the song in the moat respectful manner.
Her Majesty left the theatre immediately after, and
at the dour a serjeant's guard kept open the avenue,
and saluted her Majesty by presenting arms, She
was loudly cheered by the populace, and appeared
to be iu exeellt.nt health and sprits.

On Monday last Johnson, 13amford, and I lealy,
convicted of sedition ut Mune'Jeter, were liberated
from the Castle of Lincoln, after entering into re-
counizanees, tae. their term ut coofinement having
ten completed.

L (moon.
MONDAY, MAY m.

Our readers will see, by our Parliamentary Re-
port, that the motion of Sir Francis Burdett for an
inquiry into the Manchester massacre has been nega-
tived by a majority of 124; this we had anticipate&
because we know that so long as the present consti-
tution of the Hoge shall be permitted to continue,
nothing but an entire accident can cause a motion to
succeed. when opposed by the impure influence of
his Majesty's Ministers. For this fate of the motion
we were therefore prepared—we were confident that
inquiry into a aeries of the blackest acts that ever
disgraced the page of civilised history would not be
granted ; but we little expected such an avowal as
escaped the lips of the• mast *46le the Marquis of
Londonderry—it has been uniformly held by those
who have best and longest known his Lordship, that
however honourable his private character (and pri-
vate character we have always held entirely sacred)
in his public situation he was the only minister
who would, from time to time stand up in his place
and assert as truth a direct falsehoo 1. Of this we
have long been aware, but we little expected the
avowal of it from his own lips—however, with re-
ference to the assertions he made in November,
181 9, on the subject of the triumph of Peterloo,•
on Wednesday night, he made the following memo-

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

able declan.tion:—" He positively denied having
ever undertaken roa TILE TRUTH or ONE SINGLE
FACT WHICH HE HAD STATED! He War in the re-
collection of many members; and he said that he
had only, in opposition to facts on the other vide,
stated facts ox the best iqjormation he could receive.
So far had he been from contending for the accuracy
of his statement, that he bad said the house was not
the proper place for inquiring into its accuracy ;
and HE HAD ONLY STATED THOSE PACTS TO STAY
THE FEELINGS OP THR HOUSE. and to protect the
characters of worthy men, as he believed them to
he, against calumny and misrepresentation lit"—
The falsehood of the assertions has been fully
proved before repeated juries, but his Lordship's
friends little expected so candid an avowal from
him; an avowal which ought to be, and we hope
will be, borne in the remembrance of the whole
house whenever it may serve as a criterion for their
appreciation of his future asseverations.

• " At first the riot act," says his Lordship, " was read from
a window; but it being suggested that this method of reading it
woe not contemplated by the act, another magistrate was there-
/ore sent into the crowd. but, without attempting to read it, he
was trampled under foot ; they then sent a third magistrate to
read it on the hustings," &c. So much fig the reading of the
riot act. Again, " Though the ground had been cleared of all
stones that were calculated to hurt a human being, the( smarmed)
multitude weeded the military with so many, that the next day
TWO CART LOADS were found upon the ground; so it was clear
the pa►ties had come with stones in their pockets. They were
also armd with pistols. for from the house behind the hustings
pistols were fired upon the troops I"

We have received the Paris Papers of Wednea.
day last. It appears that after the shocking mur-
der of the Canon Venuesa. at Madrid, on the sth
instant, the populace proceeded in a mass to the
Palace, and assailed the King and his brother with
the most horrible vociferation,. The regular troops
and militia soon restored order, and the Cortes after
a public sitting on the subject, repaired to the king,
to assure him of their protection. A report was also
spread that his Majesty had made his escape from
the capital and put himself at the head of the
anti-constitutionalists, but it deserves no credit.—
In the north of Spain, the band of the fighting
priest, Merino, has been dispersed, and himself nar-
rowly escaped being made prisoner.
The Russian consul at Jassy has, by order of his
Emperor, issued two proclamations, ordering Prince
Ypsilanti and all his partisans, subjects of Russia,
or under its protection, to return to Russia. They
must have a serious effect upon the insurrection in
which so many Russian officers or others under the
protection of Russia are engaged.

Intelligence from Smyrna states, there has been
a dreadtill massacre of the Greeks there, and at Con-
stantinople. The Ottomans, after bombarding Pa..
tras, and burning many houses, had been reinforced
from Lepanto and Trippolissa, and finally obliged
the Greeks to fly to Zante in great numbers. Many
Greek priests, and other inhabitants, had been but-
chered, and a church was demolished by the barba-
rians.—According to letters from St. Peteriburgh
several orders have been issued, conformably to
which a considerable body of Russian troops are in
motion. In addition to the Russian army which was
on its march to Italy, but received counter-orders to
halt, two armies of reserve ars to be stationed on the
eastern frontiers of Poland. One, formed of troops
cantoned in northern Russia, will assemble on the

Dwina, under the orders of Gen. Lacken; the other
will unite in Volhinia, and will be commanded by
Prince %S ittgetutein. Nu cause is assigned fur
these military movements, but it is observed, that
the best understanding subsists between the two
Emperors and the King of Prussia, who have irre-
vocably agreed to maintain the existing state of
things in the south of Europe, in order to prevent
new revolutionary commbtions. Let them, however,
take care that their measures do not accelerate what i
the wish to obviate or obstruct.

,

7Vifigif

Jr:

On Thursday, the King's birth-dny, the mayor,
bailiffs, burgesses, and other inhabitants of Mon-
mouth, to the number of 86, sat down to dinner at
the Beaufort Arms. T. Phillpotts, Esq. the major,
in the chair—., We assemble here," said he,"' as
freemen of this distinguished and independent bo-
rough, which has so lung struggled, and at length
so gloriously triumphed, in the sacred cause of free-
dom ; but, gentlemen, we do not assemble here as
the servile dependants of any palitital faction, or of
any political junto, who dole out their mock loyalty
by weight and measure only, fur the best price that
can be obtained fist it. We will on the contrary,
in the true spirit of legitimate loyalty, give a vo-
lantary and honest pledge of it, by drinking the
health of " the King,' in four times four, " and
may he always refLember, that to reign in the hearts
of a free people, is not only the greatest blessing he
can enjoy, but at the mine time the greatest safe-
guard to his throne !" This toast was received
with much applause, and drank with due honour
The next was " the Queen," which was drank with
rapturous applause.
By late accounts from St Helena, intelligence has
been received in town of the Ex-Emperor being
seriously indispubed, indeed so much so that he had
kept his lad tar a fortnight or three weeks. A pas-
senger, who is arrived in town from the vessel which •
brought the information, on the authority of one of
Buonaparte's attendants, confirms the intelligence,
and adds, 'bat Buonaparte was so extremely unwell,
that his dissolution was thou4ht likely. He was not
able to retain any thing on his stomach.
His Majesty, it is said, has announced his fnten
tion to quit Carlton-house, and make Buckingham
house his town residence in future. The detective
state of the foundation of Carlton-house, and the
superior advantages of more open. air anti exten►ive
grounds pos...essed by the latter, are the causes of the
change. The persons, male, and female, attached .
to the court, who occupy St. Jams'► Palace, have
in consequence received notice to quit, in veder that
the fine suite of rooms which it contains• may be
fitted up for holding of levees, drawing-rooms, age..
now held at Buckingham-house.

Tu THE WI 10R. •
51R,....-111 the htio Braun, a iew days since, the soli—
ject of knighthood occupied part of one of its columns.
aid having had that honour conferred ins me io June,
1820, for having brought to perfection an invention of
1131101111 importance, it may not be ooiuterrsuhg•tu soma
of !our readers to know the proper steps. to obtain that
• honour.

'rfie foundation, Sir, of my pretensions rested on a.
discovery, of which kw can boast, and which has been
scknowedged by uty country to be of the utmost conse-
quence; viz. the invention of the Live Preserver, used so
cases of shipwreck. bathing, ace. Mc. Tots discovery
WAS made iii 180 b, and was brought by me to perfection
after much labour amid expellee; and so pletely did
it answer she purpose, that numerous lives were actuisliy.
saved by it in a short period. In consequence of this, its •
April. 1806, I was presented with au eleiwit Medailion
froth she it.yel Humane Society; and in May, 1807,
was al.o honoured with the Gold Medal from the Society
of Arts, presented its nee by their President, the late
Duke of Norfolk. Such was the high opinion of the
invention, that woo alter it was sulmoded to his Grace ;
it also received the patronage of his Royal Highness tire
Duke of Seise:. Several Noblemen at this tithe 'epees-
sing the Life Preserver, sowsted to we the propriety of
my being presented at Court. This suggestion lat teat_
time declined; but afterwards considering the great lia-
ritill2l benefit this invention held out to sit 'Weirs' a busty
Of men as mariners, who are allowed to be the pride and
bulwark of our country, I deemed myself justly •kd
to a mark of Royal favour. On that account I took the
liberty of appriz.ng one of the R..yal Family of my wish
and intention ; and afterwards I Mistaken one of the
late Members Ica Middlesex, woo, approving 01 my
resolution, 11110r11111 we that '• the proper and wily way
was to apprize We Starlalry for lire Hoare apartuartit
of my intetitioii."
In April, Sir, 1820, I wrote to Lord Sidmouth, and
had the hi.uour oh his Lordship's answer on the 86th,
who poinely gave me all the rs,qiiisite information res-
pecting my attending the Levee. I then intimated is
any answer to nis Lordsnip that I should attend the mat
Levee, on the 14th of Juue, for toe express pureose of
recesvoig the honour of knighthood. I did attend,aiid
in the presence of the Minis era, and a Noisle Dukc,
who ',resented to his NlAirSly Isis sword fur the purpose,
I received from mile hands valour beloved Sine tip that
disfinguistied and justly acquired mark of Royal favour
I now pu,sess.
On the 84th of June, ten days after, I received an
official lever from die Lord Chemberlatu's °dice, signed
T. B. Mash, " claiming the usual fees. including La-
:ening. &c. ke." On the same day I called upon Mr.
Mash, at she Lord Cnambeilatit's Office, and left wilts
the Clerk's diaft on my Banker for the full amount.
Such are hie steps I pursued, and it may be useful so
some of 'our .readers to kuow them, Who may consider
they nave. a claim to the wine honour. His Majesty.
in conierring it oven use, only recognised and coufirmeel
that approlastion which had already been bestowed by
the two first Societies its this country—the Royal Hu-
mane, Or which he is Patron, and the Society of Arts.
All these particulars are detailed at large in a small Me-
moir, juvt_published, of, Sir.
Your most obedient humble servant,
F, C. DANIEL.
Greer reltaire, MN sad, end Charlene
AMON Surrey, Nag 19, 1981.