The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-27 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION.

at half-past nine the Volage anchored, with a spring on her
small bower cable, in four fathoms water, at about three
hundred yards distance from the lower battery on the Island
of Seerah, at the same time the Mahe took up her position

to the southward of the island.
" On standing in, the enemy opened a fire of great guns
and musquetry on us, but the ship being laid so close to the
shore, the guns on the heights were rendered useless, their
shot passing over us.
" At ten the Cruizer anchored, and was of essential:ser-
vice in destroying the flank of the battery. During this
period a heavy firing was kept up; but in a short time two
of the guns in the lower battery were dismounted, and most
of the people were driven from the remainder ; they, how-
ever, took shelter behind the ruins-of the battery, and kept
up an incessant fire of musquetry on the ships, and although
the lower battery was almost knocked to pieces, still sse
had great difficulty in dislodging the men.
" At this period I directed the fire to be opened on tin"
round tower and batteries on the heights, which were filled
with men armed with matchlocks, and in the course of one I
hour I had the satisfaction to see this tower (though sixty
feet high, and strongly built) a mass of ruins.
" At eleven, the Coote anchored with the second divi-
sion of the troops to the Southward of the Island, and
opened her fire upon the town.
" Finding the firing had not ceased from the lower bat-
tery, I directed the Mahe schooner to proceed to the end
of it, and endeavour to drive out the men from behind it,
by musquetry ; this service was performed by her Com-
mander, Lieutenant Daniels, in a most gallant manner,
but I regret to say, that Mr. Nesbitt, Midshipman, was
severely wounded.
" The firing having now almost entirely ceased, I gave
directions for the boats of both divisions to land. Lieute-
nant Dobree, who had charge of the first division, Mr.
Rundle, Mate, and a Quarter-master of this ship, were the
first on shore, and made fora 68-pounder which had been
fired at us several times, when a matchlock was fired at the.
Quarter-Master by a man behind the gun, who was imme-
diately cut down by him, and the first British flag wa,s
planted by Mr. Rundle.
" So completely were the enemy driven from al l points
(with the exception of the island), by the fire of tl to ships,
that the whole of the troops landed with the loss of only
two men killed, and three wounded.
" A partial firing was still kept up from the island, vd set •
I directed Lieutenant Dobree (who had returced), w rith
two mates (Messrs. Steward and Rundle), with a part r of
seamen, and Lieutenant Ayles with the marines, amount i ng
altogether to fifty, to land and take possession of it. 11 lis
was gallantly accomplished, the party ascending t
he
heights, spiking end dismounting the guns, taking the Its ‘g
which had been flying from the tower, and making prim )-
ners of one hundred and thirty-nine armed Arabs, wt o
were conducted from the island to the main by the part V,
and given over into the charge of Major Osborne. In a n
attempt to disarm the prisoners (made by the military. ),
they made a most formidable resistance, and I regret 1 o
say that several lives were lost on both sides.
" Mr. Nesbitt, a midshipman of the Mahe, was the of a y
person hurt on board the squadron, and on the part of t b e
military sixteen were killed and wounded, most of the sail'
dangerously, and one sergeant has since died.
" The enemy's guns were served badly and fired irreg a-
lady, they appearing to have most confidence in their mate
locks ; and there can be no doubt that if it had not bee 11
for the total destruction of their defences by the squad I-
ron, the troops would not have been able to have accom t-
plished their landing without a very severe loss.
" I have not been able to ascertain the number of arm(
men that defended the town, but front what I can leap
there must have been upwards of one thousand; nor can I
come at the exact number that were killed or wounded ;
25 dead bodies were found on the island of Scarab aim s,
several in the town, and at this moment there ate :;5
wounded lying in the Mosque, amongst whom is t. as
Sultan's nephew, who defended the island.
" I beg to recommend !ss your notice the gallant can -
duct and services of Lieut. Dobree and Messrs. Stewart
and Rundle (mates) ; nor can I omit mentioning -die
assistance I received from Captaia Haines, the politic al
agent, who, from his local knowledge, piloted the ship 'in,
which enabled me to take up so effecti ye a position.
" I herewith transmit to your Excellency a plan of Ithe
attack (No. 2), and a list of the Ordnanc e stores (No. 3)
captured.
" Lieutenant Dobree is now emplo7ed with a party of
men in endeavouring to get off the three' large brass Turk-
ish guns, which it is the wish of the captors should be
presented to her most Gracious Majesty.
" I intend to send the Cruizer to B übara for water,
and I shall leave this place as soon as tra tzquillity is re-
stored, and measures are taken for the security of the
troops. " I have, &c.,
(Signed) " H. :SMITH,
" Captain commanding th e Expedition.
" His Excellency Rear-Admiral F. L. Waitland,
L. G. C. 8., &c., East Indies."

" Honourable Company's sloop of war Cooto,
Aden Back Bay, Jan. 16, 1839.
" SIR,—AII negociations with the chieftains of the Ab-
dalla tribe having failed in bringing them to perform their
written promise of transferring Aden to the I lritish, and
their having declared war by opening fire 0.-1 the ;Honourable
Company's sloop of war Coote,and her boats; in fact, after all
reasoning and every strenuous pndeavourtas l`men exerted on
the part of the Bombay Government to bring the deceitful
and dishonourable tribe to their senses by mild and conci-
liating measures, have proved unavailing ; I am under the
necessity (as the last and only resource left to obtain satis-
faction for the repeated insults offered to the British) to
solicit force may be used to compel them to e nracuate the
ground ceded to the British under their Stilt. tn's seal, in
January, 1838.
" 2dly. I have, therefore, the honour to vequo st that
you will, with the squadron under your comesand, in co-
operation with the troops under the commalad of Mai"
Baillie, adopt such measures for the immediate captur and
occupation of Aden, as may appear to you best calculated
to obtain it.

" 3dly. I take the liberty of pointing out that many of
the poor inhabitants of Aden have been compelled by the
chieftains to remain there, consisting principally of Jews,
Banians, and Zoories ; I therefore earnestly solicit that, if
possible, their lives be preserved.
4th. I also beg, that if fortune should place the Sultan
or his sons, any chieftains or seids, in our possession, that
their livesbe spared; and that any individual :so captured
be secured to await future decision regarding them.
" sth. Having a perfect knowledge of the localities of
the place, I shall feel most happy to afford you any infor-
Ntnation on the subject ; and if, from a thorough knowledge
of the bay and anchorages, my services or advice be advan-
tageous, I shall feel proud to accompany the commander of
any vessel or squadron in taking up a close position for the
destruction of their strongest battery.
" nave the honour to be, &c.,
(Signed) " J. B. HAINES, Political. Agent."
" To Captain Smith, her Majesty's ship
Volage, S enior Officer, Aden."

RETURN OF BRASS AND IRON ORDNANCE CAPTURED AT

ADEN ON THE 19TH JANUARY, 1829.

In battery, on carriages-1 brass eighty-five pounder, 1
brass sixty-eight pounder, 1 brass thirty-two pounder
(dismounted by fire of the squadron), 4 iron eighteen
pounders (dismounted by fire of the squadron), 2 iron
twelve pounders, 5 iron nine-pounders (dismounted and
thrown into the sea by sailors), 5 iron six pounders, 1
iron four pounder, 5 iron three pounders. Not in bat-
tery-1 brass eighty-nine pounder, 6 iron six pounders, 1
iron four pounder. Total 33 guns, 3,000 pounds of
powder, 1,200 shots of sizes (83 stone), 88 grape shot, 2
pigs of lead, 114 matchlocks.
(Signed) W. WILLOUGHBY, Captain,
Commanding Artillery, Aden Force.
* Her Majesty's ships Volage and Cruizer ; Honourable
Company's ships Coote and Mahe ; Transports, Lowjee
Family, Ernaad, and Ann Crichton.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Cacass, near Croome, March 24th, 1839.
SIR,—I shall thank you to correct a mistake in your
paper of the 24th of this month.
I did not pair off with Sir R. Bateson on the ques-
tion of the Corn-laws, both parties being at liberty to
vote on that subject or not, as they pleased ; but I have
paired off on all other Divisions until after Easter.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
DAVID ROCHE.