The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-21 00:00:00

FRAN CE.

The following report of M. PIERRE BONAPARTE
to the officer in command of the entrenchments,
dated camp before Zaatcha, October 25, has been
received by the Government from General D'HER.•
DILLON :

" Mon Colonel,—Charged with the command of 200
men of the Legion, and 200 of the 3d African Light
Infantry, to cut down the palm trees and protect the
men engaged in that labour, I proceeded this morning
to the position pointed out to me by General d'ller-
billon, the Commandant-in-Chief. On arriving at the
spot we occupied a wall which had been crenelated
by the Arabs, and from which we were able to
keep them in check, while our workmen proceeded
rapidly in cutting down palm trees to the number of
250. The Arabs, however, at length concentrated them-
selves at the end of the wall. I had several times charged
Captain Buttet, of the 3d Infantry, to keep a strict ob-
servation on that important point, and he replied that he
would be responsible for it, when, soon after, he was
struck by a musket shot. One of his men was shot at
the same moment. The Arabs then attacked the wall at
the limit of our line, which they were not able to get
over. They were very numerous. They assailed us
with stones, which they threw from behind the wall.
At length they got on the top of it and discharged
their pistols and muskets. We received them with a
volley of musketry. A reserve of 30 grenadiers advanced
under Captain Nyko to support the infantry, and we
then took up another position, which enabled us to
keep the enemy at a greater distance. The arrival of
this reinforcement enabled the workmen to proceed with
the cutting down the trees. A still further reinforce-
ment then came up. During this time the grenadiers,
who had been posted on a small hillock, aud the
African light infantry, sustained with great bravery
the reiterated attacks of the Arabs. I must not
omit to mention that the Commandant of the
Zoaves sent a further reinforcement of 15 men,
under Lieutenant Sentupey, to support the grena-
diers. Tho conduct of these brave soldiers is beyond
praise. I must, however, point out to you the intrepid
Captains Buttet and Touchet, of the 3d African Infantry,
both seriously wounded, and Captaia Nyko, who was
struck by a musket ball and also by a stone in the
head. We have had five killed; the wounded, exclu-
sive of the two above-named officers, are 20 in number.
Agreeably to an order of the General, transmitted to
me by you, the retreat was effected in the greatest
order, and it was accomplished at noon. Besides the
cutting down of the trees, our operation may be consi-
dered as being an attack on Litchana, and without being
able exactly to estimate the injury we have inflicted on
the enemy, I consider it was very considerable, and at
least twice the amount of our own loss. Accept, mon
Colonel, the expression of my deep respect.

":I'. NAPOLEON Bo NIPARTE,

" Chef-de-Bataillon Foreigh Legion."

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian of this day.)
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—The expectations of the
Liverpool speculators as to the effect of the accounts
of our immense operations in cotton, taken out by the
Hibernia, on the 20th ult., have been somewhat dis-
appointed by the advices which the Europa has
brought to hand; and the result is, that hardly any-
thing is doing except by the trade, whose limited pur-
chases:are effected at aireduction of *d. to /d. per lb. In
a state of things in which prices are in so equivocal a
position as at the present moment, our
market is instantly affected by any change
in that of cotton. It has been plainly seen, since the
arrival of the packet, that many who lately held a de-
cided opinion that, at least, the existing value of cotton
would be maintained, are beginning to waver in their
judgment. We have consequently had to get heavily
through a very inactive day.
In yarns, the buyers for Germany, Italy, and the
Levant are anxiously watching the course of things,
and taking only what they are in immediate want of,
when it is to be had at some advantage in the terms;
while the India merchants are confining their opera-
tions to the finer numbers, and even in them they
are doing very little. The manufacturers are back-
ward purchasers. Under these circumstances, some
concession has been made in the rates of shipping
yarns, to the extent of the comparatively trifling busi-
ness effected ; though, after all, considerable firmness
has prevailed. The best qualities of fine yarus con-
tinue scarce aid relatively dear. Goods have been
found quite as difficult to sell as yarns. For the most
part, the quotations are the same as those of last week ;
but in some of the few instances where sales have
been made, there has been some little giving way on the
part of the sellers. Printing cloths continue in re-
quest, yet not in the same degree as was lately the
case. Skirtings to all widths are dull ; and heavy
goods labour under an unrelieved depression.
ROCHDALE, MoNDAir,--We have had a good
market to-day, but not so many
,pieces were sold as