The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-25 00:00:00

S PATE OF AFFAIRS AT ADEN.,
ADEN, AIIGUST.—My letter of the 19th will have in-
formed Yon. that a large body of Arabs had been col-
lected together, and commanded by a fanatic named
Sheik Ismail, for the purpose of attacking Aden.; and
also of the affair at cur outpost with a reconnoiter-
ing party of the enemy early in the morning of the 17th.
It has since been ascertained that their loss on that oc-
casion was 22 men in killed and wounded, and among'
the former a chief, the leader of the party, which con-
sisted of 300 men. They were not discovered till within
200 yards of our works ; when discovered, they fired a
volley of matchlocks, but on the guns opening on them,
they instantly fled.
In the morning a party was sent out in front, who
brought in two Arabs badly wounded by grape. A
quantity of arms were also brought in, and several dead
bodies were seen in the plain, which they had not been
able to carry off in their precipitate retreat. The
wounded are under the care of Doctor Malcomson,
the civil and staff surgeon. Since that time large re-
inforcements have joined the Sheik from the various
tribes. It is not certain whether any of the chiefs have
cordially embarked in his cause, with the exception of
the Soultan of Lahedge—a treacherous cowardly man, to
whom Aden formerly belonged, and to regain possession
of which there is no crime which he would hesitate to
commit. No treaties, however sacred or solemn, will
bind him. Good faith is to him unknown.
Shaik Ismail lies encamped at a village and mosqu'
called Shaik Othman, on the other side of a small creek,
across which there is a bridge, but fordable in most
places at low water. This temple is a very conspicuous
object from Western-bay, where the steamers coal, anti
is distant from the Turkish about four miles and a half,
with a good road the whole distance. In this position
the enemy are distinctly seen with a glass from almost
every part of our works. They are calculated to be
about 8,000, of whom 5,000 or 6,000 may be considered
armed and fighting men. They are principally furnished
with provisions from Lahedgc. The other chiefs,
amongst whom the Shaik has, doubtless, considerable
influence, supply his wants to a certain extent. He
seems to be in _no great hurry to precipitate an
attack till he has collected a respectable force and
matured all his plans. His arrangements certainly
appear to have assumed a degree of system which has
never hitherto been observed amongst the Arabs during
former attacks. All our supplies and communications
with the interior are entirely cut off ; and though at such
a very short distance, and under our glass, hardly any-
thing, in fact nothing whatever, is actually known, either
as to his force, who they are, or what are his resources
and plans. On one occasion he sent in to say, that he
was not come as a thief to attack us at night, but that
he would come and show himself in open day. In this
instance he most certainly fulfilled his promise. Oa the
morning of the 27th, at half-past eight, a heavy column
was seen leaving their camp at Shaikh Othman, and
marching down to the bridge over the creek above-men-
tioned, which they crossed in tolerable crier and
firmness. They extended themselves across the low
isthmus which connects Aden to the main, formed
into three distinct columns, and, sat down just out of
range of our guns. A few round shot and shell were fired
at them from the forts and gun-boats,-which did not reach
them. They evidently did not like the appearance of our
works now fully manned, and, after waiting about hour,
they quietly formed themselves into two columns, and
leisurely marched back to their camp. It is most
probable that be did not intend an attack, which, in an
open plain, swept by a numerous and well-served artil-
lery, would have been nothing short of madness, but
merely as a demonstration, to accustom his men to the
ground over which they would have to march to attack,
to the appearance of the place, the works how and where
manned, and another important matter—the sound of
our guns ; and to try to impress on their minds that
guns are not such formidable things as they have
hitherto considered them to be. All these circum-
stances show a foresight and precaution which indicate
that he is no novice in these affairs. As he has now so
completely invested the place on the land side, and
shows no intention to risk an action when he knows a
repulse would entirely break up his force, he may occa-
sion us much trouble before we can drive him from our
neighbourhood.
All our garrison have remained at their post under
arms day and night for the last 16 days, and must con-
tinue to do so so long as they are immediately in our

vicinity.
I regret to say that nothing further has yet transpired
regarding the reported murder of Mr. Alcock, the
master of the English schooner Highflyer, and Mr.
Wheatley, of the house of Waghorn and Co. During
the present state of affairs at Aden no vessel can yet be
sent to inquire into this melancholy occurrence.
SEPT, I.—Nothing further has been heard of the fats
of the two gentlemen mentioned above. As yet no
vessel can be dispatched to learn particulars. The
Arab force, which has remained before our works for
the last 18 days, broke up yesterday, after some dis-
putes which led to partial fighting amongst themselves.
It has now been fully ascertained that no chief joined
the standard of the fanatic. Many paid him a visit,
but evidently more for the gratification of their curio-
sity than from any wish or intention to make common
cause with him. In fact they were suspicious of him
and his proceedings from the beginning, as the impres-
sion which he created was that an attack on Aden was
merely a pretence that he might at his leisure collect
a fore to enable him to rob and plunder the country.
Many of the idle and wandering Arabs joined him
with that prospect in view. They will now scatter
in bands over the country, and plunder indiscrimi-
nately friend and fee. There is no sufficient reason
whatever to doubt the good faith ef the Arab tribes
with whom we have hitherto been on friendly terms ;
they have committed no overt act to authorise us to
make reprisals on them. It is true they did not'
attack and, as they might have done with the utmost
facility, drive back the Shaik utth all his followers,
three•fourths of whom belonged to tribes far remote from
Aden, and cared just as little for the Mahornetan re-
ligion as they did fer that of the Christians. They were
mercenaries, and as the Shaik could not afford them pay,
he promised them the plunder of A'en, and worked on
their ignorance and superstition by inducing them to be-
hove that he had the power to charm the gems to pre-
vent them from firing. Finding that he was an impostor
and deceiver, they have left him. He is now a prisoner,
with only 20 followers, with the chief of the Fouthlee
tribe—a bold, honourable tribe.
Our relation with the tribes is merely peace ; there
exist no treaties, either offensive or defensive, between
us. Bow, then, can we expect the m to fight our battles
We have never cultivated any friends'r.ip with them. No
exchange of civilities has ever passed between us. We
have never visited them in their towns, thou;,:,,h often
invited to do so. They are from this and gorse other
causes suspicious of us. If an intercourse was Termite('
between the officers of the garrison and chicle I am
certain that on no future occasion could a larr bow of
men remain within five miles of our post, clearly seen
with our glasses, and their drums (torn-toms) distinctly
heard by us, without our knowing who they were, how
many they were, where they came from, by whom sup-
ported, or what their intentions were, or whom likely to
attack.
In one and all of those essential points we were totally
ignorant. Had our affairs been personally known to the
chiefs, could this state of things have lasted twenty-four
hours ? No, they would have written to their friends
all requisite information, and most assuredly would have
driven the Shaik off in less than twenty-four hours.
No combined attack will ever take place on Aden ; of
that we may rest assured ; their divided interests will
never permit them to co-operate cordially or with effect
in such an undertaking, which they well know must end
in their total discomfiture. This morning supplies have
come in, and in two or three days time our usual inter-
course will have been properly established again. Should
anything further occur, I will not fail to communicate
the full particulars.
The Honourable Company's steam -frigate Atalanta
arrived here on the 30th ultimo, at half-past eight
o'clock A.li., with mail up to the 7th of August, and. 26
passengers ; she left the same at nine o'clock leer. She
brought intelligence of a very interesting nature to all
who are fond of studying the operations of nature, viz.,
the appearance of a volcano in a state of activity
in an island in the Red Sea, near the ancient and cele-
brated city of Mocha, named Zibeer. No flames had
been seen, but large, columns of smoke had been
seen to ascend from various parts of the island, which
left no doubt of its being occasioned by subterraneous
fire. We trust such a very favourable opportunity will
not be lest of examining strictly into this most curious
phenomenon, which may be productive of important
results in the navigation of the Red Sea. It is well
known that during the operations of volcanos and
earthquakes, elevations, and subsidences, both on dry
land and at the bottom of the sea, take place. All Go-
vernment vessels, steamers or otherwise, should be
directed to take a cast of the lead as frequently as pos-
sible when passing near Mocha or Zibeer
The Oriental and Peninsular Company's steamer
Precursor came in last night, at 11 nee, with 50 pas-
sengers, and India and China mails. She leaves this
evening at sunset.
All the troops continue healthy; no chelera or other
epidemic disease at the place.
Her Majesty's frigate Fox, Sir H. M. Blackwood, has
not yet arrived, though daily expected.
SHIPPING LIST. _ _

Government Vessels—Hon. Company's steam-frigate
Sesostris ; ditto schooner, Mali ; ditto block-ship,
Chorpe.
Merchant Vessels—Louisa Munro, barque ;
barque; Arachne, barque; HigHlycr, schooner.
The barque Brooke has arrived safe at Moulmein.

THE BILL AGAINST CAPTAIN RICHARDSON IG-
NORED BY THE GRAND JURY.--At a late hour on Wed-
nesday cvning, after the judges had left the Gentili!
Criminal Court, it was intimated that the grand jury
had ignored the bill, charging Captain Richardson, on
two counts, with fraud and forgery. The grand jury
examined a great number of witnesses, and it was under,
stood that they stated as their reason for ignoring the
bill, that after looking at the whole of the evidence
which had been laid before them, the majority of them
were of opinion that the words " ten pounds" had never •
been written in the cheque, and, therefore, no forgery
had been effected. They were, at the same time, satis-
fied that Captain Richardson had, by some means, ob-
i tained the signatures of his two co-trustees to a blank
cheque, and, as he was authored by a resolution of the
company to draw cheques, no fraud had been committcd;
entertaining, as the majority of the bo.'y did this view,
they had no other course to adopt than to ignore the
bill.
E A 1..
ea
N G, .---t c
hAe
ra,d as r i '.)Cgo
renaesre, of
occurredhorse-steal-
inglicsßsESir
at
hampton, on Wednesday night or Thursday Wir
y morning,ne"r
when the stable of Mr. Tupper was broken into, and a
dark brown horse, about twelve hands high, stolen. The
poor animal has since been found dead, its throat being i
tit on the canal bank, near the Cannock-Pad 136C1r•—
...
Wolverhampton Orpick.