The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-30 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE POLITICAL AGENT.

FROM COMMANDER FELIX JONES, 1,N., POLITICAL AGENT
WITH THE FORCES, AND RESIDENT IN THE PERSIAN
GULF, TO IL L. ANDERSON, ESQ , SECRETARY TO GO-

VERNMENT, BOMBAY. -
Residency in the Persian Gulf, Bushire,',Dec. 13, 1856.
Sir—My last despatch made known my retirement
from Bushire. I now continue the report of my pro-
ceedings to the present date, in connexion with the ex-
peditionary force in this Gulf.
On the 29th November a detachment of the fleet—
Feroze, steam frigate, towing two merchant ships and
corvette Falkland—first hove in sight of Buthire, and
dispelled the prevailing idea that the force would not
quit the shores of India. This illusion I had been able
?0 maintain perfect to the last moment, though the ob-
ject I bad c intemplateel of an immediate descent on the
coast Jaile!, from the fleet being scattered in various
parts of the Gulf. It was not, indeed, until the 6th iust.
that they were sufficiently collected to admit of direct
operations being commenced ; but in the meantime, the
Island of Karrack was occupied and formed into a mili-
tary depot, as reported in my despatch to Mejer-General
Stalker, under date 4th inst.
Toe day subsequent to the arrival of the first shin
the Governor of Busbire wrote to me officially on the
subject of the display before the town ; but, as I was
then about proceeding to meet the general, some
off at sea, an answer to his inquiries was delayed, as
shown in the accompanying letters. On the 3 1 Dcc.
the Governor-General's proclamations were sent to him
officially, with the sanction of the mejor-general com-
manding the force. To these there was no rep'y.
On the 6th inst. the fleet moved down to Hultile Bey,
which Commodore Erhersey had pronsunced the best
suited for the debarkation of the force ; and no spot
could have been better selected. Dispositions were made
for landing the force on the following morning, when it
was effected in admirable order, though not unobserved
by the enemy,mall parties of whom were driven from
their lurking-places in the dale groves by the fire of the
gunboats and well-directed shot from the steam frigat
Ajdaha, commanded by Lieut. Worsley.
Shortly after noon the force was enabled to edvance
from the beach and take up an exttnded front before the
enemy, seen at intervals watching our movements, a &ivy
miles in advance. Great difficulties, however, had to be
contended with in landing the cavalry horses and artil
lery equipage, from a paucity of native boats, which I
had failed in procuring from the Arab coasts, owing to
the impracticability of dealing with the people in Leo
[Dents of emergency and need. These difficulties were,
however, readily surmounted by the skill arid activity
of the Indian naval officers and men, whose exertions
on this occasion merit the highest praise. These exer-
tions were fully appreciated by their associates in arms,
not less active in their endeavours to get at the enemy

with the least possible delay.
Forty-eight hours sufficed to put the troops in motion
northward, the chips of war, led by the admiral, advaiic
ing along the c past to their Eupport. This uas on the
rnornirg of the 9th, and by noon the enemy were ob-
served to be in some force in the village of lt,?shire.
Here, amid the ruins of old houseF, garden-walls, aid
steep ravines, they occupied a formidable position. But,
notwithstanding their firmness, wall after wall was
surmounted, and finally they were driven from their
last defence (the old fort of Resbire), bordering on the
cliffs at the rncrgin of the sea. This was carried at the
point of the bayonet, the enemy then only flying in
despair down the cliffs, where many met their death in
their endeavours to escape through the ravines of the
south. The nature of the ground, however, rendered
pursuit difficult to the horse, though many were cut up
in a chase •f some distance. Details of this spirited

affair will be given by the proper officers. I shall there-
fore merely observe, that the enemy received at first a
lesson be will not reidily forget, for the tribe families
of Dashti and Tungestoon comprising its ranks are re-
garded as the most brave as well as the ino.t skilled in
the defence of posts like Reshire, where regular troops
cannot work with full effect. Brigadier Stopforii, C.B ,
met his death here, and other less was experienced. The

wounded were received into the ships the same evening,
and provisions were thrown into the camp frum seaward

during the night.
It had been agreed upon that I should proceed in
parson to the town of Bushire in a small steamer with a
flag of truce, bearing the accompanying copy of a sum-
mons to f urrender, with the tenni offered to the garri-
son. While the above was enacting, I proceeded on this
errand, with the humane object also of receiving such of
the merchants as might be desirous of shelter in the
fleet. This was quite in accordance with the wishes of
the Government of India in regard to the inhabitants of
Bushire ; and the major-general, the admiral, and
myself were induced to believe that my pre,ence near
them might tend to avert, much Woodshed. In th.s,
however, we were die tppoiated, for on parsing througn
the intricate channel leading to the town, two batteries,

as a distance of 500 yard; opened upon tha Assyria
hearing the flag of truce, in defiance of ali wiage of war

Deendug it might be a mistake, I caused the vessel to
stop, bot a second and a third shot pas,ing close to us,
I was compelled to retrace my steps, and even then two
more guns were discharged. I c.)uld scarcely account
for such conduct, having taken some pains to explain the
meaning of a flag of truce, iu the event of warfare, before
quitting the town ; but-, while relating the circumstance
to Rear-Admiral Sir H. Leeke, a fl ,g of truce from the
shore was reported, and the bearer (Nlirza. Ismail, col•
lector of customs in the town) came off with a written
apology from the Governor, who, with the chief officers
of the garrison, were stated tu have been outside of the
walls examining into the condition of the exterior de-
fences at the time; every regret was expressed ; the act
was attributed to the ignorance of an artillerymar, wit
hopes that it would be overlooked. To this the anmiral
and self replied, that so far as we were personally con-
cerned, we were willing to credit the statements of the
Governor alai accepted the apology, though the act in
itself, in•whatever way originating, must stigmatise the
Persian Government and its officals in the eyes of all
civilised states. Mirza Ismail returned with a summons
to the shore.

While this was going on, a note from the Major-Gene-
ral commanding announced his intention of advancing on
the town the following morning, and the admiral disposed
his fleet in order of battle, for first di,mantling the newly-
erected outworks, and then moving with the view to
breaching the south wall of the town. The following
morning, as the tide served, the ships were in the posi-
tions assigned them. A second flag of truce had come
off begging twenty-four hours' delay, but this was
promptly rejected, and at near 8 o'clock the signal was
hoisted to engage. Shot and shell were aimed at the
redoubt south of the town, but with little eir,ct, owing
to the great range, though eventually the enemy assem-
bled there to oppose the troops were dislodged, and beat
a retreat with their guns into the town. The ships, in
the meantime, had moved upon the town, and such was
' the ardour displayed to get close in to the works, that
every ship was laid aground at the turn of high water,
and for four hours continued to cannonade the defences,

which were active in replying the whole time. Many of
their guns, however, were not of sufficient calibre to I
reach the ships, but the perseverance of the Persian
gunners in firing from the more heavy pieces was ad-
mired by every one. Their shot told very often on the
hulls of the Victoria, Falkland, Semiramis, ant Feroze,
which latter vessels, under tiaptain John Young and
Commander James Rennie (if comparisons are admis-
sible where all exerted themselves alike) had the posts of
honour for the day. Details of the affair it is unneces-
sary for me to enter upon. It will suffice for me to report
that some of the guns being silenced, on the approach of
the army under Major-General Stalker, C. 8., to broils's
the wall on the gate side before assault, the Persian
flagstaff was felled in token of submis4on. This was at
noon. The Persian flag has since been recovered by
myself, and presented as a joint trophy to the chiefs
conducting the combined operations in this expedition,
who, with every officer and many in it, whether soldier
or sailor, have certainly won for themselves an honour-
able name.
After surrender, some little hesitation was shown on
the part of the governor and garrison to elm° out of the
town. An assuring note, coupled with the threat of an
assault in half an hour, war, however, sent in by a freed
captive ; and on the expiration of the time that officer
was seen issuing with his suite from the qte. I moved
forward with a party to receive and conduct him to
head-quarters, where, after tendering his sword, he met
with a gracious reception from the major-general and
the rear-admiral commanding the forces. Shortly after-
wards the sirhang, or lieutenant-colonel and command-
ant, submitted, the entire garrison at the same time
laying down their arms, on my proceeding into the town
with assurances of safety from the major-general com-
manding-in-chief. The British colours were then hoisted
at 4.30 p.m., on the Residenee Flagstaff by Lieut.
Clarkson, of the Indian navy, the troops under orders to
garrison the town moving at sunset into the'place.
Since the occupation I have been engaged with my
assistant, Lieut. Diabrowe, in giving confidence to the
townspeople, securing the magazines, granaries, and
other public stores, endeavouring to re-open the bazaars,
and in adopting measures for the public safety, as well
as in taking steps for obtaining supplies. Owing to the
distrust naturally prevailing amongst suspicious people
quite new to us, and generally ignorant as to our usages
and institutions, we have some difficulty to contend
with. Time, however, will aid to dispel fears, to restore
oonfidence, and eventually, I hope, secure to us all we
require. I must not conceal, however, that oar chief
local supplies of fresh meat, grain, Ica., must be drawn
from Bnareh and Bagdad, and boats are not readily pro-
curable. A large quantity of coal should, therefore, be
stored both here and at Busreh, for the use of steamers,
those of small size being best adapted for this service ;
they should not fail us, for,
in any case, to insure cattle
living, the voyage should be shortened as much as pos-
sible by their taking boats in tow.
No intelligence of any kind has come in from the
interior, but I may be able to glean some in a few dam
, .