The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-14 00:00:00

THE BRITISH ARMT IN PERSIA.

(Prom the Times' Correspondenk)
MOHAMMER&H, APRIL 6.
My last gave you an account of the capture of
this place on the 26th ult., and the precipitate
flight of the large Persian army. Without baggage-
cattle to carry the camp equipages we could not, of
course, follow them up, so without loss of time Sit
James ordered a small expedition to be got ready
with all despatch, in order to track the enemy on
the banks of the Karoon river. This expedition
consisted of three small river steamers—viz., the
Comet, Planet, and Assyria (the first of which
only is armed), one gunboat, and three cutter*

under the command of Acting Commodore Ren-
nie, of the Indian Navy, and 300 men from her
Majesty's 64th and 78th, under the command of
Capt. Hunt, of the latter corps. Several of Sir
James's staff also accompanied them, and Captain
Kemball, political agent at Bagdad. The expedi-
tion left at noon on the 29th, and on the 31st dis-
covered a second trace of the Persian army, from
which it appeared that they had five guns with
them, and another wheeled conveyance, found out
afterwards to be the Shazadah's carriage. Here
it seems that one of the gun carriages had been
disabled, and the gun accordingly put into' a
boat, which was afterwards captured. On near-
ing Akwaz, on the morning of the Ist, the
Persian army was discovered occupying a strong
position on the right bank of the river. Here the
military party landed, on the left bank, and pro-
ceeded to Akwaz, the gunboats opening fire upon
the enemy. Almost at the first sight of our prepa-
rations the large host, consisting of about 8,000
men, took to flight, and retreated hurriedly in the
direction of Dizful, while hordes of Arabs were ob-
served hanging on their rear, ready to plunder or
harass them. The expedition remained two days
at Akwaz, communicating with the Arab tribes,
and securing or destroying large heaps of grain
which had been stored there by the Persians.
number of mules and sheep were also captured and
brought down by the steamers, and 150 new stands
of muskets in cases. This done, the little band re-
turned to Mohammerah, which they reached on the
4th inst.
The moral effect of this little affair will be great
in these part-, for the Persians had boasted that
no force we could bring against Mohammerah could
take it in less than a year, and, confident in this
overweening security, they had made no prepara-
tions for an orderly retreat. It is clear that the
Persian army in this quarter is utterly disorganizA
and can Bever make head against us. It was the
intention of Sir James to have -moved up a suffi
cient part of our force to occupy Shnster, and to
put the troops into summer quarters in that repo'
tedly healthy locality, and to have . taken the re'
mainder himself to disperse the Serkeseckshißasbi's
army before Bushire. The men, indeed, have a great
lo n ging to meet this gentleman, whose name theyhave
curtailed into " Cheeky Bashi ;" but lo I all our
schemes are for the present held in abeyance 11
the news, which arrived yesterday, that peel
was signed in Paris on the 4th ult. What will
be done next no one appears to know. It is
clear, however, that the authorities at home can''
not have heard of our victory at Khushab, mum
less of our late successes here. If Feruk Woo
has given in to all our' just demands so much the
better ; but if not, and we have patched up an LT
glorious peace when- our position enabled us to a,°
something better, let the blame fall where it
due. We are quite of opinion that some of our
demands were not what they ought to be—ths
too much consideration was given to petty o 0111,;
plaints of the Mission, many of which were Of
offspring of undignified behaviour on the part
some of our own officials. Nevertheless, there W
a just cause for the war, and it is sincerely to 1';
hoped that in any arrangement that has been ran..
full atonement and indemnity have been secury"
The nation may rest assured that, had the elceell.
tion of the negotiations been left with Sir Jame°,.
to whose hands, we understand, they were c°l32:,
mitted—this result would have been attained el;
he left the soil of Persia. Now we are in the der,
as to what has been done at Paris or in Downing

street.
tii°
The people here are refilling the town, an 11,
Arabs from all quarters are sending in their
mission. "Never leave us ; never let the
sians return," is their constant cry. The ba
are now open, and provisions coming in a".ot
dance. Though no authority has been placed "
the town, hardly a complaint has been brongto
in, and when such occurs, even of a religre,
nature, the people' prefer bringing it to our et A..
lain, Sir James's Arabic interpreter, than to 0°
ing the decision of their own ulema.

The
ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT COLLEG.•
yes'
annual general meeting of this institution took place tbs
terday at the office in Soho-square, the Right n. It
Earl Manvers, president of the college, in the Ch seas-
appeared by the report, which was read by the :,00-
tary, that the institution was making the nacst 0;01411
tory progress in every way, and was receiving cduring
support on all hands. The annual subscriptions dos-
the past year amounted to 2,7691., the ordinary hovel
tions to 2,8761., and the special donations to the :iveoh
fund to 2,7601. At the close of the ordinary bilf con'
the meeting was made special for the purpose
councilof
firming an agreement entered into between the °pot
01 the college and the Devoa aid Exeter DITOOO/,
Medical Society, for the transfer to the college:ow:live?
stock on very favourable terms. The Pr hooter,'
which were throughout of the most friendly c „oiden'
terminated with a vote of thanks to the noble Pe
of the college, who occupied the chair.