The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-21 00:00:00

lerymen rendered It impossible to find tools. The itnaum pro,
posed setting fire to-them ; I objected to it, on the ground that
it would be the signal of dispersion to his folloWers, and of pur-
suit to the nerdy. But I prompted the - Bedouing to remove
every thiiig which Could he carried off; and. I apprehend
very little was: left to the chance of falling into the hands of the
enemy.
„ .
As soon as the Ithaum began to move the sick were placed
upon camels, but it was found impossible to procure them for
any other purpose. • After proceeding eight miles, the imam
proposed moving Upon. Muscat, from a belief that the passes ter
Soor would be occupied by the enemy. The march Was con-
tinued at intervals during the night, arid the next morning the
detachment reached Uhubly. The retreat lying"through a line
of country belonging to the Imaum, was not interrupted. His
Highness, with myself and Dr.. Fallon, and the remains of the
detachment, arrived at Muscat on the 17th.
. During the whole of these circumstances, the Imaum
played-an admirable character, and, though wounded, persisted
in remaining with the detachment, and causing it to be sUpplied
with provisions, camels, shoes, and every assistance which his
country could affiird.
Idis Highness is anxious to return to the attack, if he can
be furnished with the assistance of a body of European troops.
In hopes of facilitating this object, L have written to the officer
in command of the troops reported to be in Scind or Cutch; to
ask whether an European and a native battalion can-be sent to
the assistance of his Highness. I have also proposed the bring-
ing .of four brass twelve-pounder guns, with ammunition, which
the lirtaum is of Opinion. would be sufficient for the defences,
and of two howitzers of -horse'artillery, with harness, for which
his. Highness engages to find horses. Against an enemy of the
habits of the Wahabees, field artillery would appear to be of
very limited utility, unless it is small in number and peculiarly
well provided with the means of motion ' • and on the late occa-
sion, the principal object in bringing forward the guns was,
that they might be conveyed to their position against the de-
fences, under convoy of the whole force.
I have dispatched the above letter on the chance of its pro-.
clueing an advantageous effect in the event of troops with ves-
sels being "on'the *Ant of leaving Cutch, and shall.proceed to
make such preparations as are in my power at Deristan, for co-
operating with his Highness ; .at the same time I shall be anx-.
ious to receive the communications of Government upon the
subject.
_ _

E-vents have shewn that the whole line of operations, either
from Soor or from Muscat, is in possession of the Imaum, and
his town of Beni Bon Hassan is 'within three- miles f the
enemy. The Imaum is of opinion that the towns of Beni Bon
Hassan and Hishem will be under the necessity of Making a
temporary accommodation with the enemy ; but that it will last
only till his re-appearance in force. As a mark of the feelings
of the country, some Europeans of the Artillery who escaped
from the combat were concealed for four days in Beni Bon
Hassan, and sent down on camels to Soor. No accident or dis-
appointment occurred throughout, till the troops gave way be-
fore the sword. What occurred when they were supported by
two thousand of the Imaum's troop's at. Beni Bon Ali, would
have occurred without the Imaum at Alashkara ;,and the forma
mode of advance, as far as there have been opportunities for
'judging, would appear still to be the safest.
A boy came-into the troops at Beni BOn Hassan on the niorn;.
ing of the combat, who says he belongs to Bombay, and was
taken five years ago with four other boys, in a, vessel with
two masts.and twenty-six hands, "Nacl,odah's name Ibrahim,
bound to Muscat with rice;' the vessel's name he has forgotten.
He says the Arabs disniissed the restOf the crew, took out the
rice, and set the vessel on fire.—Three of the boys, he says,
remain at-Beni Bon Ali, and one is gone he knows not whither.
Two boys belonging 'to Mangalore have also come down to
Soor, and are mboard his Majesty's sloop Curlew.—These in-
cidents identify the Beni Bon Ali with piratical operations.
In concert with the Imaum I have taken measures for sending
the remains of the detachment as quickly, as possible to Denis-
tan. His Highness has offered two pieces with limbers,
for the same place, which I have accepted. He appears afraid
of being disturbed on that side by the Arabs, where there have
already been some disputes on fife subject of boundaries. I
have assured him that the resources of the British will be every-
where at his disposal if required.
I have determined on sending to Bombay the two officers
mentioned in a former part of this letter, with directions to re-
port their arrival to the Adjutant-General of, the army. lay
sole reason for not placing them under arrest without delay is,
that suclica proceeding might involve a necessity for publishing
at the head of every regiment in- India; that a detachment-of
sepoys had been deserted by its officers ; and. I would not do
what might confine the Government to any specific course. At
the same time I shall transmit charges to the Adjutant-Gene-
ral with lists of evidence against -the event, of its appearing to
be desirable to proceed in that manner.
The loss of the detachment engaged, has necessarily been
most severe, as must always be the case when troops wait to be
attacked with the sword, and then give way. Of the officers' in
the action, Lieutenant Boswell, Ist battalion 2d regiment, and
myself, are the only ones hitherto known to survive ; Lieur
tenant Morley and Gidley, and Sub-AssistantSurgeon Fallon,
were not in the action in 'the morning. I beg leave to .notice
the services of Dr. Fallon, as having been extensively useful
during the defence made in Beni Bon Hasian, and during the
march to Muscat ; and as being thg only officer able to be of
any assistance who staid by me and the detachment, and arriv-
ed with them at'Muscat, Lieut. Boswell having been incapable
of duty, from fatigue and injuries received. The number of
men who retUrned.with me to Muscat, or who arrived at Soor
after the action, amounts to four hundred and forty six, of
whom one half are followers. _

I feelstrongly convinced of Fthe necessity for the permanent
residence of at least two European companies at Deristan, to
make the detachment efficient for the purposes for which it is
designed.

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) T. P. THOAIPSON,
Captain 17th Light Dragoons, Commissioner and Agent.

COUNTRY MARKETS. AND FAIRS,

-DURING THE' LAST WEER.

iNlay 12.

Wheat, 57s 3d ; Rye, Os Od ; Barley, 24s Od ; Oats, 20s Od ;
Beans, 29s 6d; Hog Pease, —s Od; Pale Malt, 62s Od per
quarter; Oatmeal, 23s Od per bowl of 14011 is; Find Flour, per
sack, 45$ Od ; Seconds; 43s Od ; Thirds, 40s Od. •
MAIO, ET HARBOROUGFI, May IS.— Wheat, —s a ;
Rye, —s a s; Barley, 2ls a 235; Oats, las a 21s ; Beans, old,
—s; Pease —s a—s ; Malt_---•3 a —s; Fine Flour per_sadk, 46s ;
Seconds, 445; Thirds, 418.

, „ .
VeeiNcn.Am, May 16.—Wheat, 44s a BAs; Barley, 22s a
24s ; Oats; 20s a 22s ; Beans, —s a —s—Old, —s.
Lou GHBOROU GU, May -I 7.Wheat, 60s; Barley, . 265;
Oats, I 8s; Beans, —s ; Malt, 64s ; Fine Flour, per sack;
47s ; Seconds, 44s ; Thirds, 42s Od. •
EX!..T 1:14$ May 17.—Peice,of Wheat per bushel,- Gs 9ji.l.