The Sun.
London, England, 1821-09-22 00:00:00

INDIA.

A more correct idea may be formed from the
annexed letters, than from any account yet pub-
lished, of the degree in which the British force
suffered in the late Expedition against the Arab
tribe of Beni 800 Ali :

Camp near Zoa, Coast of Arabia, Feb. 23, 1821.

We arrived here on the 29th ult., and have been' delayed ever
since, in consequence or an insufficiency.of carriage. However,
the Imaun of Muscat (who is now here) has supplied us with
1,000 camels, and we move to-morrow morning. Our force
consists of the 65th regiment, Bombay European regiment, Ist
battalion 2d regiment, Ist battalion 7th regiment, flank batta-
lion ; one troop of horse artillery, 50 foot artillery, and one
company of pioneers. Beni 800 Ali is about 50 miles in the
interior. On the 10th instant about midnight, from 400 to 500
of. these Beth 800 Ali fellows came suddenly on the picket on
the left of the line (where the European regiment, and Ist bat-
talion 2d regiment, were), cut it up, and entered the lines sword
in hand; killed one officer, Captain Parr; nine Europeans,
and three Sepoys ; wounded three officers, Colonel Cox, Lieu-
tenants Burnett and 'Watkins : twenty Europeans and seven
Sepoys. We were pitched in a straggling manner, and
could have no idea of these fellows coming so far to
pay us a visit, consequently were not prepared, or much on
the alert. The pickets were not even loaded. The confusion,
as you may well imagine, was dreadful. The Arabs were in
the lines before the least alarm was given. They cut down the
tents, and speared and hacked at the men, while so situated, in
a horrid manner. The officers were wounded between their own
lines and the men's. On retiring, the Arabs. left behind them
12 killed and 25 wounded. Since this, we have been .very much
on the alert. These Arabs are a fine brave race of men, and
particularly dexterous with the sword. The way our people are
cut and mangled is astonishing. Some have their heads split
down to the neck and shoulder. They use straight double-
edged swords as sharp as razors. The effect of such a weapon
in the hands of a muscular Arab is, I can assure you, sweeping
BOMBAY, APRIL 10.—My last to you was dated Zoa, the
day previous to our march. We reached Ben 800 Hassan, about
four miles from Beni 800 Ali, on the Ist of March, and moved
on against the latter place on the 2d, having our heavy guns
and camp equipage under a strong guard.—ln moving round
the place we were filed upon, which occasioned us a few casual-
ties. Whilst the General was reconnoitring, a body of Arabs
were observed to leave the fort ; on which the line made a
moveinent to the left, and our brigade (65th regiment and Ist
battalion 7th regiment Bombay Native Infantry) advanced on
a wood, where the enemy had taken post, and when within
about 200 yards of it, they sallied out, sword in hand, passed
along
our line under heavy fire numbers of them falling, and
attached the 7th regiment in flank, and got into their rear,
where we had pretty tough work of it while it lasted, which was
not above a quarter of an hour; the 7th regiment losing three
officers, and 150 Men killed and wounded; the 65th regiment,
three officers and 40 Men ; the two regiments united mustered
in the field 710 &docks ; the attacking party of Arabs about
900. After this thrush we moved on towards the fort, Which,
after a little shelling and battering, surrendered unconditionally.
Five hundred of these fellows were killed and about 301).
wounded.

'We
butied the remains of the bodies of those who fell in
Captain Thompson's unfortunate affair. It was a horrid sight :
they had all been left to bleach and dry in the sun, and had been
dreadfully hacked. From all I can learn, these poor fellows
fought and fell nobly. This Beni 800 Ali business has cost us,
at first and last, eight officers killed, eight wounded, upwards of
450 men killed, and about 250 wounded. I ought not to forget
to tell you, that we blew up the place, and destroyed every house
and shelter rear it. -

I must here observe, that I never saw nor can imagine any
thing more determined and resolute than the attack of these
Wahabees.—No men could have displayed more bravery when
worsted. Some of them absolutely sold their lives. They were
armed merely with swords and light spears : many of the swords
were real " Andrew Feraras ;" their execution I shi;l not
readily forget. The shock we received from the charge made
us reel and stagger again, indeed fall back a trifle ; but we soon
recovered ourselves. Our Sepoys behaved nobly, particularly
the Rajapoots, whO used the bayonet with great effect.
We returned to Zoa on the 11th of March, embarked on the
17th, sailed on the 111th, and reached Bombay on the 27th. We
brought with us the two chiefs, and about MO prisoners. The
old men and wounded were left with the Imaum of Muscat.- .
We may therefore regard the tribe of Beni 800 An as com-
pletely scattered and destroyed. Gen. Smiti: goes round to
Bengal, on the Staff of that Establishment.

ECCENTRIC BENEVOLENCE.--The great Duke of MO N'.
TAOUE was not less remarkable for his wit and humour, than
for acts of benevolence, which he conferred in a manner peculiar
to himself ; the following fact is an instance :—His Grace ob-
served for some days a middle aged man in a military dress,
the lace of which was much tarnished, and the cloth worn thread-
bare, appear at a certain hour in the mall of St.. James's Park,
with a kind of mournful solemnity, or ruminating by himself
on one of the seats, without noticing any thing that passed._.
This Gentleman his Grace fixed upon as a fit object for one of
his frolics. - Upon inquiry, he learned that he was an unfirtu-
nate reduced officer, who having expended the whole of his
little property in the purchase of his commission, was after hav-
ing behaved in the field with the greatest of gallantry, placed
on the half-pay list, with a wife and several children to support,
whom he had been obliged to- send into Yorkshire, to subsist
on the moiety of his slender income. These particulars af-
forded new scope to the Duke's genius. Some time after,
when every thing had been priyared, he watched an opportu-
nity, as the Captain was sitting alone, as usual, on one of
the benches, and sent a person to him with hi.;
ments and an invitation to dinner the next day. When
he came, the Duke received him with particular marks of civi-
lity, and taking him aside, with an air of great secrecy and im-
portance, told him that he had desired the favour of his com-
pany to dinner, chiefly on account of a Lady, who had long had
a particular regard for him, and had expressed a great desire to
be in his company, which her situation made it impossible to
accomplish without the assistance of a friend, and 'he had taken
the liberty to bring them together, whatever opinion the world
Might entertain of his conduct. Duringi this discourse the Duke
enjoyed the profound astonishment and various changes of con-
fusion, that appeared in the Captain's face. At this moment
word was brought that the dinner was served ; the Captain en-
tered the dining-room with great curiosity and wonder, but how
much more was his wonder increased when lie saw at table his
own wire and children ! . The Duke had began his frolic by
sending for them from Yorkshire, and had as much if not more
astonished the Lady, as he had her husband, to whom he took
care she 'should haye no opportunity of sending a letter. After
dining, his Grace's solicitor was introduced, who pulled ow,t a
deed that the Duke was to sign. and who was directed to read it
aloud, when, to complete the adventure and the confusion and
astonishment of the poor Captain and his wife, the deed appear-
ed to be a settlement which the Duke had made upon them, of
a genteel sufficiency for life, which having signed and sealed, he
delivered into the Captain's hand, desiring him to accept it
without compliment, " for added his Grace, " I assure you
it is the last thing I should have done, if I had knoivn how to
have employed my money and time more -to my own satis-
faction."