said to contain about four hundred brick houses, and about four thousand grass ones, so intermixed that it was impossible to burn the one without many of the others undergoing the same fate; accordingly with thewhole straw houses half the others were consumed, and with them much property, leaving not above two hundred houses in Hodeida standing. The Wahabees pressed very close and did not retire before they sustained considerable loss by the fire from the forts, and by geting entangled among the burning houses; they then encamped near the wells, and next day had the mortification of seeing many of the heads of their friends, who had fallen, stuck on the walls of the fort; when they sent a message to the Dola, that if he did not surrender, the heads of him and his adherents should soon occupy their place, to which they received an answer of defiance. The inhabitants flock into Mocha daily, in boats, as fast as they find conveyance, and it is apprehended, unless assisance is afforded, Hodeida cannot hold out fourteen days longer, every supply from the country having been completely cut off for more than two months past. Indeed, it would appear they have laid aside all hopes, for the Emar Bhar, who arrived from there a few days ago, has engaged houses here for the Dola and principal people of the place; and the eight dows, which had sailed from Mocha to Loheca, and had returned to Hodeida without effecting anything, had been detained there to bring them away, should they be obliged to evacuate the place; so completely is the country, to the northward of Mocha, under the controul of the Wahabees, that the dispatches between Hodeida and Sana are obliged to pass between Hodeida and Mocha, reciprocally by sea. Accounts from Sana represent nothing but a scene of confusion there; the Wahabees joined by a part of the Hoschet Bukel are said to be encroaching fast on the Imam in that quarter, while his eldest and second sons are at open war concerning the measures to be taken : lately their parties had actually come to blows, but no certain particulars of this circumstance had been received. The government of Mocha are making great preparations for the defence of the town, by repairing the fort walls, and erecting new works, and calling in troops from the interior; but from the following circumstances all their preparations promise to be of little avail -on the 16th instant four hundred sepoys arrived here from Dorebat, sent at the Dola's request; but he would not suffer them to quarter in the town as they wished, nor agree to their demands, which he thought exorbitant; the consequence was, that in the night of the 18th of July, after plundering several of the inhabitants of the suburb, they went off, committing the like depredations on all they met with on the road;-by the last account there were not two hundred sepoys in Mocha, two-thirds of whom, together with an equal proportion of the inhabitants, wish the Wahabees in possession of it. The disturbances at Hedy-as and Yeman have had the most ruinous effect on the trade to the Arabian gulph this season, and will continue for some time; several ships bound for Judda did not proceed farther than Mocha, and sailed for Muskat, without landing any of their cargoes; and several others were about to sail from Mocha for India under like circumstances; most of the cargo which has been landed remained unsold; merchants having nothing in view but to send all their ready cash out of the country as fast as they can; long ago all the Hodeida coffee merchants, who were chiefly from Hadramant, left it for their own country. Dejeune. On Wednesday morning a numerous company of ladies and gentlemen partook of an elegant breakfast on board the honorable Company's ship Elphinstone, captain Craig, lying near the middle ground, which was distinguished by every attention that politeness and hospitality could produce. The party was honoured by the presence of the governor; and the fineness of the morning contributed to render the scene more pleasing and agreeable. Salutes were fired from the ship when the honorable the governor came on board, and on his return from the ship. Aka Husn, nephew of his excellency Hagy Kheleel Khan, the late Persian ambassador; Mirza Mehedi Ali Khan; and Meer Abdul Lateef Khan, with their attendants, were present on the above occasion; which was an agreeable novelty to them, and a pleasing variety in the hospitality and attention which has been studiously extended to the ambassador's family at this presidency, both in public and private, since his excellency's much lamented death. Fencible Regiment. On Monday afternoon the honorable Company's fencible regiment was inspected by the honorable the governor, as their colonel; the VOL 6. parade was commanded by lieutenant colonel Lechmere, and was visited by a numerous assemblage of ladies and gentlemen as spectators. In addition to the honorable the governor and his suite, we observed the recorder, the officer commanding in chief, major Malcolm, the Persian ambassador, adjutant-general, and many others. It is but justice to the officers and men of this valuable corps to mention, that the manner in which they went through their different manœuvres, reflected the highest credit on their zeal and attention, as well as upon those who have assisted in bringing it to such a state of forwardness-Sentiments, however, which are more fully expressed in the following orders, were issued by the honourable the governor on the occasion :-At a time when we are again menaced by the restless ambition of an implacable foe, it must be a pleasing reflection to every well-wisher of his country, to find that the patriotic spirit which pervades all classes in England, is equally prevalent in our British possessions in the east. The honorable the governor gave an elegant dinner to the officers of the Fencible corps, and the evening was concluded with the most convivial hilarity. Bombay Castle, Sept. 27, 1803. PRESIDENCY ORDERS. had, as colonel of the fencible corps, "The honorable the governor much satisfaction in bserving, at the inspection of it yesterday, the advanced state which the officers and men have so creditably attained in their exercise, the precision with. which they performed the several evolutions, and their general steady and soldier-like appearance under arms. "The Governor desires on this occasion to express his particular acknowledgments to lieutenant colonel Lechmere, the acting commandant, as well as to the other field officers; and likewise to the regulating officer, captains, subalterns, and adjutant.” BOTANY BAY. Extract of a Letter. On the 5th instant arrived the snow Harington, Captain Campbell, from Port Jackson, left the 9th June, and Amboyna the 28th August. By the above arrival, we learn the British establishments in the vicinity of Botany Bay are in the most flourishing condition. Agriculture is in a rapid state of improvement, and ship building carried on with success, with the timber found in the country; a coal-mine recently discovered, had also added very considerably to the progress of manufactures, and the comfort of the British inhabitants. The climate had proved salubrious beyond all expectation. The thermometer seldom rose above 74, or fell below 66.-Sickness, even among the convicts, was hardly known, and the deaths bearing no proportion to the numerous births. GENERAL ORDERS. Sidney Cove, June 5, 1803. The royal standard having been hoisted, for the first time, in this territory, on the anniversary of his Majesty's birth, his excellency is p'eased to extend the royal grace, and free pardon, to colonial licute nant of artillery and engineers, George Bridges Belasis. By command of his excellency, W. N. CHAPMAN, Secretary. Government House, June 4, 1803. CEYLON Occurrences for Sept. 1803. Barbarous Execution. During a late solemn festival held by the king of Candy, on some religious occasion, major Davy, of his Majesty's Malay regiment, and lieutenant Humphreys, of the Bengal Artillery, were brought out and executed, and that the native prisoners who then remained in possession of the king of Candy, were mutilated by cutting off their ears and noses, and dismissed to the British settlements. From the very great insubordination that prevails in many of the districts of Ceylon, the honourable governor North, has thought it expedient to put the island under martial law. HEAD QUARTERS. Columbo, September 2, 1803. G. O. By the Governor. The Governor has observed, with peculiar satisfaction, the rapid series of well-judged and well-executed operations by which captain Herbert Beaver, of the 19th regiment, has hitherto proceeded in recovering the important province of Matura, from the Canadians, and in bringing back its deluded inhabitants to their duty.— The indefatigable activity, zeal, and ability, which that officer has displayed since his assumption of the command in that district, has fully justified justified the high opinion which his beneficial effect on the native inha- (Signed) R. MOWBRAY. Act. dept. adj. gen. September 5, 1803. G. O. By major general Macdowall. The following order by his excellency the governor, is published by his desire to the troops serving at Ceylon. G. O. By the Governor. The Governor requests lieuterant Mercer to accept his thanks for the great ability, firmness and intrepidity which he has displayed in the defence of Hangwelle. He regrets, sincerely, that the health of that officer has suffered by his successful and honourable exertions; and considers it of too much value to be endangered by a longer continuance in so arduous and fatiguing a command. His excellency has heard, with great pleasure, how ably and effectually lieutenant Mercer has been seconded by lieutenant Mc Veagli, of his Majesty's 77th regiment, doing duty with the 51st, and all the officers of his detachment, and highly approves of the spirited and zealous conduct of the noncommissioned officers and privates. By his excellency's command, (Signed) R. ARBUTHNOT. Chief sec. to govt. By order of major general Macdowall. (Signed) R. MOWBRAY, Act. dept. adj. gen. Yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, the post of Hangwelle was attacked by the grand army of the Candians, supposed to be commanded by the king in person. The combat lasted for about two hours, and ended in the complete repulse of the enemy, with very considerable slaughter. We have taken a royal Canadian standard, two English 6-pounders, about one hundred stand of English muskets, various boxes of ammunition, round and grape, the creese, and sash of a Malay, of high rank, and many accoutrements. But our most important acquisition has been the recovery of our Bengal and Madras lascars, taken at Candy, to the number of more than one hundred. Many of those unfortunate men had been slaughtered by our artillery, at the beginning of the action, having been forced to serve the Candian guns. One man only on our side (Fraser of the 51st) has been wounded on † D2 this this occasion, by a spear in the thigh. Captain W. Pollock, of his Majesty's 51st regiment, who commanded in this glorious affair, gives the highest commendation to the officers and men who served under him. As the Candians have lost the artillery and the lascars, on whom they placed their chief dependence, and as a reinforcement was sent up to Hangwelle last night, under the command of captain Frederic Hankey, of his Majesty's 19th regt. we may hope for the most beneficial consequences from this event. Previous to this attack, two others had been made on the post of Hangwelle, on the 3d and 4th of this month, and repelled with great vigour by lieutenant Mercer, who then commanded: the second was attended with considerable bloodshed on the part of the enemy. Accounts from Matura still continue extremely favorable. The head-quarters of the Candians at Dindpittin, in that district, were forced by captain Beaver, on the 29th ult. and nothing but the precipitate retreat of the enemy in that, and several other occasions, prevented the greatest slaughter of them. Tranquillity is again returning so fast in that province, that captain James Shortt, of his Majesty's 51st regiment, who was detached to punish the rebellious inhabitants of Billigham, found that populous village restored to perfect quiet, and was able to restrain the execution of his orders, to the destruction of the boats and houses of the most culpable among them, who had been driven from the place, where he was received with every testimony of submission and respect. The enemy has been completely driven from the neighbourhood of Chilow, which place they had again attacked with great force, by the exertions of captain Robert Blackall and ensign White, of the 51st, who commanded separate detachments, and arrived there successively on the 30th and 31th ult. to the relief of the brave, but small garrison of sepoys and invalid Malays, which had held out with surprising perseverance under the conduct of Mr. W. E. Campbell, agent of revenue, and Mr. J. Deane, the provincial judge. Important Victory. G. O. by the Governor, 13th Sept. 1803. Capt. William Pollock, of his Majesty's 51st regiment, in command of a detachment from the garrison of Columbo, having, by a rapid succession of brilliant and important victories, driven the grand army of the Candians,.commanded by the king in person, out of the British territories, taken all their artillery, and their royal standard, recovered from them many of the malays and gun-lascars who were made prisoners, by treachery, at Candy, and finally seized the magazine and stores prepared by them at Rooanelly within their own limits, his excellency the governor is unable to express, in adequate terms, his lively sense of the great services rendered to his government by that distinguished officer, and the small, but heroic detachment he commands. He requests him, however, to accept his thanks, and to communicate them to capt. John Buchan, of his Majesty's Ceylon native infantry, capt. Frederic Hankey, of his Majesty's 19th regiment, and all the officers who have so nobly seconded his exertions, as well as to Mr. |