'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎128] (147/622)

128
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY.
or upwards, in total strength, half an hour before day-break
this morning. The promptitude in manning the works, with
the excellent practice with the guns, completely defeated an
attempt, which for secrecy and suddenness in the onset, bears
testimony to the hardihood and skill of the enemy. The defence
of the upper works was also excellent, while the highly valuable
services of the 4 Euphrates' launch, under Lieutenant Hamilton,
contributed mainly to the success" with which it has pleased the
Almighty to bless us; our loss being nothing, whilst that of
the enemy could not have been short of one hundred.
" The Hon. the Governor in Council has much gratification
in noticing the judicious arrangements of Commander Haines,
the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , and Lieutenant-Colonel Capon, and the
courage and firmness which were displayed by the whole of the
force at Aden, both European and Native, on the occasion of
the attack made on that place by a formidable body of Arabs
on the morning of the 11th inst., when the assailants were
successfully repelled, happily without any casualty occurring
on the side of the British. The officers and men of the Military
and Naval Services have merited the approbation and thanks
of Government for their distinguished conduct on this occasion,
which has been brought to the favourable notice of the Hon.
the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. ."
The annual subsidy paid to the Abdali chief was now stopped,
and the town of Shugra, together with the whole of the Foud-
theli coast, was blockaded by the cruisers of the Indian Navy.
On the 21st of May, 1840, a second attack was made upon
Aden by the united Arab tribes in the pay of the Sultan of
Lahej. On that day a party of about two hundred and fifty
men made a daring and successful attempt to enter the works,
by creeping unobserved round the left flank, but they were
driven out after having inflicted and received some slight loss*
^ An anonymous writer—and, in those days, the Indian Press gave too ready
insertion to articles attacking private character by such cowardly methods—wrote
to the ' Bombay Courier,' making the following accusation against Commander
Haines, the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. :—
" Captain Haines gave out that he saw the whole affair, and commanded one
of the gunboats, which fired on the enemy as they retreated. He was snugly on
board the ' Charger,' three miles off, and was seen to come up to the scene of
action in his gig, just as it was all over. At first we were beginning to give him
credit for his gallantry, till the captain of the £ Circassian,' a coal ship, undeceived
us, as he saw Captain Haines getting into his gig from the ' Charger,' as he passed
up in his own boat." This attack drew forth the following vindication of the
gallant officer by Captain McQueen, of the ' Mary Mitcheson,' merchantman: " I
read with much surprise in your paper of the 13th instant purporting to be an
extract of a letter written from Aden, that Captain Haines did not reach the field
of action till all was over. Fair play and justice I do like to see upheld, and I beg
distinctly to state that this officer left the ' Charger,' on board of which vessel he
was living, at least twenty minutes before either Captain Sproule of the ' Cir
cassian ' or myself quitted our ships, and that when the gunboats were stationed.
Captain Haines was there directing the force, from which by far the most execu-