the plunder; but, finding the British Commissioner firm in his demands, he eventually consented to give up part of the property and pay compensation for the rest. A draft treaty for the cession of Aden was laid before the Sultan, to which he gave his verbal consent and promised formally to agree after consulting his Chiefs. In this draft the amount of compensation to he paid for Aden was left undetermined, hut it was afterwards arranged that an annual payment of 8,700 crowns should he made. On 22 January 1838 Sultan Muhsin sent a letter under his seal, engaging to make over Aden, after two months, but stipulating that his authority over his people in Aden should be maintained after the cession. To the continuance of the Sultan's jurisdiction the British Agent objected. The Sultan replied that he was willing to abide by the terms first offered: but, if these were not accepted, his letter of 22 January should be returned to him. Negotiations were at this stage when a plot was laid by Ahmed, the Sultan's son; to seize the Agent and rob him of his papers, and delivery of the property stolen from the wreck of the Deria Dowhit was also refused. Preparations were therefore made to coerce the Sultan. On 19 January 1839 Aden was bombarded and taken, and the Sultan and his family fled to Lahej. On 2 February peace was made in the Sultan's name by his son-in law, and on 18 June the Sultan himself signed a Bond, engaging to maintain peace and friendship with the British Government, who agreed to pay him and his heirs 6,500 dollars a year, and likewise to pay the stipends which the Sultan was bound to give to the Fadhili, Haushabi and Amiri tribes. Peace, however, was soon after broken by an unsuccessful attempt made by Sultan Muhsin in November 1839 to retake Aden, and the payments were therefore stopped. A second attack was made in May 1840 was also unsuccessful, and the repulse of a third attack in July of the same year completely disheartened the Arabs for a time. In 1843 Sultan Muhsin came to Aden and sued for peace. An Engagement was made on 11 February 1843. which the British government considered in the light of an agreement to be observed between the Political Agent and the Sultan, but not of a treaty to be