The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-13 00:00:00

THE PRESS, MARCH 13, 1858.

of the independent Liberals, and the prospects
of a Conservative Ministry. On all these
points Sir Arthur's remarks are moderate and
sensible ; and he brings out into bold relief
the important fact that Lord Palmerston's
idea of Foreign Policy is now obsolete, and in
opposition to the best interests and most
advanced intelligence of the country. If such
be the fact, it need hardly he added that Lord
Palmerston is obsolete too; for it was only as
Foreign Minister that he had any pretensions
to rank among English statesmen.
There is another point, however, on which
Sir Arthur has, we think, been a little incon-
siderate. He says :
It is now time, h)wever, to answer the second question
supposed to be put to the Liberals who voted against Lord
Palmerston. How is it possible for a Conservative Ministry
to stand in the face of a large Libera: majority ? The task
undertaken by Lurd Derby is indeed one encompassed
with grave difficulty, but I apprehend that is his lord-
ship's concern, and not ours.

Now, this position we beg leave to impugn. It
concerns Parliament generally that her Ma-
jesty's Government should regain something
of that stability which it possessed prior to
1853, to say nothing of 1846; but it can never
do so while any considerable portion of the
House of Commons professes an indifference
to the fate of Cabinets, and can contemplate
perpetual changes of administration as a
matter of course. These gentlemen, consci-
entious as we believe them to be, are misled
by a phantom—by the idea of a popular
assembly which controls the Government,
deliberating and voting like a small and select
council which only aspires to advise it.
Government ought to represent a clear and
comprehensive policy ; and the supporters of
such a Government must connive at minor
inconsistencies, and suppress differences of
opinion on questions of detail, for the sake of
the great end in which they all agree. Had
Lord Palmerston and his party pursued this
course, he would either never have gained or
never have lost power ; but he fell a victim to
his own inability to inaugurate an independent
and national policy, and, by clutching at a
precarious support from the Tories and
Radicals alternately, has, as we have ever pre-
dicted he would. alienated both, and lost his
popularity for life.

A Narrative of the Mission sent by the Governor-
General of India to the Court of Ava in 1855.
With Notices of the Country, Government,
and People. By Captain Henry Yule, Ben-
gal Engineers, F.R.G.S. With Numerous
Illustrations. London : Smith and Elder.

This Mission to which Captain Yule and other
scientific men were attached quitted Rangoon
on the let August, 1855, under the conduct of
Major Plutyre, who was intrusted with
the double duty of paying a visit to the
King of Ava, iit return for the complimen-
tary mission despatched by that Sovereign
in the spring of that year to Lord Dalhousie
at Calcutta, and of extracting from the
King a treaty confirming our right to Pegu•
Exactly one month was occupied in making
the voyage up the Irawadi from Rangoon to
Amarapoora, the capital. The scenery was ex-
tremely beautiful. The river, winding round
a succession of grassy islands, is banked on
either side with lofty hills densely wooded,
or undulating plains and fertile valleys,
studded with villages surrounded by hedges
and fields, or embosomed in groves of Palmyra
palms. In a word, the whole scenery is as
beautiful as wood and water and mountain
and valley in their most varied forms can make
it. Each night the squadron, consisting of
two steamers and two flats, anchored off some
convenient spot, generally a village or a town,
and after a formal interview with the authori-
ties proceeded to inspect the objects of in-
terest in the neighbourhood. We have not
space to follow Captain Yule iu his description
of the several ♦illages and towns he visited,
and of the ruins he inspected, en route to the
capital. Everywhere the members of the
Mission met with the greatest civility, and
enjoyed a personal freedom in their inspections
scarcely to be anticipated under so jealous a
Government. The local authorities entertained
them handsomely, ordered special theatrical
representations for their amusement, and gate

them every facility for visiting the surrounding
country. At Yenangyoung they inspected the
famous earth•oil or petroleum wells—a great
source of imperial revenue—and at the ancient
city of Pagan spent four days in a careful
survey of its magnificent architectural re-
mains, which, spread over a space of some
eight miles by two, embrace the ruins of
upwards of 800 superb brick temples of groat
antiquity and interest.
Arrived at length at the capital, after many
tedious discussions as to the etiquette to be
cbserved both upon landing and upon the in-
terview with the King, the Mission were con-
ducted with great state to the residence al-
lotted them on the Ist of September, and,
after many tiresome delays, on the 14th had a
state audience of the reigning Sovereign of
I3urmah. The members of the Mission had
agreed to take off their shoes at the door of
the Hall of Audience, and c.n entering the
chamber they squatted down in front of, and
at some distance from, the throne. The Hall
of Audience was a superb chamber :
The long wings of the hall formed, as it were, the tran-
septs of &cathedral; in front of us ran hack a central hall
like the choir; and in the position of the altar stood the
throne, under a detached roof which in fsct formed the
many-storied spire conspicuous from all aides of the city.
The central space was bounded by tall columns, lackered
and picked out in red towards their bases. Other rows of
columns ran along the transepts. The whole, except the
red bases of the columns, was a blaze of gilding.
One high step and four of less rise ascended to the dais
on which stood the throne. This was in character exactly
like the more adorned seats of Gautama in the temples, and
like that from which the High Poongyi preaches. Its form
is peculiar, contracting by a gradation of steps from the
base upwards to mid-height, and again expanding to the
top. The top of the throne was matt/eased with crimson
velvet, and at one aide was an elbow-cushion for the King.
A carved door-way closed by gilded lattice-doors led tiom
behind to the top level of the throne.
The material of the throne was a sort of mosaic, of
gold, silver, and mirror-work. A few small figures occu—
pied niches in the central band. These were said to repre-
sent the progenitors of the human race. In front of it, on
the edge of the steps, stood five gilded shafts, with small
gilded labels or scrolls attached like flags to them. These
also are royal emblems.

After a lapse of some twenty minutes, the
sound of soft music heralded the approach of
the King:—

A body of musketeers entered from the verandas in rear
of the throne, and passing forward took their places be•
tween the pillars on each aide of the centre aisle, kneeling
onoble.b3rrelled pieces) be-
down with their muskets

tween their knees, and their hands clasped before them
in an attitude of prayer.
As the last man entered the golden lattice-doors be•
hind, the throne rolled back into the wall, and the Kin
was seen mounting a stair leading from a chamber behind
to the summit of the throne. He ascended slowly, and
as if oppressed by weight, using his golden•sheathed sword
as a staff to assist his steps. This is, doubtless, in some
degree a royal etiquette, but Mr. Camaretta asserted that
the jewelled coat worn by his Majesty actually weighed
nearly one hundred pounds.
The Queen followed close upon her husband. The
King, after standing for a second or two, slightly dusting
the gudhi with a small chowree which he had carried in
his left hand, took his seat on the left side of the throne,
resting his elbow on the velvet cushion which was placed
fur that purpose covered with a white napkin. The
Queen seated herself on the King s right and a little in
rear, assisting to hand in the gold spittoon and other ap-
pendages of a Burmese dignitary, which were presented
by female attendants from behind. Between their Majes-
ties in front of the throne stood a large golden figure of
the sacred Henzs on a pedestal. Atter the Queen had
finally taken her seat she fanned herself diligently for a
few moments, and then fanned her husband, whilst one of
the girls from behind brought her a lighted cheroot, which
was immediately placed between her royal lip..

After three formal questions as to the health
of the English ruler, &c., the audience was at
an end, the King departed with the same cere-
monies as on entering, and the Envoy and
staff, intensely cramped by the attitude in
which they had been sitting, were not sorry
to get their dismissal. The state audience
was followed by several private interviews, in
which the King, who is an amiable and civi-
lised man, appeared to greater advantage. He
conversed freely with the different members
of the Mission, and by his questions and answers
showed himself to be extremely well-informed
upon general subjects, but especially with re-
ference to the literature of his own country.
On one or two occasions he puzzled the Envoy
with scientific questions ; as for instance when
he asked him, flow many elements are there
"in a man's body ?" He took great interest,
also, in the Russian war then raging. The
King, observes Captain Yule, "is without
" doubt a remarkable man for a Burman "

For the first time since the present dynasty acquired
the throne, in 1752, if we may not say rather for the first
time in the whole history, the Sovereign of Burma is jut%
and mild in temper, easy of access, hears or seeks to bear
everything for himself, is heartily desirous that his sub-
jects shall not be oppressed, and strives to secure their
happiness. Ile is, in fact, as far as we can judge, a man
of conscience and principle. The very monopolies of
trade which he has established in his own behalf have been
created with the intention (however shortsighted) of
securing a revenue without the infliction of taxation on
his people. And if there is any extravagance in his ex-
penditure, it shows itself rather in the liberality of his
gifts than in selfish indulgences.
There can be no doubt of his personal popularity. The
people speak in terms of admiration of his good qualities,
and uniformly, and with apparent sincerity, declare that
they never bad a King so just and so beneficent. The
contrast with what they have known heretofore, by experi-
ence or by tradition, must be powerful.
He is too sagacious to suppose that he can stand against
the British power, and, as long as he lives and reigns,
peace will probably be maintained. But he does not the
less continue to hanker after the province lie has lost, and
to listen eagerly to reports which hold out a chance, how-
ever vague or distant, of his being able one day to recover
it through some disaster to the British power.

Jealous of his reputation, and feeling acutely
the loss of territory we had inflicted upon
him, he could not bring himself to acknow-
ledge by treaty that Pegu had been wrested
from him—in fact, he ardently desired the re-
storation of Pegu, and had from the first made
up his mind to sign no treaty abandoning his
claims. "In a man's life," he observed on
one occasion, " there is a beginning, a middle,
" and an end. Let your middle and ending
" 'ne as good as your beginning . Remember,
" there must be a mutual advantage, or no
" treaty could be proper and such as to sa-
" tisfy both countries. If I were to sanction
" a treaty discreditable to me, I should lose
" my reputation in history ; just as a thousand
" years hence your name would be stained if
" you did anything to the damage of your
" country. Ponder upon this."
On the 20th of October, after many fruitless
attempts to obtain the consent of the King's
signature to a treaty, hut which he firmly de-
clined to the last, Major Phayre had his fare-
well audience. The King was silent at first,
and, after a few questions, said in a marked
manner :

K. (To Kilroy.) "Now that the two nations
are friends, ev. rything must be done to preserve
friendship; the two countries are as one country. Friend
ship is often broken by the folly and mismancgement of
inferior persons; almost all quarrels have amen from
that, and not from misunders ending between leading
men."
Envoy. "It is very true, your Majesty."
K. " Men of judgment and moderation should be placed
on the frontier. It is a sery easy thing to quarrel, but to
settle a quarrel is difficult. Hatred may arise from a
single word ; nevertheless, by care, the beginning of a
quarrel may be prevented. It is easy also to make a
temporary friendship, but difficult to make it permanent.
Our endeavours should be to render it so."

The next day the Mission took their departure.
During their residence at Amarapoora, the
different members of the Mission had been
treated with great liberality by the King :

There ean be no doubt that our party, during its stay
at the capital, as well as during the voyage up the river,
kat been treated with greater consideration and with
more of that hospitable attention which Indian, as well as
Western nations, consider due tt, the representatives or a
foreign State, but which is altogether alien to the ancient
principles and practice of the Burmans and their allied
races, than had been the fortune of any previous British
mission Goid bread was provided fur our
-at the King's --' horses and '

use daily a charges; . elephants were
furnished for our use; the amusements in which the
people themselves delight were supplied only too copiously
or oar taste; and the. King's care was not confined to the
talkers. The welfare of the European 631diers was a
frequent subject of the King's inquiry ; they were (with
the whole of our numerous retinue, indeed) provided
entirely at his Majesty's expense ; of the numerous dishes
et Burmese sweetmeats, with fruits and other delicacies,
which were mot daily from the palace to the Residency, a
part was always destined expressly for the European
soldiery; and there was not en individual in the whole o;
oar party of nearly five hundred who was allowed to leave
without some small present fi•om the King in remembrance
of his visit to Amarapoora. From differences of taste, or
from the apathy and trickery inherent in petty officials,
the King's kind intentions did not always take full effect.
But we amid sot be the less sensible that his intentions
were really kited and hospitable.

Frequent excursions were permitted to the
members of the Mission in the neighbour-
hood, which Captain Yule describes as being
extremely beautiful, but intercourse with the
people was limited to such a degree that very
itew opportunities occurred of learning much
concerning their real condition. The capital
itself is comparatively modern. It was founded
in 1795, and, beyond some forty handsome

THE