The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-02 00:00:00

GREAT FIRE AT RANGOON.

Rangoon had been visited by a tremendous confla-
gration, which had nearly swept away the building-
yards, the commissariat, and a large portion of the
town. The city has from its foundation been sub-
ject to incessant fires, and will probably now be re-
built by us, with some material less inflammable than
wood. Small pox was committing sad ravages
amongst the inhabitants, and the introduction ofa'vae-
ciliation will probably be one of the first of the great
blessings they will experience at the hands of the
British government.

The friends of Lord F. Fitzclarence will be sorry
to hear that the noble lord has of lute been suffering
severely from gout, which has prevented his going
about as he did when he first came amongst us. He
is now, it is reported, afflicted with erysipelas on the
forehead, and a rumour has been in circulation that
his lordship is already tired of India, and intends
speedily returning home should he not get rid of his
ailments. lies the change of ministry had anything
to do with this determination, think you—if deter-
mination it should in reality prove to be? There
are small parties from the several European
corps quartered at the Commander-in-Chief's re-
sidence, for the purpose of being instructed in the
new system of drill—and a report has been
in circulation that Lord Frederick had on one or two
occasions caused the men to be drilled in his bed
room, as he could not get out to witness their prac-
tice in the court yard !—but this is rather too rich a
tale to go down. Lord Falkland continued in good
health, and exerts himself as usual : his lordship will
probably leave for the hills by the end of the present
month, and there remain till the end of April ; he
must require some relaxation after the prolonged
stay of five months at the seat of government, deeply
engaged in the cares of state. The Ladies Falkland and
Fitzclarence presided the other day at the examination
of the Byeulla Orphan Schools, and distributed prizes
with their own hands to the deserving girls, to
whom they were awarded—addressing each in a
kind and maternal manner. Mr. J. Green, the head
master of the schools, was on the 20th ordained a
deacon by the Lord Bishop. The sum of I.;0/. has
recently been collected in the churches, in aid of the
funds of the charity. Bi i;,,aclier Farrell had barely
assumed command of the garrison of Bombay, when
his name appeared in orders, as having ob-
tained leave to England ; he had applied
for it long ago. Colonel Woodburn, C. 8.,
has succeeded him. Col. G. Moore, auditor-general,
goes home by to-day's steamer: he will not again
return to India. A well-merited encomium has been
published regarding him by government. Colonel
Jameson succeeds Colonel Moore, Captain Forbes
and Lieutenant Dobree becoming Deputy and As-
sistant Auditor-General. Colonel Watson, principal
Commissary of Ordnance, retiree next month, and
will be succeeded by Lieut.-Col. Willoughby, C. 8.,
now gunpowder agent, &c., who has just got his
promotion by the death of General Strom., in Eng-
land. Colonel Waddington, C 8., chief engineer,
goes home in May on eight months' leave: the
senior officer will succeed him. Colonel Morris, Major
Hart, and several other field officers, have been or-
dered to Ootacamund (Neilgheri lea), to act as mem
bers of a court-martial for the trial of Major Ottley,
of the Bombay Invalids. Very malicious and un-
founded reports having been made by certain Madras
officers against Major Ottley, in regard to the ac-
counts and affairs of the Ootacamund club, of which
he was secretary, the major demanded a trial, which
atter much delay has been at length granted him.
The court is to be composed of an eqnul number of
Bombay and Madras officers, and there can be no
doubt but that the accused will have every justice
done to him ; if he be innocent of the charges pre-
ferred against him, then his accusers will (?) come
in for punishment; if he be guilty, the
Lord help Lim ! The rumour again runs
that Brigadiers-General Robertson and James
intend shortly to retire. Colonel Schuler of the Ar-
tillery has returned to India, in hopes of one or the
other doing so. Major Lucas, artillery, has returned
to his old station of Ahmedabad, as Commissary of
Ordnance. Professor Reid, of the Elphinstone
College, goes home on the 14th : he is to be suc-
ceeded in the chair of literature by a Mr. Sinclair,
of Dublin University, who arrived by last
steamer to take the place of tho late Professor
Patton in the chair of Mathematics and Natu-
ral Philosophy; but the Parsee gentleman who
has carried on these duties since Mr. l'atton's depar-
ture, has given the Board of Education so much
satisfaction that they have determined on confirming
him in the appointment.
Another attempt at fraud by means of a forged
cheque has just been detected. This time the bank
intended to be victimised was the Agra and United
Service. The cheque was presented, but the native
writer suspected the signature was not genuine, and
went in to the manager; when he returned tho pre-
senter had disappeared. The forged cheque was
for 2001.
Lieutenant Cookson, Indian Navy, whose conduct
on the occasion of troops embarkin g on the Auck-
land steam-frigate, for Kurrachee, had caused him to
be placed in arrest, has on the intercession of Lord
Fitzclarence, been released and sent to his duty
De Girsud is now giving public lectures on voltaic
electricity in the Grant College. Lieutenant Pollex-
fen and Captain Wray have been appointed Assist-
ants, and Lieutenant Evans and Captain Ponsonby
Deputy-Assistants Quartermasters-General. The
railway is to be opened on the 4th April next, with
great car mony