The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-02-08 00:00:00

INDIA.

[From the ['skaffa John Ball of Sept. 1, 111211
We are happy to announce the arrival of the Earl Kelly and
Ilydery, from Rangoon.
The Ilydery parted company to the eastward, on the 14th ult.,
with the Fort IVilliain Asia P' elix and Edward Strettel, bound
to Madras, and the Aligarh, bound to Calcutta. Left the Emasd,
Roberts, and Mallory, loading with timber at Rangoon, to sail
in a fortnight.
The troops, we are informed, were in general healthy, thengh
much in want of fresh provisions and cattle. No detachment had
advanced, nor can we learn that a rumour of any expected attack
was prevalent.
The palace of the Queen has been burnt by accident. We learn
that the Burmese still approach the lines in small parties, and even
singly, in their usual daring manner.
On the lil of August, two parties went out to look for the enemy,
but no trace of them could be found. Sixteen and even twenty
rupees are given for a sheep, and seven fora fowl. IVe understood
that a house at Madras has cleared a large sum, from having
taken the preemution to send a large quantity of live stock.
Letters of the 3d of August mention, that the country is intim.
dated ; that there is a great scarcity of fresh meat and vegetables ;
that there was the seine Lever as was prevalent here ; that there was
no disposition on the part of the inhabitants to come in, no prospect
of moving; that it is considered now impossible to proceed by
water to Unirapoora ; and that they expect to remain and march
by land in October or November.
The following copies of despatches have been received from Brim
gadier-General Sir Archibald Campbell, commanding the British
forces at Rangoon :
SIR-1 am now enabled to inform you, from information re-
ceived from deserters, and through other sources which may be
relied on, that the loss of the enemy in the action of the &hinst.
was much more severe, and in its consequences much more fatal
and disastrous, than I could at the time have formed any idea of.
The numbers of killed very much exceeds that stated in my de.
spatch of the 11th instant, and great numbers have since died of
their wounds in the jungle. All accounts agree, and I have no
Linger a doubt of the fact, that Stromba Woonghee, third Minister
of the empire, a AVoondock. and other duets of the first class,
were among the slain ; and the troops, deprived of their leaders,
have either dispersed or fled in confusion to the rear, there to intik
the arrival of the Priuce of Sarrawaddy, said to be advancing with
70.000 men.
The only body of the enemy that I could hear of in this neigh-
bourhood was a small force of 3,000 men, assembled at a place
tailed Key:loe, about twelve or fifteen miles from Rangoon, and
measures were adopted for immediately attacking them. On the
morning of the 111th instant I ordered 1,2110 men to proceed by
land direct to the spot, proceeding myself' with $OO more up the
Itezendown creek, running in its whole course nearly parallel to,
and at nu great distance from the road upon which the land column
was directed to advance.
The inundated state of the country precluded all possibility of
proceeding any great distance with the troops by land, and having
advanced rapidly up the creek, le the Diana eteam-boat, I did not
hear of the impassable state of the country, and the consequent
return of the laud column to their headquarters, till the following
day, when I hal reached the point where I intended to cooperate,
or act in concert. as circumstances might require. In our progress
up, some small parties of the enemy were seen flying towards the
jungles, in evident consternation, without tiring a shot at us. or
we at them. IVe also passed several villages, visited for the first
I time by our troops, front each of which I had the pleasure of re-
storing to their homes some Rangoon families found in the extreme
of wretchedness and misery. e could distinctly observe that
there were some armed men in the villages, who apparently con.
nived at their escape, and who, it may be presumed, will remain
in arms only until an opportunity offers of providing for the safety
of their wives and families. It was not to be expected that a
people unacquainted with the customs and manners of the civilized
nations of Europe should, on the first approach of our troops, have
placed unlimited confidence in us. At all the villages the greater
part of the inhabitants fed from their houses to the fields, where
they remained as spectators; but at each we found a few men left
to converse with us, arid received every assurance I could give them
of safety and protection, if they remained quietly at their homes.
On our return yesterday to quarters, I had the satisfaction of see.
ing some of these villages thickly inhabited, the people quite at
their ease, and saluting us as we passed.
Although this expedition, on which I was out three days, has
terminated differently hum what I intended, I feel confident much
goodwill malt from it. The favourable impression made shall be
cultivated to the very utmost of my power, and happy indeed shall
I be to sheathe the sword, as often as the object in view can be at.
mined by kindness and mercy.—l have. Ate. &c.
(Signed) A. CA 31 PBELL, Brigadier-General.
To George Swinton, Esq. Secretary to Government.
Head-quarters, Rangoon, ?rd Jan. 1924.
Copy of another Despatch from Brigadier-General Campbell,
dated head-quarters. Rangoon, Aug. 5, 1025 :
Sir—Being informed that the Governor of Syriam had assembled
a forte on the banks of the Pcgu or Syriam river, and had order, d
the whole conscription of the district to repair without delay to the
llace of rendezvous, for the purpose of finishing and defending a
arge field work, which was to command the river, and protect the
surrounding country; although aware that few had obeyed the
summons, I determined oa dislodging the enemy. and for that pur-
pose, 1 yesterday morning proceeded up the Syriam river with 300
Europeans, and an equal number of native infantry, the whole
under the command of acting Brigadier Snick. On approaching
the landing place leading to the town pagoda of Syrian), I obrerved
the old Portuguese fort (long concealed from view by trees anti
overgrown brush-wood), cleared and named where the old wall had
fallen down, and from lb to 20 feet high. Upon this the enemy
had raised a parapet, and suspended huge logs of wood on the out-
side, intended to be cut away during the assault, and to carry the
assailants before them in their descent.
The troops landed under the fire of the Penang Government brig
Jessie, and the Powerful sloop, employed as a mortar-vessel, anti
the advanced party moved on until stopped by a deep, impassable
Nutlet], the bridge over which Itad been destroyed, rind threatened
to check our progress; but the difficulty was speedily removed,
and a very tolerable bridge constructed by Captain 31artratt and
part of the officers and crew of his Majesty's ship Lame. The
enemy's tire of musketry and artillery was even unusually feeble
and contemptible, and they abandoned the places with the utmost
precipitation when the troops marched forward to the attack, leaving
behind them eight pieces of good artillery.
I next directed Lieutenant-Colonel Rely, of the Madras Euro-
p an regiment to proceed, with part of the force, to the Syriant Pa.
gods, which, I was informed, was also occupied by about 300 men.
'l'l.e Lieutenant-Colonel, on his arrival at the Pagoda, found the
enemy inclined to dispute the posseaslon of their almost impreg-
nable pest, hut they lost confidence while the troops were amending
the long }tight of steps leading to the Pagoda, and fled in the ut-
most confusion, leaving four pieces of artillery, and a great quail-
thy of powder.
Although in these affairs the enemy afforded but little opportu-
nity for displaying the discipline and gallantry of the troops, their
usual feeling and ardour ware by no means less conspicuous, and
I had every reason to be satisfied with the arrangements of !tripes
diet Smelt and Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly. in conducting the diffe.
rent attacks. From Captain Alarryatt, and the officers of his 31a-
jesty's navy. I ever receive the most prompt and cordial co-opera-
tion.—l have, &c.

A. CAMPBELL, Brigadier-General.
Ordnance and Ammunition taken and destroyed at Syriam, on the

4th of August, 1824.
Brass-1 four-pounder, Dutch ; 2 three-pounders, Spanish or
Portuguese.
Iron-1 eighteen-pounder; ditto, I lost in a deep nullah ; 1 six-
pounder ; ditto four destroyed fur want of means to bring them ofr;
2 wall-pieces.
A considerable quantity of gunpowder destrtsycd, sod about one
cwt. of grape.
Return of Killed and Wounded, from the 14th of July to the

of August. 1824.
Killed—none. 41st foot, 3 privates wounded. Madras Euro-
pean, 1 private wounded. Bombay Artillery, I private wounded.
beanien tit the Larne. 3 privates wounded.

THE BURMESE 11:1R.

Pram the accounts lately received from India, it appears that
some difference in opinion had existed between the Governor-
General and the Commander-in-Chief in India, respecting the time
and season at which it was prudent and advisable to commence mi-
litary operations' agati st tier Binnans. The ficivernor.tieneral,
thinking that no time was to be lost, is said to hare urged the ex-
pediency of going to war immediately, with the means at hand ;
and of making a proper impression upon the enemy before the
rainy reason ale uld se in, aid the troops be exposed to the hazards
necessarily attendant epon operations in the field at that time of eie
year. That, prints fatie, has reason in it. The Commander-in.
Chief, on the other hand, is said to have decidedly recommended
the abstaining from opening the campaign until the rainy season
had been ever ; being impressed with the belief that the immediate
military resources were either inadequate, or that, from the Warty
and indefatigable character of the enemy we had to contend wi.:,
and the great natural difficulties of the scene of warfare, the
Motions rains woa.li overtake the army in the middle of the eam-
pair., and cripple our future operations. These arc points on
which men might very naturally differ, and it would be difficult to
decide olio is right. Certain it is, however, no !dame whatever
',tidied to either the Governor-General or the Commander-in-
Chief.

1 tie zeal of Lord Amherst, and his determination to support
the Ninonr and interest of his country, are well known r and of tlYr
talents of Sir Edward Paget military men speak most favourably.
Ile has same great deal of service on the European Continent, and
is esteemed a brave and able officer. It is known that the gallant
Sir John Moore spoke of him in the highest terms and in Ms last
moments, after receiving his death-wound at Corunna, included
hint amongst his last valedietoreremernbrances. Brigadier-General
Sir Archibald Campbell, the immediate Commander of the expe-
dition against the Burmese, is also an experienced and brave
otficcr, and has the additional advantage of haring long served
in India, in the operations which eventually led to the fall of
Seringapatam, and the overdue, of the dynasty of Tippoo Sada.
Sir Archi•si Id Campbell was likewise employed in the European
Peninsular war, under the Duke of Wellington, and had an int-
portant command in the Portuguese service, and in the organiza-
tion of their army, under Marshal Lord Bertsford.
As therefore the fullest reliance may be placed on the talents aril
skill of our Commanders in India, as well as the bravery of our
troops, there is little doubt of the Burmese war terminating
favourably r though prudence will suggest en augmentation of
our terce, in order to keep duwa so oaring and formidable an
vnemy.—Stur.