The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-02 00:00:00

INDIA.

Extract of letter front a Civil Officer in the French
service, dated Tranqutbar, 2.Stli September:—
Tte English, in their expedition against the Burmese, hare
not as vet obtained that success upon which they calculated. The
inhabitants of Pegu have adopted a plafi of defence which entirely
dtsconcerts their adversaries. They burn all the country thee leave
behind them, so that the English are obliged to draw all the pro.
visions necessary for the army from Madras and Bengal, which
exposes them to great privations, and occasions an enormous
expense.
The Peguriana fight with great intrepidity, and greatly depend
en their barricades, in the construction of which they are wonder-
fully expert; they rai.e them in the course of a night at short
distances, and thus uprose continual obstacles to their enemies,
who can only overcome them with great loss of men, and particu-
larly of officers. It is said that this war was undertaken by the
Governor-General of Bengal, Lord Amherst, against the opinion
of his Council, who particularly pointed out that the present was
not • favourable opportunity, not only in a poli.ical point of view,
but also with regard to the season of the year. The English army
happen to be at Rangoon at the height of the rainy season ; this
circumstance has been felt In a melancholy manner, by the break-
irg out among the English army of epidemic diseases, which have
already carried off many victims, and among them Commodore
Grant. the commander of the naval part of the expedition.
1 he English, harassed by an enemy, and barricades which are
SI daily renewed—by rontiuual rains and the uncertainty of procuring
provisions,feer to depart front the coast,and have fallen back on Ran.
goon, awaiting the return of the fire weather. The Emperor of Ave
t.as not...in the mean time, been inactive; he has assembled an army
ce 40.000 men, of which he has cantoned a part in the upper pro-
vinces, and despatched 20.000 men, under the command of Prince
Lanawatly, against the English at Rangoon.
When one sees the insolence and severity with which the English
exercise their saperiority in India, it is easy to calculate the probe-
bilaies that may lead to a different order of things, however distant
it may be.
I read with pleasure In the Madras Gazelle that the researches
the English have made in the interior of the Pagodas at Rangoon,
to dig up the treasures that were supposed to have been buried,
have bees fruideas.—Joitenal des Debate.
Vega the Bombay Papers.l
Be Admits very lately received, we are given to understand that
the Lahore Chief, Runoff Sing, has concentrated his force on the
banks of the Sutlege, and that he has promised them an oppor-
tunity if distinguishing themselves at an early period. His preps.
rations for war are of an extensive nature, and if the accounts of
the Acbars are not exaggerated, of which there can be little
doubt, would lead us to suppose that something of importance was ,
meditated. The army is well equipped, provided with a train of
artillery uniter the superintendence of French officer', who have
been some time in his arryice. and to which his personal attention
has been incessantly devoted for a considerable time. The most
peremptory orders have been issued to his Sirdars to be in readiness
for active service, and to the Commandants of forts and fastnesses
to be vigilant in their ditty.
Whaiever may be the ultimate destination of the force, it can-
not be looked upon without considerable interest. It is reported
that the disaffected Zernindars have caused all this preparation,
and which is not improbable, as they are known to istdd a large
portion of the southern districts in the alaharagab's dominions,
and hare always giver. him much annoyance. It is worthy of
remark, that the movements of our forces, every change in nor
corns, and all the details of our operations to the eastward, are
kn.rwri to a degree of minuteness that would lead to a ceis-
viction of his having good informers amongst the natives in our
territories, if not to his being in constant correspondence with
the Burmese.
letters from Poona announce the gratifying intelligence that a
sulfleient quantity of rain has fallen to save a greet portion of the
crops on the ground, and to erable the Ryots to save their crops
of iowarree, wheat, and eharme; and hopes are entertained that
all apprehensions of a famine in the Deckan are at an end. The
price of grain in the Bazar had in consequence fallen nearly one
hilt'. We trust that the northern provinces have also experienced
the benefits of the after-rain, which cannot fail to mitigate the ap-
preitensions entertained of a famine in that quarter.
Official reports from Broach and Kairah, announce the gratifying
intelligence that there was a heavy fall of rain at both these ma-
hone on the 7th and Bth instant, and private letters give an equally
phasing account from Surat and Kattiwar. At Kairah, itis stated
that the price of bejaree, the chief food of the lower orders, fell on
the 7th to one.lialf the price at which it was sold a fortnight before :
at .d we may now indulge the hope that nothing like a serious
scarcity of food will be felt in any of the districts, during the en.
ing dry season.
It has ham apprehended that nor cotton produce to the north-
ward must have suffered severely from the drought; but notwith-
vending the scarcity of rain, we learn that the crops this year are
very rich, and by the hat accounts, only required a few showers of
rats to bring them to perfection, in winch care they are miFecteel
to yield 23 per cent. above last year's produce. But should no
rein till, our informant (a respectable native,. whose testimony
may be relied on) confidently assumes that suffsocat cotton will be
produced to supply the wants of the market on this side of India,
though at a rate of 25 per cent. less than that of his year. From
the same source we learn that Bownagina, Dhollera, Broach,
• Jemboasecr, Porebunder, Mandevee, and Kattywar, have not less
than 70.000 bales in the markets, of last year's crop, 50,000 of
which have been purchased by the merchant'. of Bombay, and on
ac, aunt of the Honourable Company, and which may be expected. I
t give at the Presidium in all next month.

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