The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-10 00:00:00

No. 27.

Fox, at Rangoon, May 11, 1852.
Sir,—l have the honour to request you may be
pleased to inform the Lords of the Admiralty that, on
the 2d instant, I dispatched the Honourable East India
Company's steamer Phlegethon, commanded by Mr. G.
T. Niblett, and the barge of her Majesty's ship Fox, in
charge of Acting Lieutenant John R. Lawrence, to the
great entrance of the Irrawaddy, to try and ant a pas-
sage through the Panlang branch.
2. On the morning of the 11 th the barge returned;
and Mr. Lawrence reported that they had advanced as
far as Yangernsiah, where the water shoaled so consider-
ably that the Phlegethon could not cross into the Pan-
lang branch; the barge, however, was enabled to do so,
and proceeded down into the Rangoon river, in order
that I might be acquainted with the result, and the cause
of the steamer's long absence.
It is with much satisfaction I learn that the object of
the expedition has been accomplished.
3. I have further to request you may be pleased to in-
form their Lordships that, on the Phlegethon and the
Fox's barge arriving off Yangernsiah, they discovered
the Governor at Della, retreating with eight armed
boats; chase was immediately given, and on coming up
with them the enemy ran on shore, leaving their boats,
in one of which was the Governor's wife, with her atten-
dants; they also abandoned a quantity of treasure, and
most of their arms.
The treasure captured amounted to eleven thousand
rupees; the arms, which consisted of muskets and swords,
were destroyed; and the boats, with the women, were
allowed to proceed.—l have, Eec.,
GEORGE LAaI3ERT.
A. Stafford, Esq., M-Pe &c.

CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF BASSEIN.
No. 28.

Her Majesty's Ship Fox's Boat,
at Bassein, May 20, 1852.
Sir,—l request you may be pleased to inform the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that the Lieute-
nant-General commanding the forces in Burmah, having
communicated his wish to make an attack on the city
of Bassein, I placed a squadron of fours steamers at his
disposal for the service.
2. On the morning of the 17th instant, Lieutenant-
General Godwin, C. 8., the Commander of the Forces,
embarked in a squadron with four hundred'of_her Ma-
jesty's j esty's 51st Regiment, three hundred of the 9th Regiment
Me dras Native Infantry, sixty Sappers and Miners, the
Royal Marines, and
,a detachment of seamen, with a field
gun from her Majesty's ship Fox.
3. I left the naval force at Rangoon in charge of Coin.
mander Tarleton, with the Fox, and went with my boat
to the Tenasserim, in which steamer I hoisted my broad
pendant, and put to sea at two o'clock in the afternoon
wish the steamers named in the enclosure marked A.
The Lieutenant-General accompanied me in the Tenas-
scrim.
4. On the evening of the 18th we anchored off the
island of IsTegrais at the entrance of the Bassein
River, where the Pluto joined us. I had sent her on
from Rangoon a day previously, as her small power
could not have enabled her to keep up with the steam
frigates.
5. At daylight on the 19th the squadron weighed,
and proceeded up the river; the Pluto, from her light
draught, being ahead, showing the soundings. The
Tenasserim led, followed by the Sesostris and Mozuffer
at half a (sable's length distant.
6. At a few minutes after four o'clock in :the after-
noon, the fortifications of Bassein appeared in sight,
consisting of a very extensive mud fort and a long line
of stockade, on the left bank, on which the city stands,
and a strong stockade round the'Pagoda, with a brick
parapet fronting the river. Then, in an admirable posi-
tion on the right bank, stood a very large stockade,
mounting several cannon.
The enemy permitted the squadron to approach un-
molested.
7. At half-past four, when abreast the stockades, I
made the signal to anchor; immediately afterwards
Lieutenant-General Godwin expressed his wish to land
the troops, which was effected in perfect order in a very
short period. They had scarcely formed under the
Lieutenant-General's directions, when a heavy fire was
opened both with cannon and musketry from the vari-
es stockades, which was instantly answered by a cheer
from the party landed, who stormed and carried the
Pagoda.
As soon as the enemy commenced firing, the ships
opened their fire on the different batteries.
Observing the stockade opposite the town had been
silenced, I directed Commander Campbell, of the Sesos-
trig. to land with the boats of his own ship, and the Mo-
il ufter's, and to storm it, which he effected in gallant
style, driving the Burmese from their guns, with consi-
derable loss to them in Milled and wounded.
Commander Campbell has nailed my special attention to
the zeal and activity displayed on this occasion by Lieu-
tenants Robinson and Lewis, of the Indian Navy.
At half-past five I had the satisfaction of hearing
that the laic and most formidable of the stockades had
been carried ; tut not without considerable loss on our
part from the great resistance shown by the enemy.
Amongst these I have to enumerate as sufferers on this
cceasion, I have to name Lieutenant George W.
Rice, of her Majesty's ship Fox, who received a
severe and painful wound through the right hand,
whilst gallantly leading his party of seamen into the
stockade: and a; this officer has been specially named by
the Commander-in-Chief at the taking of Rangoon, I
beg to recommend him most strongly to their Lordships'
co,Asideration for promotion.
I feel it my duty, also, to mention the steady conduct
of the Royal Marines under the command of First Lieu-
tenant John Eiliott; and I cannot conclude without ex-
Pressing my best thanks to Commanders Campbell and
Hewett, of the Indian Navy, for the skill and ability with
which they brought their ships up a river, which has
hitherto been but imperfectly surveyed for a distance of
more than sixty miles. Nor can I refrain from ex-
pressing how much I am indebted to Commanders Dicey
and. Burbank, of the Bengal Marine, for the assistance I
received from them; and I attribute our being able to
Perform this service without accident, to the careful and
eudieioue manner with which the commander of the
Pluto-went in ad fence and communicated the soundings.
aly thanks are general to the officers and men who
Served under my orders on this occasion for the steady,
gallant, and cheerful conduct with which they performed
the duty, neither can I omit remarking that the most
perfect unanimity prevailed between the two services.
8. Since my last visit to Negrais, the old Governor
of Bassein has been removed, and the nmeat'en-
trusted to another officer, who arrived GheerrTefrom Ave,
with four thousand regular troops,which inceeased th©
strength of the garrison to six thousand m
9. I have the honour to iorwerd herewith a list
killed and wounded in the squadron.h.e casualties
of
The
among the troops amounted to three men killed
and ve
oEceN, and seventeen men wounded.
I also enclose a return of the number of cannon
ctptu.red from the enemy.
to. And I beg permission to bring to their Lord-
ships' notice, Mr. Frederick Morgan, Assistant-Sur-
geon of her Majesty's ship Fox, who attended with the
storming party, and wbozie kindness to the wounded cn
this on. aeon, as well as his unremitting attention to the
numerous sick, during the protracted stay of the Fox in
the Rangoon River, is deserving of every praise.
I have, 6ze
(Signed) GEORGE R. LAMBERT, Commodore.

A List of the Naval Forcecornmanded by Commodore
G. IL Lambert, in the action and
_capture of the city of
Bassein, on the 19th of May, 18'2'
Honourable India Company's steam-
s
loop Tenasserim,
Commander Wm. Dicey (broad pendant of Com-
modore Lambert)—two 8-inch,
tour 32-pounders;
total 6 guns. Officers and crevr,,l,39.q
139. Also on board,
,3
ship yox,
Commodore Lambert, of her ii-Ltkles Digby
James L. Southey, Esq., Secretary, G.lAr•
of the
Moran:, Signal Midshipman, and a boat's crew
Fox.
Honourable India Company's steam-frigate Sesostris,
Commander C. D. Campbell, I. N.—two 8-inch, two
two
32-pounders, two 12-pounders; total, 6 guns. Officers
and crew, 168. .
Ropouiable India Company's steam-frigate MozuffeT,
Commander H. H. Hewett, I.N.—five 8-inch, two
32-pounders; total, 7 guns. Officers and crew, 228.
Hen. India Company's steam-vessel Pluto, Commander
C. Btutank—one 39-pounder. four 12-pounders, two
6-pounders; total, 7 guns. Officers and crew, 80.
A party of Seamen from her Majesty's ship Fox. Lieu-
totaltG'o• W. Rico in command—one 12-pounder;
, 1 gun. Officers and crew, 19. Includes Mr.
F. M. Lisboa, Midshipman, and Mr. F. Morgan, As-
sistant-Surgeon.
Royal Marines of her Majesty's ship Fox, First Lieute-
nant John Elliott in command. Officers and crew, 45.
Includes Second Lieutenant Nightingale.
Total-9,.8 inch, 9, 32-pounders, 7, 12-pounders, 2
6-pounders; total. of guns, 27 ; total 0 officers and
crows, td
crows, 679.
(Signed) GEORGE R. LAMBERT, Commodore.

List of Killed and Wounded thew.dron under the
command of Commodore Laelb?rt, at the capture of
the city of Bassein, on the 19th of May, 13.5..
Hughes, A. 8., Wounded, ali.,htly;
Tenaszterun—David
by Baolur,llep%rser, wounded, slightly;
contused wound
Pluto—Mr. Charles
contuFed weand.,rom
her Majesty's ship Fo; under
Party of seamen
.t
fi Lieutenant George W. Ric: R.N_
the command °I. - ain's :nate killed;
,id,,,?,. boatswain
~ , shot
George Wool, L,
A George vi. Rice, Lieutenant,
thronlh the bea— ,;..,t ball through hand and
Wounded, severely;, mu-',,i.8„ wounded, severely;
"iris% George 00ri,r1,., - of thigh and testicle.
Tnualict ball through "15'.; Part10d, severely; musket
woUnG-
'Thomas Metcalf, A. 8.,
ball through the riht shoulder.
Fox, under the
Royal Marines of her M • stY'a shipElliott,Royal
John
command of First Lieutenant
an wounded,
Marines—John Elliott, First Lieutenant, wounded,
arm.
slightly; contused wound hy a bullet ''' ,2-'
Samuel Gray,
private, wounded CiangeroasiY; musket
wounded
ball through the arm George Davis, private
slightly; musket ball through finger, George Janes,
private, wounded slightly; bayonet wound in the
thigh.

Totals :
Her Majesty's ship Fox-1 killed, and 7 wounded.
Tenesseerim-1 wounded.