The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-18 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.

BURMAH.
(From the Bengal Hurkaru.)
From the Madras Athena= of the 14th inst. we
learn that the two additional brigades from the pre-
sidency are to be commanded by Brigadier Malcolm
M'Neill and Lieutenant-Colonel Franklyn, her Ma-
jesty's 84th. General Steed is to be chief of the
Madras division. _ _

The following is an extract from a letter dated
Rangoon, the 25th of August, received by the Bere-
nice :

" I cannot say this place improves upon acquaintance;
it rains every day, and when it does rain it pours.
Every article of dress, boots, boxes, &e., soon becomes
damp, and as the sun makes his appearance only at in-
tervals of some days, there is no getting the things
dried. This weather we are likely to have till the end
of October, so that, as far as regards comforts, there is
not much to hope for for some time to come. The En-
terprise arrived from Calcutta on the 23d, and a few
hours afterwards the steamers Sphynx and Mozuffer
started for Madras to bring across some troops, so that
we shall soon be able to make the contemplated advance
on Prome.
"By this opportunity you will hear of the loss of the
Mazeppa, which took place at the coast somewhere
about 70 miles from here. The loss of this vessel will
prove a great disappointment to many of us, as we ex-
pected large supplies, particularly in the shape of beer,
with which our market is at present but scantily sup-
plied. The Burmese somehow or other got hold of the
crew of the Maaeppa, as also of the lady that was on
board; but, to their credit be it said, they behaved most
gallantly having escorted her to the British lines, and
done everything in their power to make her as comfort-
able as the means at hand would allow. This gives us
rather a favourable impression of our neighbours, and if
ever any of their ladies should happen to meet with a
misfortune within our boundary, we shall not be wanting
in courtesy and reciprocate the attention. Only fancy
one of us offering his arm to a Burmese beauty, to re-
conduct her to her friends."

____.
We have the following from Rangoon by the Be-
renice :

" Rangoon, August 12—The Nemesis arrived from
Penang with the English mails.
" August 13—The Fire Queen came in punctually
this forenoon.
" After a seven weeks' absence up at Prome the Ma-
hanuddy has returned. She has been playing the very
deuce with the Burmese up there. She has brought
down somewhere about a thousand boats which were
placed in our charge. These boats are, or were, laden
with rice, catch, and salt. She brings intelligence that
while the Burmese troops about Promo are nowhere to
be met with, both land and water are dreadfully infested
with bands of Burmese bandits, who, not satisfied with
the booty.they get from their own countrymen, have
been experimenting on our vessels end people, but
hitherto with indifferent success. They go about on the
water, ten to fifteen boats in company, all well manned,
and every man armed to the teeth. Two of the Fox's
boats, in charge of young middies, were set upon by
some 25 of these Burmese boats. The him jackets had
rather a tough affair of it against such lotg odds, the
struggle lasting some seven hours, as I hear. The Bur-
mese assailants were, however, put to flight at last, and
it is singular that none of the Fox's were the worse for
it in life or limb. The Mahanuddy on her downward
course received a few complimentary jhingals, but she
squared accounts with interest in no time. On a pre-
vious the Burmese boats already alluded to had
the temerity to make an attack upon her, but 84e got
amongst them and paddled about their ears, and very
soon consigned most of them to the lowest depths
Cf the
river. The banditti had to swim for it, but no sooner
had they got to shore than a more horrible fate awated
them. They were seised by the villagers, bound haed
and foot, and mercilessly thrashed till every bone was
broken, and death only released them from the terrible
infliction.
" It said that the Burmese peasantry have settled it
amongst themselves that the present conquests of the
British in Burnish are favoured by Providence. They
I.ay that the several creeks about Prome, and especially
the one through which the steamers made the detour to
get up to the rear of the defence that had been there
erected, lay dry and unnavigable for the
last twenty-five
years, and that the gods, to assist the British in deposing
the Burmese tyrants and delivering the Burmese people
from their ruthless oppressors, had opened the flood-
gates of the heavens and poured down rain to fill these
channels and render them passable for our vessels.
Moreover, every spot favourable for the construction of
stockades and defences has in the same way been inun-
dated to defeat the ends of the despotic rulers of the
country. Under this feeling it will be readily believed
that the Burmese populace come flocking in, eager for
our protection, doing everything in their power to facili-
tate our movements, and keeping our vessels constantly
supplied with intelligence of the movements of the King
and his troops. The Lord of the Elephant and Um-
brella is said to be putting his best golden foot forward
in preparing to give us battle. He is endeavouring to
get together a large force, but the great difficulty he has
to contend with is that nearly as fast as he can collect
men, he loses them, his recruits being pretty equally
balanced by the number of deserters. It is said that he
has succeeded in transporting some formidable ordnance
to Prome; but, as it has not yet been captured, it may
be presumed that our blue jackets have not yet found
out where it is.
" August 14 —The Commodore has proceeded to
Moulmein in the Fire Queen, and taken with him a Mr.
Chisholm, a shipwright, who has been engaged at a
salary of re. 350 per mensem, for the purpose of select-
ing timber for use in Rangoon. A large piece of ground,
formerly the King's dockyard, has been occupied for a
dockyard tor our vessels and boats, most of which are
in great need of an overhaul.
" A Mr. Neville has come round here from Moulmein
to organize a police for Rangoon.
"August 15,16, and 17—With so much rain andsuch
a low swampy place as Rangoon undoubtedly is, how
can it be free from sickness in this time of the year ?
But from all accounts Promo is a most healthy place, no
doubt owing to its elevation and hilliness. While at
Rangoon there has been an unceasing, merciless down
pour, at Prome the showers have been only occasional;
besides there, let it rain much or little, the ground is
drained by nature. The population at Promo is also
greater, being a commercial town of the Burmese, where
trade and manufactures were carried on to a considerable
extent. It is the Manchester of Burmah—the chief
place for the manufacture of silk and cotton piece
goods, especially the Burmese variegated silk plaids.
Among the natural products of Promo, peas, pota-
toes, onions, asparagus, and vegetable marrows hold a
prominent place. There is also to be had a plentiful
supply of naptha.

Augcst ig—The Mahanuddy has again set out for
Prome. The Transport Teaser has gone to Moulmein
with the rico taken as prize at Prome. From the ac-
counts given by some pariahs arrived to-day, the wea-
ther would seem to bo very rough and boisterous outside.
" August l9—A non-commissioned officer belonging
to the commissariat has been doing a little smuggling
against General Godwin's excise-laws. The poor fellow
must stand a court-martial.

" August 20—The Fire Queen in at four P M. with
the commodore. She has towed round a dawk boat from
Amherst, which they say is to assist the Torch to come
round from Calcutta to do duty here, as a light vessel, for
the benefit of vessels coming in.
" The Bride is ordered to take coal for a depot, at a
place called no, I cannot spell it—about half way to
Promo. This depot will be of great use to the steamers.
"I have just heard a story of Captain Latter having
made a narrow escape from having his throat cut by
some half-a-dozen vindictive Burmese. They stole into
his house, and one of the fellows got into Latter's bed,
and coolly bestriding the magistrate who was lying on
his back, held his throat with a firm grip with one band,
and was going to operate upon the same with the other,
which was armed with a dow, when luckily the guard
taking alarm, rushed in and spoilt the whole affair,
which promised such excellent materials for a real
tragedy. The imported constable Neville, got informa-
tion, and caught five Burmese, who, he says, belonged
to the gang of cat throats.
adwyrepckasesdiesnogiunertrhs
.eoAfßnadtrhrseegwuM,e
Twhhei captain,clhadh ya cspr eabswese,enn
" August 21—Two boats have come in with the
ga totallyne
rd mentionedl the aSz ea
PnwinPd as
of the commander of the transport Futtle Rozack, The 1
accident to the Mazeppa happened in the gunner's watch,
at six, A.M.., of the 24th. She struck, and went to
pieces almost immediately after, and no one could save
more than the clothing each had on. No lives, how-
ever, were lost. They were eight days in their boats
coming to Rangoon. On the way they are said to have
received great and humane assistance from some Bur-
mese, who it may be added have been rewarded here.
" August 22—A boat has come in bringing intelligenoe
of the complete success of Captain Tarleton in demolish.
ing all the Burmese defences and strongholds in his
course.
The gallant captain is now on his way to Bas-
spin, still keeping up his work of destruction. From
Bassein he is expected here in the Pluto.
The Nemesis is gone Prome-ward with Commander
Shad well, who is to have charge of the gallant flotilla.
" The Phlegethon has been playing the deuce with
Prince Muung-chow-to, who is at Promo with a few
thousand men, and is most persevering and energetio in
his exertions to construct stockades; but no sooner part
of one shows itself anywhere, than bang, bang, go the
Phiegethon's guns, and all Prince Moung-chow-to's
work is blown away a great deal faster than it was put
up. Bat the Prince won't give it up, and the Phlegethon
won't give it up, and so they are both at it hammer and
tongs.

`August 22—The freshes have been very strong for
the last fortnight; numberless canoes have been daily
capsized, but lives are rarely lost, as the canoes continue
to keep afloat, and it is as easy to be on the bottom of
one as in it.

"The Fire Queen is to unrig and transmute herself
into a store and coal hulk. A thatched roof is being
put on her, and she is to go up the Irrawaddy and take
up her station at Prome, I understand.
" August 23—The Enterprise has arrived and taken
every one by surprise. She experienced very bad wea-
ther in her journey hither, and had to rough it. The
Enterprise has been ordered to relieve the Moosuffer and
the Sphynx sent to Madras.
" There 's a report current that Lord Dalhousie will
again visit Rangoon in November."
FORMATION OF THE MADRAS DIVISION OF
THE ARMY OF AVA.
Under the autbority. of Government his Excellency
the Commander-in-Chief directs the formation of the
Madras division of the army of Ava to be composed as
follows:

MADRAS DIVISION.

Brigadier General S. W. Steel, C. 8., commanding;
Captain (Brent Major) J, U. S. Neil, 151 Mai m Euai-