The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-14 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FETIRUARY 14, 1853.

OVERLAND MAIL.

ANNEXATION OF PEGU.

We have received by express from Marseilles our
dispatches from India, in anticipation of the Over-
land Mail, which left Bombay on the 13th, Madras
on the 10th, and Calcutta on the sth ult.
This mail, owing to a charge in the postal ar-
rangements, was dispatched at an interval of only
ten days after the date of the previous one. The
formal annexation of Pegu is announced in the
following proclamation :

Achilles, which left Aden a day and a half
behind her' having arrived two days bac): re her,
gaining on her three days in 1,500 miles, by this
much delaying the dispatches. The Auci kla.nd's
misadventure three monthsago will be remer r (bored,
when she was beaten -by three days by th i s same
Achilles, 'and was unable to overtake the 0; ilcutta
steamer, and so caused the packets to be. det ; tined a
fornight id Egypt ; and yet this farce is can :ied out
at a cost ot 75,0001. a-year in excess of the ;lam for
which the Oriental Company undertook to n ianage
the packet service to perfection ; and a (1-, warn-
ment packet carrying nothing is dispatched, once a
month simultaneously with a merchantm n, by
which it is known she would be beaten, and; which
carries, or is ready to carry, everything de aired to
be convey-ed, at an expense to the State of :2,0001.
or 3,0001.. a voyage. Our Commander-in.- Chief,
Lord. Frederick Fitzclarence, is endeavou ring to
improve the discipline of.the Bombay army gene-
rally supposed to have .been pretty good bef Or e,' by
having parties of her Majesty's - 78th Highl'a aders
and of the 14th Native Infantry-quartered n N it his
house, and instructed under his personal insp ec ;tion.
The Govenior-General is about to proceed/ on a
tour through, Arracan. and Chittagong. T 1 11 3 Go-
vernors of Bombay and Madras are at the presi-
sidencies—the Commander-in-Chief in India , is in
the north-west provinces ; he of Madras in t b te dis-
tricts. Trade at Bombay continues brisk, coney
plentiful, and the
,money market easy. Th. e fair
at Kurrachee seems to have proved a failure.
We have at last received our supplies of B aroda
blue-books a,nd of the reports of the eviden 03 be-
fore the Committees on Indian Affairs. Ti u; dis-
closures made by the last of these are som ,ewha.t
astounding, and exhibit a --In•yishnet,*.of ex*rava-
Tanen irt—e-xpendittini ttv some polukid' r nig-
gardliness in others which we were not pr °pared
for. The home Government, while begriac aging
12,0001. a year for educational purposes in Wei stern
India, and refusing a shilling of extra outl: a y on
public improvements, set down the cost of the India
House at above 100,0001. a year, the Board of: Con-
trol at 26,0001., and state that they have exp e:uded
in addition to this, above 53,000/. in house di timers
within the last 18 years. Among the items of ex-
penditure in India, with which no fault is f bland,
are 50,0001. for the Governor-General's journ Loy in
the north-west provinces—the Governor hims l.fre-
ceivincr 24,0001. a year as salary, and 15,0001" L year
1al: to de-
for office establishments ; the Governor of Bor n(baY,
hwihmo
froerceoiffivecsela2n,doooes/t.aahhyshmeare,
nhta,sanldo,ooo2,4oo/ I( )wed
fray the charges of his residence in the hot w( )anther
in the highlands, and his rustication during the • :rains
at his country villa in Dapooree, where he is: con-
sidered by his late colleagues at the council b c iard,
Messrs. Reid and Willoughby, functus otjeccieh and
where half his time has for the past five years 'been
spent. It is allowed at home, that councils act the
minor presidencies are maintained at a cost of Isom°
50,0001. a-year, to permit a state of matters subch as
this to be continued, so as to enable the mircistry
of the day from time to time to provide f( rt• its
friends. Large portions of the Baroda blue--".book
are being republished by the newspapers a t the
Presidency ' • they are fearfully damaging t() the
character of the British Government. This is the
first time that the people have seen it proclaimed
by authority that Government do not desire mis-
conduct of their servants to be too minutel3- in-
quired into, and that it is matter of indifferen x;(3, to
them what opinion is held of them by the naitiives

A body which pronounces aman like-CoIOLI •Out•

ram—'who has enjoyed the highest distinction it nder
ten administrations—a hot-headed fanatical :fool,
unworthy of public employment, only inn jure
themselves. Peter Peebles said that all the 7r orld
considered him mad—and no one would have

hesitated on what side, in this case, to pronow ace--
for his part he looked on all the world as mad,
and when we are compelled to decide between the

weight of the opinions of such men as Sir ,Sohn
Malcolm, Lord Clare, Sir Robert Grant, Mr.
Farish, Sir James Carnac, Sir William Ander-
son, Sir George Arthur, Mr. Reid, Sir George
Clerk, and Mr. Willoughby on the one side, a:ll of

whom. professed the highest admiration of Colonel
Outram—and of Lord Falkland and his councillors,
who, pretend to despise him, on the other—there
need be no great difficulty or delay in arriving at a
correct conclusion on the subject, siding with the
poor Peter Peebles of the day or the public voice
for twenty years.

PEGII DISPATCHES.

NOTIFICATION.
Fort William, Foreign Department,
Jan. 4, 1853.

The Most Noble the Governor-General in Council is
pleased to direct the following extracts from dispatches
relative to recent operations in the neighbourhood of
Pegu shall be published for general information.

The GovernOr-General in Council has to express his
approbation of the alacrity and spirit with which this
harassing duty has been performed, and his sense of the
services of the Major-General commanding, and of the
officers whose names he has specially brought to the
notice of his Lordship in Council in the dispatch of the
24th ult.

The Governor-General in Council particularly desires
to record his high approbation of the gallant conduct of
Major Hill, of the Madras Fusiliers, and of the officers
and men under his command, in their defence of the po-
sition they held at Pegu.

By order of the Mo-at Noble the Governor-General 'of
India in Council. C. ALLEN,
Official Secretary to the Governor of India.

EXTRACT FROM A DISPATCH 'FROM MAJOR-GENERAL
GODWIN, C. 8., COMMANDING TROOPS IN AVA, ARRA-
CAN, AND TENASSERIM PROVINCES, DATED DECEMBER
29, 1852. No. 22.
In my last despatch from Pegu, dated the 15th inst.,
after having relieved it from the enemy, I had the
honour of informing you, for the information of the Go-
vernor-General in Council, that it was inST intention to
advance into the country and free that garrison from
the near position of the Burmese army.
At that time I had been informed they were at Le-
phangoon, but from subsequent information I found
them entrenched and entrenching themselves in great
numbers on a plain about four miles north of the Pagoda,
at a place called Kaleetat. It took till the 17th instant
to procure what carriage was available for the commis-
sariat stores, when 18 buffalo hackeries were prepared to
contain six days' provisions.
The troops left the Pagoda about seven o'clock a.m.
on that date, to the amount of about 1,200 men consist-
ing of about 600 of the Bengal Fusiliers under Lieute-
nant-Colonel Tudor ; 150 of the Madras Fusiliers,
under Captain Renaud ; 500 Seiks, under Major Arm-
strong ; and 160 of the 10th Bengal Native Infantry,
under Captain Munro. I had no guns, for I had no
means of drawing them. We had to pass through a
very thick jungle for about two miles, when we de-
bouched on a noble plain, miles in extent, covered with
ripe paddy. We then had a good view of the position
of the enemy and their probable numbers. They were
admirably posted behind an entrenchment with a battie,
large spars formed their breastwork, and it appeared to
be about a mile long, filled with masses of men, a few
hundreds of the (Imam), horse, some elephants, and a few
guns.
It was from this post that the men were furnished to
invest our garrison at Pegu. From my force I had to
give a baggage guard of 200 men. With the remainder
I quietly advanced on their position, inclining to
my own right to threaten their left, which was open,
their right being supported by a large tope of trees, and
flanked by a thick jungle. They fired a gun occasion-
ally as we advanced, and from their quiet and deter-
mined attitude behind their strong defences, with at least
ten men for one of mine, I had great expectation that
they would stand our assault. These men were from
the garrisons of Sheogyne, Sitang, and Beling, had been
very active in giving constant alarms to Martaban and
Moulmein, and had the character, too, of being men
who would fight ; and some of these men had been killed
on the walls in their assaults on Pegu.
When I was within about 400 yards of their position,
I detached 200 men of the Bengal Fusiliers, under Major
Seaton, to drive in two outposts in front of the right of
their position, for I changed my mind and determined
to attack them upon their right, in the hope of our meet-
ing. Major Seaton very soon performed this service,
the enemy retiring upon their main entrenchments, ex-
changing musketry.
I now formed the columns of attack—Major Seaton's
party of the Bengal Fusiliers and Major Armstrong,
with his Seiks, to attack the tope, with two companies
of the Bengal Fusiliers under Lieutenant Lambert, but
attached to Major Armstrong's column.
I stopped Major Seaton's attack, seeing that they had
loaded the jungle, which his left flank would have had
to pass in gaining the tope, with hundreds of men.
I had strong reserves close up, and ready to assist in
the assault. It was a very interesting sight to see our
little columns moving up to the attack of this host of
people; so strongly posted, and in a "lain " where every
object is visible. I was so confident we should get in
among them that when the smoke cleared away, after
the impetuosity of the attack, it was like magic their
escaping us. The Seiks at the tope were like lightning
at them, and Lieutenant Lambert, who had thrown his
column in the flank of the long entrenchment close to
the tope, would have prevented their firing except on
each other, and I believe the rapidity with which the
advance closed upon them threw them off all guard, and
they considered flight their only safety.
After the action, the troops rested in the shade of the
tope for an hour. We then proceeded on to Lephangoon,
a distance of ten miles, which we reached at half-past
seven a.m., marching altogether about fourteen miles.
This is the largest and finest village I have seen in the
country, with a great many excellent farmhouses ix it.

1 It stands on both sides ef the river, which is Nere fordable,
and is surrounded by fine plains covered 'with grain.
We were not aware that the enemy katd retreated on
this village, but they left it on our Approach, and the
force found good quarters for the night.
The village was totally abandoned ' • not a soul was
seen, nor grain to be found in it, which I had trusted to
for the followers ; so they fell back on the commissariat,
which I could with difficulty spare them, and this, added
to the breaking down of one of our carte with beef and
biscuit, crippled me much.
The next day, the 18th inst., we marched to Mont-
sautganoo, 10 miles, where we arrived about twelve
o'clock at noon - there the enemy had 'passed the night.
It is an inconsiderable village, and we were in bivouac.
About three o'clock p.m. I was informed that sotne of
the enemy were hovering about, whom I believed were
only observing us, but'shortly they came down in large
masses, and formed in a line about two miles in our front.
Our men were soon under arms, and I marched to-
wards them in two separate columns of an equal divi-
sion of the force under my command. Brigadier-Grene-
ral Steel took charge of the left column, and Lieutenant-
Colonel Tudor of the right. Skirmishers were thrown
out on both sides, but as we advanced they-retired for
about two miles further, when they took up an align-
ment close to a long range of barracks, which they had
evidently occupied on different occasions. . The two
columns threw out advanced parties for attack; but as
we neared them they again'retired, leaving the barracks
in our possession. It was now nearly dark, and as they
appeared to be going away altogether, we burnt their
barracks, and retired to our bivouac, three miles, where
our baggage and followers had remained under a strong
guard. .

The next day, the 19th inst., on inquiry into the state
of the commissariat, I found I had not quite three days'
provisions left, and ,was very deficient in some articles,
and it became imperative on me to return to Pegu, which
I did that day. Had I had the means of earring with
me tWelve days' provisions I would have pursued them
over the Sitans River, but lam sadly crippled every-
where for want of carriage, except at Rangoon, where I
do not require it.
I propose to detach Brigadier-General Steel with a
force to Moulmein, where he will find every description
of carriage in abundance for tents, and materials of all
kinds, to Beling, Sitang, and Sheogyne, and crossing
that river to return by Pegu to Rangoon, as he may
deem practicable—which may force this army north to-
wards Prome—which it must, I think, as it cannot go
to Pegu, and which will be the best course for us it can
take.

I embarked at Pegu on the 20th, and arrived on the
morning of the 22d, leaving a reinforcement with the
garrison at Pegu, and strengthening their party of Sap-
pers as a temporary measure, to allow of their putting
themselves in a perfect state of defence.
Now, sir, I have to ask the estimation of the Gover-
nor-General in Council for the service that has been
most harassing and arduous, and for which no force
ever took the field so little prepared, but which was
borne with a cheerfulness and alacrity, where the least
chance of a contest with the enemy presented itself, that
was enthusiastic, and which confers the highest honour
on the whole force.

To Brigadier-General Steel I am most obliged for the
warmest co-operation throughout this service.
To Brigadier Dickenson, who was ever ready and anxi-
ous to render me his able assistance.

To Lieut.-Colonel Tudor, who was very often called
upon with his regiment, the Bengal Fusiliers, to give
parties for assaults, and on the day of my relieving gar-
rison at Peg; I detached the Lieut.-Colonel to clear the
road communicating with the landing-place on the river.
The Lieut.-Colonel erformed this duty most effectually
under a heavy fire.
To Captain Latter, my interpreter, who had the guides
always under his charge, and who was present every-
where with his usual gallantry.
To Major Armstrong, with his Seiks, conspicuous
wherever they were called upon.
To Majors Garrard and Seaton, of the Bengal Fusi-
liers ; Captain Renaud, commanding a detachment of
the Madras Fusiliers ; Captain Munro, commanding a
detachment of the 10th Bengal Native Infantry ; Cap-
tain Hawkes, Brigade-Major ; Lieutenant Lambert, of
the Bengal Fusiliers ; Lieutenant Elliott, of the Madras
Fusiliers ; and Lieutenant Harris, of the Sappers, who
rendered important assistance, I am much indebted.
The general staff—Major Mayhew, Deputy-Assistant
Adjutant-General ; and Captain Hamilton, Assistant Ad-
jutant-General; Captain Burne, Military Secretary ; and
Captain Chads, Aides-de-Camp—l warmly thank ; as
also Major Neill, Assistant Adjutant-General ; and
Major Atkinson, Assistant Quartermaster-General,
Madras Division ; and Captains Dillas and Travers,
Aides-de-Camp on the staff of Brigadier-General Steel,
for their uncommon exertions during this service.
To Surgeons M'Cosh and Balfour, and the medical
department, the service is much indebted,
The short interval between the time I received the in-
telligence of the investment of Pegu from Captains
Tarleton and Shadwell, and the embarkation of the
troops the same evening, when by nine o'clock
p.m. 1,400 men, with their material, were sent
on board, under the eye of that valuable officer Captain
Tarleton, of the Royal Navy, till its disembarkation near
Pegu, and its re-embarkation on return here, was marked
by wonderful exertion and arrangement ; and that with
the aid and assistance I received from him, with the
men-of-war's boats, calls for every acknowledgment.
To Captain Shadwell I also feel greatly indebted for
his assistance and exertion on this occasion.
I forward to the Governor-General in Council the
detailed account of the investment of Pegu by the Bur-
mese army, and the noble defence made by Major Hill
and his brave garrison, for the Government to select
what in its wisdom it may think proper to publish.
I have this morning received the gratifying informa-
tion from Major Hill that some thousand families are
coming in, which I hope in a future dispatch to confirm
positively. It is my intention to proceed to Prome in
three days, and to take the field immediately. lam
happy to say that the general health of the troops here,
as well as their conduct, is very satisfactory.