The Sun.
London, England, 1825-02-08 00:00:00

INDIA.

We have received papers from Bombay to the
28th of September, which contain advices from
Calcutta to the Ist of that month. The follow-
ing dispatches from Sir A acllinA,Ln CAMPBELL,
commanding the British forces at Itangoon, have
been published at Calcuttii

TO GEORGE SWINTON, ESQ., SECRETARY TO COVERN-
MENT, SECRET AND POLITICAL. DEPARTMENT, &C. &C.

&C., FORT WILLIAM.
Sir,—l am now enabled to inform you, from information re-
ceived from deserters, anti through other sources which can be
relied on, that the loss of the enemy in the action of the Bth
instant was much more severe, and its consequences much more
fatal and disastrous, than I could at the time have formed any
idea of. The number of killed very much exceeds that stated
in my dispatch of the 11th instant, and a great number have
since died of their wounds in the jungle. All accounts agree,
and I have no longer a doubt of the fact, that Soomba
%lroonghee (3d Minister of the Empire) a Woondock, anti two
other Chiefs 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 await the arrival of the Prince
of Sarrawaddy, said to be advancing with 70,000 men.
The only body of the enemy I could hear of in this neigh_
bourhood, was a small force of 3,000 men assembled at a place
called Keytloe, about twelve or fifteen miles from Rangoon
and measures were adopted for immediately attacking them.
On the morning of the 10th inst. I ordered 1,200 men to pro-
ceed by land direct to the spot, proeeeding myself with 600 more
up the Puzendown creek, running in its whole course nearly
parallel to, and from no 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 in the Diana steam-boat,
I did not hear of the impassabl a state of the country, and con-
sequent return of the land column to their quarters, till the
following day, when I had reached the point where I in-
tended to co-operate, 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 dread
and consternation, without firing a shot at us, or we at
them ; we also passed several villages visited for the first
time by our troops, from each of which I had the pleasure
of restoring to their homes some Rangoon families found in
the extreme of wretchedness and misery; we could distinctly
observe there were some armed men in the villag_.s, who ap-
parently connived at their escape, and who it may be presumed
will remain in arms only until an opportunity offers of pro-
viding 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 our first
approach, have placed unlimited confidence in its. At all the
villages the greater part of tl,se inhabitants fled from their
houses to the fields, where they remained as spectators, but at
each we found a few men left to converse with us, who re-
ceived every assurance I could give them of safety and protec-
tion, if they remained quietly at their homes. On our return
yesterday to quarters, I had the satisfaction of seeing some of
these villages thickly inhabited, the people quite at their ease,
and saluting us as we passed.
Although this expedition, upon which I was out for three
days, has terminated differently from what I intended, I feel
confident much good will result from it. The favourable im-
pression made shall he cultivated to the very utmost of my
power, and happy indeed shall I be to sheath the sword as
often as the object in view can be attained by kindness and
mercy.-1 have, &c.
(Signed) " A. CAMPBELL, Brigadier-General.
Head-quarters, Rangoon, 22d July, 1821.

TO GEORGE SWINTON, ESCL, SECRETARY TO GOVERN-
MENT, SECRET AND POLITICAL DEPARTMENT, &C.

CSC. &C., TOUT-WILLIAM..

Sir—Being informed that the Governer of Syriam had as-
sembled a force on the banks of the Pegite, or Syrian' river,
and had ordered the whole conscription of the district to repair
without delay to the place of rendezvous, for the purpose of
finishing and defending a large fieldwork,, which was to com-
mand the river and protect the surrounding country; although
aware that few had obeyed the summons, I determined upon
dislodging the enemy, and for that purpose I yesterday morn-
ing proceeded up the Syriam river with 300 Europeans and an
equal number of native infantry, the whole under the command
of Acting Brigadier Smelt. Upon approaching the landing_
place leading to the town pagoda of Syriam, I observed the old
Portuguese fort, long concealed from view by trees and over-
grown brushwood, cleared and scraped, where the old wall had
fallen down, and from 15 to 20 feet high ; upon this the enemy
had raised a parapet, and suspended huge logs of wood on the
outside, intended to be cut away during the assault, and to
carry the assailants before them in the descent.

The troops landed under the fire of the Penang Government
brig Jessie, and the Powerful sloop employed as a mortar-
vessel, and the advanced party moved on until stopped by a
deep impassable nulla, the bridge over which had been de-
stroyed, and threatened to check our progress ; but the difficulty
was speedily removed, and a very tolerable bridge constructed
by Capt. Marryat and part of the officers and crew of his Ma-
jesty's ship Larne. The enemy's fire from musketry and artil-
lery was even unusually feeble and contemptible, and they
abandoned the place with the utmost precipitation when the
troops moved forward to the attack, leaving behind them eight
pieces of good artillery.
I next directed Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly, of the Macias Eu-
ropean regiment, to pros !al with part of the force to the Syriam
Pagoda, which I was informed was also occupied by about 300
men. The Lieutenant-Colonel, on arriving at the Pagoda,
found the enemy inclined to dispute the possession of their
almost impregnable post, but they lost confidence while the
troops were ascending the long flight of steps leading up to the
Pagoda, and fled in the utmost confusion, leaving four pieces
of artillery, and a great quantity of powder.
Although in these affairs the enemy afforded little opportunity
for displaying the discipline and gallantry of the troops, their
usual feeling and ardour were by no means less conspicuous,
and I have every reason to be satisfied with the arrangements of
Brigadier Smelt and Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly in conducting
the different attacks.
From Captain Marryat and the officers of his Majesty's
Navy I ever receive the most prompt and cordial co-operation.
I have, &c.

(Signed) A. CAMPBELL, Brigadier-General.
Head-quarters, Rangoon, sth of Aug. 1824.
Ordnance and ammunition taken and destroyed at Syriam on

the 4th of Aug. 1824.

Brass-4 pounder, Dutch, one; -3
pounder, Spanish or Por-
tuguese, two.
Iron-18 pounder, Carronade, one ; do., one lost in a deep
nulls ; 6 do., one ; do., four destroyed for want of means to bring
them on ; wall pieces, two.
quantity of gunpowder destroyed, and about
100 weight of grape.
Return of killed and wounded from the 14th of July to the sth
A considerable

of August, 1824-;-:
His Majesty's 4.lst Foot, 3 privates wounded; Madras Euro-
pean, 1 ditto ditto; Bombay Artillery, 1 ditto ditto; seamen
of the Larne, 3 ditto ditto.
By command of the Right Hon. the Governor-General in
Council,
GEO. SNVIrrON, Secretary to the Government.

The private accounts from the army at Rangoon stated,
that the troops in general were healthy, although much in
want of fresh provisions, and of cattle for the general pur-
poses of the army. From sixteen to twenty rupees were
given for a sheep, and seven for a fowl. A commercial house
at Madras had gained very largely, by having taken the
precaution to send a great quantity of live stock. The coun-
try round Rangoon was completely inundated, so much so, that
it was considered impossible to march for Ummerapoora until
October or November. The King of Ava was said to have left
his capital, and taken the command of a camp formed in the
upper provinces. The Burmese were represented, by the report
of some prisoners who had escaped, to be.in extreme want of
provisions, and that the utmost reluctance to encounter the
British troops prevailed among them.' The death of Commo-
dore Grant, of the Lifey frigate,.ixconfirmed.by these advices.
It took place at Prince of Wales's Island on the 25th of July,
and his funeral.was celebrated on. the following day, with every
tribute of respect to his memory on the part of the civil and
_Military authorities of the island.