The Sun.
London, England, 1826-07-04 00:00:00

4.t.tt4

EAST TYDits.

.~

• (From the Calcutta Gottriament G-azette.)
(oFrlcim.)
poLITICAL DEPARTMENT.
SORT WILLIAM, IT-R, 6,1626. e
The following copies of despatches received from the Commis-
sioners in sva and Pegu, and front Major-General Sir Archibald
Campbell, K.C.13.. end K.C.T.S., Commander of the British
forces in Ave, are herewith published for general information.
To THE RIGHT HON. LORD .13111/".11414 GOTERNOR•GENLRAI. IN
sme. , •
My Lord—lt is with extreme regret that we have to report, for
the information of your Lordship in'Couneil, that the treaty con-
chuled with time IluraneasAinielierl'on'the Sd instant; not having
•been ratified by their ..Saveteigni and none of the conditions
having, within the stipulated period, ibeen fulfilled, all amicable
intercourse with the authorities at Melloon was immediately
broken off, and hostilities recommenced on the morning of the 1 ill
instant, with the attack amid -capture of the enerny'S position at
that plam:e.

The particulars of this action will be communicated in the
military despatches, and we shall take an early opportunity of
submitting our sentiments' upon the ulterior policy which it may,
in consequence, be expedient to pursue.
In our present address we conceive it sufficient to refer your
Lordship in Council, to, the- detailed account of our proceedings
given in the doettments transmitted by this opportunity to the
Secretary to Government in the Political Department, for'the.
tos evidence, that every admissible effort
hu, our i)nadz
to avert an event which,' however,
nanhveieitnci aie
deeply to be regretted, will, we feel confident, be admitted by
the Government to have been, under the peculiar circumstances
of our situation, altogether unavoidable. We have the honour
to be, toy Lord, Your Lordships most obedient and most humble.
Servant, (Signed) ARCHO. CAMPBELL,
.Major• Gen: and Sen. Commissioner:
(Signed) T. C. ROBERTSON,
Tite ( 'ommiNNioner's. Office, Camp, Civil Commissioner.
Petatutgoli, "20th 1411. 1826. . ,

TO Gi:ORGY SitVINTOItip ESQ., sarnErAni TO GOVERN:WE:I4:T,
SECRET AND romricAL DEP Art.TNIEIT, &C.
yorcr ILIJA If
BiT_My despatch at the 3 lat ult. hrought.the operations of the
army under my command dawn to that date, and expressed my
sanguine expectations, that it would prove the last conmiunicatiou
which Ushotild have ttiaddresa• to you, relative to the war in this
cpuntry. •
These hopes have been, unfortunately, frustrated by the policy
of a court, apparently destitute alike of every principle of honour
and good faith.

The signature of a treaty of peace, by the British and Birnian
Commissioners, on the 3,i instant, and the pledge, on the part of
the latter, that theeatne would be ratified by the King of Avis
within fifteen ciayrkof that date, and some specific articles, as therein
stated, carried into effect within the saute period, has already been
brought to the knowledge of the Right lion. the Governor-Gene.-
ral in Corincil by the proceedings of the British Commissioner',
recorded in their despatchem tinder date the 3d instant. All oc-
currences of a purely political nature since then will now, in like
manner, be' furnished by the same authority. I shall therefore!
proceed to the detail of military events resulting therefrom.
On the 18th, the day appointed' for the return of the ratified"
treaty, &c., the Commissioners finding, 'that instead of a fulfil-
ment of this promise a further delay of six or seven days wan ert-
licited, undee,eoph
.unequivocal circumstances, as left no doubt
that a total want of faith guided their eotancils, it was &finis
tively declared„tbat their request could not he complied with,ensV
and a secret article proposed to them, in which it was stipulfited
(together with ,the performance of others slimly agreed to) thit
they should' siiititate the fortified and entrenched city of Melloon
by sun-rise on the morning of the ROth. 'On their positive . re,
jection Of this proposition, they were told, that twelve o'clock that'
very night (the 18th), hostilities would recommence. Deeming,
it of the utnieltiniporfanee, that im time should be lost in punish..
ing duplicity of so flagrant a character; I -ordered the construc-
tion of batteries+ :and the landing of heavy-Ordnance from the
flotilla, to commence immediately after midnight, • and every ;re
quieite arrangement be made . fir to early attack upon Melletoh.
His Lordship in council will be enabled to appreciate the teal '
and exertion with which my larders werasearried into effect, under
the direction of LieuttoatitsColotteL( H.Opletron, commanding
the artillery', anti Lientenaet Underwood, , the ohief engineer, I
(aided by the indefeikigable cords the ffii.at hattalion of Madras i
Oloiteers, tinder thi4sittedlitititt ~,..t.,,„e„...„ .... I nines:
this , hes ten... se,s*eitex as•WPstfiiithl‘ " , . 'eight and twenty
Omits of ordnance Inn lit qith n -li &tenting a front of more
than one mile on thenestern WM dl' the Irrawaddy, which 40i- ,"
responded with the extent of the enetey'e line of defence on she
opposite shore. I vet cherished hopes that the formidable appear-
. stare of our preparations would halm induced them to make souse
further eormounicationtin tbe morning, instead of again risking
the ;rimed of boatilitiee with troops' of whose decided: ruperiotity
they had so. Recently experienced the most cOnvinding and•ht+i-•
hating proofs. In this I was disappointed. At daylight I per-
ceived thatthe preceding night hid been devoted by them' to pre-
parations,equally libilrioni, and the.. coisetruction of extensive and
well,plenued works, with. a view to the resistance on which they
hatt..eeed. ... .. - ' ! :
AV,.ileyeao'elock A.. M. VIA 10th), A ordered our batteries and
'Cricl44.to 61W0 their tire. eta the enemy's position ;, it was .warmly
kept up, and *Ali such a precision of practice,, as to, reflect the
highest credit on this' branch of the service.
During this period, the troops intended for the assault were em-
barking in the boats; of his Majesty's
.ships and the flotilla, at a
'Mint above our eneanapment at Patanagoli, under the.'superin-
tendenee and diiectiOn of Captain Charlie., of his Majesty's Rhin
Magafor, senior naval officer, on whom this charge devolverl in
the absence of his Eicellency, Commodore :air James Brisbane, in
consequence of extreme.iudispmition. ,
At about one r. at. the decided impreeeiun having been- prat:
diced by the cannonade, and, every, thing reported ready, I directed
the Brigadier, under Lieutenant-Colonel Sale. consisting of his
Majesty's 13th and 3Sth regiments,, to drop down the river, and
assault the main faCe of the enemy's position, near its south-eastern
angle; and Brigadier. General. Cotton, with the flank companies of
his Majesty's 47Sli and 87th regiinents, and his Majesty's 88th Te-
girrient, under.' LiCutegant,Colonel. Bunter Blair; Alia Illajesty'l
flat rrginient;and the 113th Miiiiras Native Infantry, under Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Godwin ; sod. the 28th Miulras Native. Infantry
with the (Lodi companies of the 14d Madras Native Infantry,
under Lieu t eau n t-Colonel Parlby, to cross above Melloon, anti after
carrying some outworks, to attack the northern face of the,princi-
pal work.
. .. , .
Although the whole of the boat* pushed off together front .the
left bank, the tit reng t b of the current, and a strong breeze from
the north; cerried Lieutenaet-Colonel Sale's brigade to the givers
point of muck before the other
.colompalnotwithstatitling every
-exertion) could possibly reach 01!; oppoiiie eltore ; Lieutenent-
Colonel Sale was
unffirtiniatcly wounded in his boat, but the carpi'
of his brigadt having lauded, and formed With admirable regela-
city, under,the command of Major With, of his Majesty's 38th
'regiment, ru.161 on to the assault with their usual intrepittity,.
although certainly not sit
and were, in a short time, complete masters of a work, which,
Well Chosen in point of position as othertf
we have met with, yet had been rendered most tbrniidable by'
labour and art, and at the siune'timia, such as to afford the enemy
a presumptive assurance of security in their possession of it.
This is fully evinced,' by the circumstance of the chiefs, with
Mettiiaboo at their. head, (contrary to the Burmese custom in' all
such cases); having remained within their defences till they saw
the troops crossing.to the assault.

When Brigadier-General.Cotton saw that the works were ear-
vied by the 13th and 3Elth regiments, ht very judiciously ordered
the brigade Under Lieutenant-Colonel. Hunter Blair, to cut in
upon' the enemy's line of retreat, whirl was done accordingly,
audvrith much.efrect. .

, .
Thus was accomplished, in the course of a few hours from the
reeomniencement' bf hostilifieu; forced upon us perfidy and
duplicity, a chaitiiement as exemplary as it was merited. Their
loss in killed and wounded has been severe, and the accompanying
returns of captured ordnance, omitance-stores, arms, and mini,.
nition, will sufficiently deinoustrate how. seriously slow have suf.
(erect in these partienlars,..a species of disaster which their Go-
vernrnent will, doubtless, more; deeply deplore than , the, sacri-
floe of lives', or the shame of defeat. Specie to the amount of
about 80,000 rupees was found in, Meiniaboo's house,: and a very
ample magazine of grain, together with about 70 bonen,. have
also fallen into our hand,,, it will prove, highly gratifying
hiB
Lordshipiti Council to learn, that, advantages so importanthave
been secured with-s 0 small a, lunnerica) loss as is. exhibited byrthe
returns of killed and wounded. itn'Qfighttbe Wounded' I inehiliet
with particular regrel4;' the name* of 'Lieut.-Col- Sale-and Major Frith, the latter having succeeded to the eenunled of the oolnum•`
'on his senior °Meer being disabled, received, at his head, in the
,rpoluent
of
success, a
spear
wound, which i fin is of a .serious
nature. Major Thornhill, of his MaicatY'a.llitli Light Infantry,
was the:third on whom, the,aceldents of. War threw the .periloos
distinction of leading thew troops, and .he conducted their nlove-
merits to the elose of the Affair in a atyle Worthy of his predecessors
in cosr
Where OA displays new in every ranks of amongst the officers
irholn ihsve.the happinekt to . command, and alt vie with each
other in the hortourahle discharge of duty, the teak of selecting in-
dividual names for the notice of his Lordship becomes difficult and