Star.
London, England, 1824-12-28 00:00:00

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EAST INDIES.
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VROM THE CALCUTTA GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, JULY 31
Tut Ertl:mem—The epidemic fever which we ad-
verted to lately,' continues to prevail throughout Cal-
cutta, and it is supposed that already about three-fourths
of the population, both European and Native, have been
affected by it. The disease is attended with intense
headache, violent pains in the limbs, and red inflam-
matory patches all over the body. When these,symp-
toms, which generally last three or four days, are re-
moved, extreme langour and debility remain for some
time. Whole families are suffering under the complaint
together, and in many houses scarcely a servant is left
to wait upon the sick. Fortunately, no fatal cases have
occurred, at least not one has come within our know-
ledge. Nearly three-fourths of our press establishment
arelaid up with the same disease, and a few days ago,
in one public office in town, only three assistants out of
forty-five, were Able to attend to their duty.
The Honourable Company's ship Research, with the
pilot-vessels Cecilia, Torch, Planet, and Henry Merton,
left the Chittagong river yesterday for Cheduba, having
on board three companies of the 2d battalion, 20th;
fifty European artillerymen, two 6-pounders, and two
howitzers, under the command of Lieutenant K. Camp-
bell, of the 43d Regiment Native Infantry.
It is rumoured that an attack is meditated on the
island by our golden-footed friends; and it is not. very
improbable that they will make the attempt, considering
the few troops we have there. Lieutenant Hotham, of
nor division of artillery, proceeds in charge of the guns.
Captain Webb, of the artillery, and Lieutenant Brown,
of his Majesty's 44th Regiment, proceed in the vessels
to Cheduba, on sick certificate, and on the arrival of the
vessels at the island, they go thence to Calcutta in the
Cecilia, which has been ordered to that place after
landing the troops. The Henry Melton and one of the
other pilot-vessels remain at Cheduba, and the Research
will return to Chittagong, surveying the coast on her
trip back.

OFFICIAL.
The following copy of a dispatch received from
Biigadier•General Sir Archibald Campbell, K.C.B. and
K.C.T.S. commanding the British Forces at Rangoon,
is published for geneial information :

" TO GEORGE MINTON, ESQ. SECRETARY TO GOVERN-
MENT, &C. FORT WILLIAM.
Stn—Since I had the honour of addressing you on
the 16th ult. we have had several partial affairs with the
enemy, except in one solitary instance invariably sought
for on our part, and all ending in the same brilliant
manner that has hitherto markd the gallant and in-
trepid conduct of the troops under my command.—
About the end of last month it was stated to me by
• some prisoners of war, and corroborated by a few Ran-
goon people who bad escaped from the jungle, that the
Burmese Chief had received positive orders from Court
to make a general attack upon our line, and drive us at
once out of the country. Every movement of the enemy
plainly indicated that something was intended; large
bodies of troops were for two successive days seen
crossing the river above Kemeudine from the Dallah to
the It4ngoon side, and I telethe more inclined to give
credit to the report, from being well aware that had any
such order been received by the Burman General, cer-
tain disgrace or even decapitation would be the inevi-
table consequence of disobeying it. On the morning of
the Ist inst. every doubt on the subject was removed.—
Three c-lumns of the enemy, estimated at 1,000 men
each, were seen crossing the front of our position, moving
towards our right ; and the jungle in front of the Great
Drgon Pagoda, and along the whole extent of our line
to tire left, was occupied by a large force; but on this
side, from the nature of the ground, it was impossible
to ascertain either the disposition or strength of the
eaemy. The columns m•iving on our right soon came
in contact with the piquets of the7th and 22d Regimeng
of Madras Native Infantry.,which received the attack
with the greatest steadiness, none of them yielding one
inch of ground. The enemy then penetrated in consi-
derable force between two of our piquets, and took post
on a hill about 400 yards from our position, occupying
an old Pagoda and some houses in front, from whizh
they commenced a feeble and harmless fire from some
jingles and swivels. I instantly repaired to the point of
attack with a gun and howitzer from the Bengal Ar-
tillery, and three companies of Native Infantry, viz. one
company of the 7th and two of the 22c1 Regiment, the
whole under the command of Captain Jones of the lat-
ter corps. After a short but well-directed fire from the
artillery, I ordered Captain Jones to advance with his
three companies, and drive the enemy from his post at
the point of the bayonet ; and I had the satisfaction of
seeing my orders carried into effect in the most cool
and gallant style, the enemy flying in every direction
towards their favourite haunt and only place of safety,
the jungle. During the firing on our right, parties of
the enemy felt the piquets along our line to the left, but
never appeared in any force, and retired on the first fire
from our advanced posts. Thus ended the mighty at-
tack that was to have driven us intwo the sea; defeated
with the greatest ease by three weak companies of se-
poys and two pieces of artillery, although such an
enemy might be well appalled at the appearance of the
whole British line under arms.
" From some prisoners who were taken, I am in.
formed that 12,000 men were marched to the attack :
the left columns were ordered to engage with vigour,
and as soon as they had succeeded in penetrating our
line, the attack was then to have become general. Such
were the orders issued, but nothing more contemptible
than the conduct of the enemy on that day was ever
witnessed. They paid for their folly, leaving at least
100 men dead on the field. We had not one man either
killed or wounded.
" Before daylight on the following morning, some
hundred men ut the Dallah force entered the town of
Dallah, firing in the direction of our post. Captain
I saack, of the lith Madras Native Infantry, comluanding,
pushed forward with a few men, and was, I regret to
say, unfortunately shot, the Burmese mutilating his
body with the most savage brutality during the few mi-
nutes it remained in their power.
" While the enemy abstained from converting their
town to the purpose of -annoying us, I also respected
and afforded it every protection, although uninhabited
by one individual; but when they thought proper to
make it a mighty scene of savage warfare, I rased it
to the ground.
"Numerous reinforcements daily joined the enemy's
army in our front—a thing much to be desired, as
tending to increase the distress and discontent already
prevailing in their lines; and having observed a dispo-
sition to recross part of their force to the Dana!) side
of the river, I determined, on the Bth instant, to make
as general au attack as the very woody and inundated