The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-06-08 00:00:00

THE BURMESE WAR.

THE intelligence of the capture of Martaban and
Rangoon, recorded in our last number, took many
of our readers by an agreeable surprise. They were
not aware that the prophecies which the previous
Indian mail contained were likely to be realised, or
that another triumph of British valour was about
to he recorded. But as the object of every war
should be to lay the foundation of a lasting peace,
so it is now time to reflect what is the best use to
make of victory.

One thing is clear, that a grave mistake has been
frequently committed in times p . We have used
victory with too much generosity, for that which is
misunderstood is always thrown away. The man
who is restrained only by the principle of fear, him-
self, and who does not comprehend the abstract
principles of honesty and truth, always judges
another by the same standard. Thus, forbearance
towards the savage or the unprincipled is always
attributed to cowardice or incapacity ; and the
conquerors and the conquered, in all their infe-
rences, reason from two different sets of premises.
The nations of Europe all know the power and
position of England, and respect her accordingly ;
but, fortunately, or unfortunately, we have to do
with others who are less deeply read in the history
of the world. Some estimate power by extent of
territory, and others by numbers of population; in
either of which cases the few inhabitants of our
small islands, whose pale faces are seen in distant
lands, must give unfavourable impressions of us.
The Caffres repeatedly say, "if your Queen be so
great as you tell us she is, why does she not send
soldiers, and show her power ?" And the Burmese,
previously to the last war, are represented as using
the following language :

" The English are the inhabitants of a small and
remote island ; %%quit business have they to come in ships
from so great a distance to dethrone kings, and take pos-
session of countries they have no right to ? They con-
trive to conquer and govern the black foreigners, the
people of castes, 'who have puny frames and no courage ;
they have never yet fought. with so strong and brave a
people as the Burman, skilled in the use of the sword and
spear. If they once fight with us, and we have an oppor-
tunity of manifesting our bravery, it will be an example
to the black 'nations which are now slaves to the English,
and will encourage them to throw off the yoke."
In 1826, the 'former Burmese war terminated in
favour of England, but the principles of mercy and
forbearance were largely carried out, and the result
is that all the fighting must be done over again.
The error was, the assumption that these would be
appreciated by men who knew little or nothing
about them. Professor \VILsoN's narrative of the
war, which raged during the greater part of three
years, puts this matter in the true light. A few
years ago, another war was concluded in our favour
at the .Ccpe of Good Hope, but mercy, forbearance,
and generosity towards another people unprepared
to appreciate them, have more than robbed the
nation of all the fruits of victory. They have
entailed upon us another war, tedious, harassing,
and costly, both in blood and treasure, the end of
which we,do not see yet. We may rest assured
that the steed which is only partially broken in will
never submit his shoulder cheerfully to the yoke ;
and it is mercy to disregard the struggles of the
sufferer, in .a surgical operation that is to restore
him to 'health and happiness.
Two ,features in the present war are somewhat
unusual, the •one affecting the health and the other
the treasury of our people. The district, the sea-
son, and the climate all fight against England in
the territory beyond the Ganges, so that it is a
matter of great moment to conduct the operations
promptly and decisively. If not, fever, cholera,
dysentery, and (coup de soleil will do what the guns
of RANGOON could not effect, and we may End with
King PYRRIFUS that another such victory and we
are undone. The other feature is the attempt of
the Governor-General to make it a money question.
This is a new way ,of bringing wars to a close; and
if the victor were always to hand in a "little bill"
for £lO,OOO a-day, ,or more or less, men would soon
learn that the ploughshare is better than the sword,
the pruning-hook than the spear. People would
avoid law as they avoid the bottomless pit of Chan-
cery, for the twofold reason that there is no know-
ing when they might get out, nor whether they
might not have a double set of costs to pay.

DR. M'NEILE'S LECTURE, LAST NIGHT.

We have devoted considerable space to a full report of
Dr. AVNEILE's lecture last evening, and we are sure
that our readers will gladly excuse the omission or greater
condensation of several minor matters. The dexterous
manner in which the rev. gentleman deduced the prin-
ciples of Romish intolerance from the liberty of conscience
conceded to them in this country produced a marked
effect upon the audience. They had not suspected before
that knocking off the fetters of penal statutes was arming
an incurable enemy, and that the Romanist persecutes
others as conscientiously as we exercise toleration. The
concluding portion of the lecture, in which he applied the
principles to the incidents of the present time, stirred up
the complete enthusiasm of the audience, and cheer after
cheer followed almost every sentence of the glowing pero-
ration. Dr. AT'Neile's lectures in times past have too
often been like the prophecies of Cassandra ; but recent
events have given a fearful confirmation to his forecast-
,
ings, and consequently an increased importance to his
present statements.

BAZAAR.—Yesterday a bazaar, for the benefit of St.
Peter's Church Schools, Everton, was opened at the Ex-
hibition-rooms, Postoffice-place. The day was very
unpropitious, and, consequently, the receipts were less
than was anticipated ; but we sincerely hope the succeed-
ing days will amply repay the loss of yesterday. To the
credit of the ladies of the congregation, the stalls were
not only tastefully laid out, but most abundantly supplied,
and particularly in the refreshment room. Many valuable
articles were exhibited which, if not disposed of, it is in-
tended to raffle ; but we trust that an object so worthy as
the education of youth in the principles of our holy church
will not want support, or fall short of the requisite funds.

PRESENTATION TO MR. THOS. KING, LATE PIER-
HEAD-MASTER CF THE CLARENCF. DOCK.—A few even-
ings ago, a very interesting meeting took place at Mont-
gomery's Trafalgar • Hotel, Waterloo-road, which we re-
cord not only from respect to the party principally inte-

rested, but also from the example which it chords that
kindness of manner, united to integrity, in a public ser-
vant, is certain to command public approbation. The
object of the meeting was to present a handsome gold

watch and chain, with an address, to Mr. Thos. King, who
has lately been promoted from the situation of piechead-
master of the Clarence Dock, to master of Toxteth Dock.
The present had been subscribed fur by the commanders
of steam-shios frequenting the Clarence and Trafalgar
Docks, who, as their address stated, had experienced the
Fend endeavours which he had always manifested

I ivi; er

Clark, the c

nted the watch i

,sea upor

!ch.; ar

by Captain Cumr

Proudfit, Wi
John Lowth