Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-12-01
BOSTON, NOV. ".
NEW WAR IN INDIA.

the existence of war between the En-
glish East India Company and the Bir-
man Empire but the most interesting
of them have been received from Mem
bers of the American Missionary station,
which was established in that empire
some twelve years since. 1t appears by
these letters, that the origin of the war
was dispute respecting the Jurisdiction
of an island in the. river Matt, which
both parties claimed, and who chose to
decide the claim by "the last reasoning
of Kings" Until very recently, little
was known in Europe or America Of the
existence of the Birman Empire, as they
had no intercourse with Europeans, and,
like the Chinese, lived within them
selves. The people are said to be har-
dy, stout, and sanguinary-and the pop
ulation of the empire is estimated to ex-
coed fourteen millions of souls. The
particulars of the first skirmish in the
war, near Chittagong, has been publish
ed. The loss was considerable on both
sides. To carry the war into the heart
of the empire, all the 6isposable force of
the Company was assembling at Ran
COON, which had been captured by the
British. The following letter from the
Rev. Mr.. Hough to his friends in New
Hampshire, gives some details of the pro-
gress of the war, and of the perils expe-
rienced by the American Missionaries -
"RANGooS, MAY IS, 1894.
My DEAR AND HoNoRED FATHER-lt
is with great pleasure, and with graft
tude to the Divine Disposer Of all events,
that live to tell you we are safe a.
midst the noise and hustle of war. The
British troops took possession of this
place on the 18th. In the engagement,
they met with very slight resistance.
Of the British, not an individual was
killed, OF even wounded. Several Bir-
mans were killed and wounded.
son the 10th, about o'clock in the
evening, brother Wade and myself were
taken by ten or twelve Birmans, by or
der of the government, and conducted to
prison, where we found six Englishmen,
merchants and traders in this place) al
ready confined. About 8 o'clock they
were put in irons-and at day light,
brother Wade and myself were also fet-
tered in the same manner, with this diff
ference, that we were chained together.
"On the 18th, at about O'Clock, the
fleet came up to town, and the engage
ment commenced: the Birman guns
were soon silenced-and the inhabitants
of the town and suburbs, probably "a
mounting to $4,000, fled to the jungles,
increases and bushes with what they
could carry on their shoulders and heads.
The government on their retreat order
ed us out for execution. The execu-
TONERS accordingly rushed into the
prison, seized and stripped US to the
shirt and pantaloons, bound our arms
with cords behind US, and dragged
US out into one of the streets Of the
town, where our necks were barred, and
we were ordered TO the position for be-
heading, | was the only person among
US who could speak the Birman Ian
guage, and proposed that we should not
be at that instant executed, telling them
| would go to the fleet and propose an
accommodation. This was assented to-
but not until they had dragged US, in the
most barbarous manner, about mile
from town. Then was released-and
taking Birman with me, made my way
to the river and fleet but on the way,
| met the first party Of the British troops
who had landed. informed them
where the Birmans and prisoners were,
and then proceeded on board the frigate
Liffey, Com. Grant, who gave me, as a
preliminary to any negotiation, an order
to the Blrman Governor, that every
prisoner should be Immediately sent on
board the Liffey. On this | returned,
without any expectation that the Bir-
mans would comply. On my proceed
ing to the place where | was released, |
could find no one but detachment of
British soldiers, and they had not met
with the Birmans OF prisoners. 1t APP
pears they had fled from thence. taking
their prisoners with them. proceed
ed in search of them--and although
met with several struggling Birmaqs,
could obtain no information concerning
the Governor or the prisoners. Having
searched in the jungIes till dark, re-
turned to the Mission house, where
found every thing untouched, and learnt
that Mrs. Wade and my wife, with our
son George, had, during the consterna-
ton excited by the attack, fled to the
Portuguese church, and where party
of the British marched round, had
sought their protection, and were con-
veyed into the town where, about eight
O'Clock in the evening, | found them
safe and in health.
"T The next morning, (the 12th) the 9TH
er prisoners being left in confn ement by