Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-04-23

SSNSioi hioAS PiOfahSCS SOu4uCICo'-
They are still at war with the unfortu-
nate Siamnese, and have lately formed
an alliance with the King of Cochin
China to assist in their final subjuga-
ton. In 1922 the fine and beautiful
country of Assam was added to their
numerous conquests, which brought
them Immediately upon the British
possessions. A reference to the map
will show the immense extent OF these
multiplied acquisitions Of territory.
From what has been stated, it will be
readily conceived that the government
ofIndia would not be DESTROYS Of COM
ing into collision with such formida-
bic opponent; and accordingly we find
by examining the necessary authori-
ties, that every etiquette has been OBJ
served towards his Burmese Majesty;
no breach of neutrality committed, and
some sacrifices have been made to avoid
any misunderstanding with this fierce
and warlike people. So long ago as
1859 party of British settlers on the
island of Negrais were massacred,
when the Indian government were fain
TO be satisfied with remonstrance to-,
and disavowal on the part of the Bur-
man government. In 1894 a body OF
5000 Burmese entered the British pro-
vince of c hittagong" without any pre-
vious negotiation, and declared their
intention not 10 return, until some free
hooters who had committed depreda-
tons in the Burmese provinces, and ia
ken refuge in ChiItogong, were given
up. After sJme negotiation the free
hooters we're given up to be punished
according to the laws Of the Burmese
nation. In 1910 we again narrowly es-
capped war with these audacious
neighbors, for which>we were indebted
to a mastery ruse of the then Governor
General, the Marquis Of Hastings
The Burman ruler, the king Of Ava, as
he is commonly called, had secretly de-
termined to join the great Mahratta
conlederacy, and by way of pretext for
coming to an open rupture, demanded
the surrender of all the provinces on
the frontier, east Of Barybautty, even
including Moorshadabad. His Males
ty had, however, been little too tardy;
for by the time the Messenger reached
the Governor General, the confederacy
was completely crushed. The envoy
had come; and was to return, around
BY way Of the northern Burman pro-
yinces. The Marquis sent him back,
in,imating that an answer would be re-
turned through another channel, and
Immediately despatched a vessel to
Rangoon, with message to his Males
lty of Ava, expressing that he, the Go
vernon GeneraD "was too well ac-
quainted with his Majesty's wisdom to
be the dupe of such gross forgery at
tempted to be palmed on him; where
fore he sent to him the document fabri-
Gated in his august name, and trusted
that he would subject TO condign pu-
nishment the person who had so prolli-
gately endeavored to sow dissentions
between two powers, so reciprocally
interested to cultivate amity." Nah
rata power was broken, silenced all
farther demands for the cession OF the
provinces, and evaded the necessity to
take notice of the insolent demand; a
procedure rejecting not less credit on
the humanity than the ingenuity OF the
4,
Ouarrelsome nations as well as quar-
relsome individuals can soon discover
who is and who is not peaceably inclin-
ed, and measure their arrogance. ac-
cordingly. The present war, then, our
readers will, perhaps, not much be SUR
prised to hear, is the result OF series
of insulting acts on the part OF these
barbarians. Two or three years ago
ten of the British elephant hunters were
seized on their own territory and car
ried into captivity, on the ground,
that they, the Burmese, had as much
right to levy taxes for catching ele-
plants, as the English had to impose
duties on their imports and exports at
Chit,agong! In January, 1878, when
the Hon. Company's ship Sophia lay
in the Naaf, (the river which strikes
our extreme S. E. frontier, and is, in
fact, the boundary between our posses
sions and those OF Arracan, taking in
wood and water, several of the crew
were enticed on shore, seized, and con-
yeyed prisoners to the capital OF the
conquered province Of Arracan, where
they we're detained for long time, but
were at-length set at liberty. The Bur-
man armies next invaded several pro-
vinces, with which the Government in
India is in treaty of alliance and pro-
lection, upon the northeast frontier;
but the immediate cause of the war was
the seizure of the island Of Shuparee
by body of 600 Burmese, when seve-
raj of the garrison were killed and
wounded.
This island is situated at the ex-
tremity of the province of Chittagong,