The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-02
The Conquest Of B,rmah.

her attempts to extend the boundaries of her
| empire. The Birmese war is practically at an
end; the most valuable portions of the Emperor's
| domnions have already fallen into the British
grasp Both shores of the Irawaddy and the
whole of the lttoral are at this moment held
by British troops Had it not been indeed.
for the inexperience and mismanagement of the
officer who commanded the British army on
that expedition, the whole country would have
been subjugated. and the new Emperor and his
court would have been compelled to seek
refuge in the mountains As it is, the Burmese
have been deprived both of their trade and
their means of subsistence; what is left them
is the least valuable portion of their empire
They will be forced to purchase nearly all the
necessaries of life from the territories which
have been seized by the invaders. Every Bur
mese vessel will require to pass through British
waters and pay toll to British authorities
before it can reach the sea- Every fort of i'm
portance is already garrisoned by British troops.
The nation is impoverished the army disheart-
ened; large body of the citizens have been
driven from their homes and are now enduring
fearful hardshipsin the northern districts of the
empire.
1t was with these discouraging events in view
that the ENJOYS Of the Emperor met the British
Commissioners few weeks since, to agree
upon treaty Of peace. The latter. as usual
after successful campaign, demanded among
other things, that large proportion of the ter
ritory overrun by the troops should be ceded to
hav hoo
Indignantly declined by the Birmese, the COM
| handing officer notified the ENJOYS that they
must give an unconditional consent to his de-
mand, or evacuate the place within twenty -four
| hours. So long period not required by
| the Birmese to come to a decision. Without
| rendering any reply. they took their departure
within ten hours after the receipt of the mes
sage.
Thus stands the matter at present; and Of the
two contending parties England is probably
the most embarrassed by the turn affairs have
taken. The war was begun in defiance of the
sage counsels Of the statesman who was best
acquainted with India. 1t was undertaken on
pretext-a quarrel between the authorities at
Rangoon and the British naval officer on the
tortured into legitimate cause for war
1t has been carried on at frightful expense;
and though the blood actually shed in
combat has been comparatively triding
the loss Of men from disease on the ba ks
and at the marshy mouth of the Irawaddy has
been very considerable Victory has conferred
little practical benefit on the assailants; every
IL
expensive as defeat could have proved. Ven
geance alone has been gratifed by the ruin of
brave, unofending people AT time when the
British legislature would give worlds to be re-
lieved Of the duty Of providing for the govern
ment Of one hundred and fifty millions of peo-
pie. who have nothing in common with the
Anglo-Saxon race millions whom misrule and
oppression bid fairito obliterate at some future
period. from the face of the earth--the addition
of fresh territory to her already unwieldy
empire cannot but be regarded by men of wis
dom as an unmitigated misfortune. There are
| Establishment Of course, like the London Chro-
nicle newspaper, who see nothing in fresh con-
quests but source Of exultation They make
it crime to the Birmese to love their country.
and call that in them insolence," which would
be patriotism in an Englishman or Turk. In
their eyes, to use the language of the prat
above mentioned nothing can be more imper-
tinent than the conduct of the ENJOYS; bat
they are inclined to regard it as a matter for
congratulation that one source Of doubt and
delay has at any rate been got rid Of" The
Chronicle adds
As regards Pegu, we conceive that its retention is
no longer an open question. To abandon q territory
which has been formally proclaimed part aud parcel
OF the British dominions, would IN any case, he
most unwise, even were the annexed province as
worthless Pegu is valuaO Very few persons
now a-days need TO be told that retrogrdde steps
are always damaging In India; while, III tue pre-
sent case, any show Of timidlty would bs rendered
peculiarly impoltc by the defiant and nsolent ati
tude assumed by the Brmese government. No
Indian State will doubt our superiority to the BIZ
| mese, If we retain oar hold on the only portion
OF the golden footed kings dom,nions which Is
worth the taking. The sole point, therefore, to
consider is, what is the easiest and least costly
method OF securing ourselves in quiet possession oi
our coDquesti
1t is, in short. the old story served up anew
England is entitled by divine right we
presume, to the territories Of all the Eastern
monarchs she may choose to assail resistance
on the part of the victim is defiant and in
soleBt."
1t is hard to say whether this language is
more foolish or its effects more suicidal Eyen
No,ping Chronicle could hardly venture
the $he il. 'vasion of Birmah; and now that
To defan,. ing has been contaminated. ii will
tho moral u,. more definite than loud cpl
,aou;r. son,.,hi., ~eat Britain will not be.