Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-29
COMMUNICATIONS.
INCIDENTS OF THE BURMESE CAMPAIGN.
BY AN ArTAcHE OF THE HON. EAST INDIA COMPANY

Tile Governors Bal, (January 10, 1922
Honorable John and dishonorable john" John Kump
NY and " John Burmah"--had expended many month
in tedious and bootless recrmination. On the part
the company obsolete delays under the pretext of hu
many, necessary to appease suspicious and for
midable peace party at home thousand tricks Of pro
crastnaon successful they transparent anC
yexatious, kept Burmese officials busy and English bate
ries idle. The tattooed diplomats of Ava required tim
the mastering of forces the furnishing of old honey
combed ordnance, the purchase of Captain Mayhowei
Crisps* condemned musksts, and the construction Of
stockades and the experience of the previous had
taught them by what devices to procure it. Oyertures
and threats lin Pickwickian sense) freely inter
changed between the parties concessions halfproered
only be seasonaby recalled grievance met with grev
ance expostuation with expostulation, etiquette with
etiquette threats with Defiance amable advances with
ocious protestaons of regard and regret and host of
flowing assurances of distinguished consideration !"
Hags of truce cooked hats and "gold umbrellas go
ng and coming the infinite admiration and awe of the
orders and the by fatering spectacle of
refined British diplomacy conending, lamey enough,
with Burmese treachsry and craft all these were the
circumstances which had long detained inpatient
tile squadron in mastery inactivity to the infinite
disgust of officers the melancholy and tear of men,
and the fghtul consumption of blessed Maesys Goals
Nor would John Burmah have nosy praised his gods
had he but reflected what formidable figure bill of
damages and costs be served upon him hereafter
nexorably swelling.
The command of Commodore LAMBERT at this time con-
sisted of the "Fox a. NJ. frigate of A guns,) flag
ship; the Serpent" her Majestys 12gun brig the
Hermes," her Majestys steamer and honorable Com
pany steamers sTenasserim, !" "Phegethon and Pro-
serpine" OF these the "Tcnasserim and Proserpne
were absent the former Calcutta whittier she had pro-
at IN aid
that town (which is British seement in the of
an attack momentary apprehended by the ddeoitst Of
Maraban on the opposite side of the river This active
but inadequate force subsequently enlarged for the
bombarment of Rangoon, by accession of tslve of
the Companys heaviest steamers from Calcutta Bombay
and the China station than half of these throwing
eighty and eight pound shells, and presenting
the imposing spectacle of steam applied to pur-
poses Of which naval story has yet recorded 1t is
well known that it the expressed purpose of Lord
DAIHousIE GovernorGeneral of India make the Bur-
mese stupendous experiment in steam and artile-
ryan experiment of economy in time, money munitions,
and human ife and no one familiar with the events of
that brief war can fail applaud the brilliant
which crowned the spirit and liberaty of his arrange
ments To an American adyenturer, having active part
those events and thoughtful admirer of those unri-
vailed displays Of naval power and resources such
ders of nations wealth. such large shows of nations
strength exered to enforce its sovereign will suggested
much grave reflection touching the nature of possible
war which these very resources with all their haste
and havoc might be employed against his country
clever English writer describing the late grand naval
review at spthead magnes the spirit of Nelson dumb
foundered with establishment and chagrn find his good
old-fashioned engagements which he took two days
pound through neatly worked off in thirty minutes with
miraculous precision and freedom from confusion
The "Phlegethon" ITO which the writer had been at
1ached since the first interruption of the Cempany ami
cable relations with the golden foot, at-botomed
iron of very light draugh carrying two improved
thrty-twos on burings fore and aft two eghteens on
side and two rocketubes the bridge" elevated
deck between the paddebcxes, returning january
sth to Rangoon from Moulmen, whittier she had been
sent with the Commodore advces Col Boyle British
Commissioner for the Tenasserim Provinces which, il will
be remembered constitute part Of the Companys very
improbable acquisition from the 'slast war The
"Phegethon," then numbering ships company Of about
one hundred and ten souls one-thrd Of whom Las
cars and Maays employed stokers and coal trmmers
but good and rusty especially the latter when their
fighting qualities in request admirably adapted
for any description of service requiring vessels Of light
lraught CELEBRITY Of movement and facility of
ment She was at once tender, pioneer pilot and mes
senger for the and will appear hereafter she and
those she carried lacked nothing of various exciting
poyment and isolated adventure. She had already be-
come somewhat famous for brilliant enterprise in China
in which she had effecuay destroyed formidable feet
OF praca iunks TO the lively satisfaction Of the Euro
pean merchants of Canton and Hong Kong who had &C
cordingly compmented her commander with honora-
BILE memorial Of plae and she entered the Of
Burmah with fattering prestige
Such was our little steamer she approached the
mouth Of the Rangoon river the mornngof January
Sth 1862 Large establishment to find the Com.
modore whom had left socially anchored off the wharves
OF RAngoon lying at the mouth of the river, with bis
squadron around him, and in the midst the kings
ship" yeritable prize This Kings ship" or yellow
ship" accustomed to style her indifferenty.
large frigate built for the burmese European
stocks. She new, having only her lower-masts in,
and though cut for heavy batteries, unarmed and
unnamed, being provided only with awkward guard
Of terrified boatspeople, under the command of one
Commodore Abdoolah, q clever amusing savage, half
Burmese, half Malay, who the strength Of having
been a pirate once had got himself appointed to the
chief command Of the navy Of Aya-thatis the King
ship"
Commodore Abdoolah, being troubled with scruples
OF loyalty was aerward easily persuaded to fraernize
with Commodore Lambert, who forthwith promoted him
from his shabby genteel command to the lucrative
less glorious, post Of plotn-or1inary for our SQUAD
ron: in which capacity he dismissed his allegiance in
search Of his conscience and repeatedly proved himself
Of the most consummatc villains apd useful men on
earth.
His feet and flagship had ali been comprised in hat
monstrous naval miscarriage, the " Old Yaler" which
after all, experiment Of some promise and no
doubt British stocks and in British waters will come
to something yet She constructed very slowly and
at cost OF the choicest teak 1.-THE Of all
timber for shipbuildng) Of which the finest trees had
been tabooed by Royal command for her behoof Though
queer-looking craft Outside" there is much in bel
please the eye Of expert and she is surely Of IN
strongest and most durable she Of the arges