Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-29

orcapricefo he had lately manifested the sweet
TO receive the deputaton on the pre-
customary sesd and kept the ohcers waiting at
his gate like 50 many beggars his guards assuring them
that il much their heads were worth 10 disturb
him. though the ustrous Woon Of India himself 1.-THE
Governor Generan should call " house +! house,! The
plea was plausible because consistent with the
all Indian people, the less crafty and nsolent
that account the Governor being well advised Of the i'm
portance and friendly purpose Of the deputaton and
choosing to make capital Of their humiliation. Those
gentlemen WERE of them uninstruced in the Ian
guage and habits of the Burmese and therefore al
most loss how to act At this crisis Yankee par
son appeared who, with the shrewdness and ready
sources of Connecticut united the quick conclusions and
prompt execution of the backwoods His knowledge of
the people and their tongue derived from twenty
Of familiar intercourse in preaching and teaching was
almost perfect Besides he not of the peace party
He the apostle of awhoesome chastsement and his
aJOrous narratives of harmless wretches poked death
with sharp ebows,% and innocent babes pounded in
mortar, had often made the old Commodore swear and
every body else laugh On this occasion long suffering
and forbearance and the formal presentation Of the sm
ten cheek part of his gospel He advised the de-
putaton Of the nsolence Of the Governor and of the
tricks attempted be put upon Them recommending them
the time to report his conduct instantly to the Com
modore This they did, OF course, and the measures
adopted hereupon by that officer at prompt
and vigorous. lie Immediately took possession Of the
Kings ship, warned all Europeans and others claiming
British protection embark in the merchantmen IN tro
hours and apprzed the Governor that unless he came on
board the early the next morning and apoogzed
publicly and with all humility for the insult offered to
himself through his officers he wouldno only not restore
the ship but would proceed at to blockade the rivers
refusing have any further intercourse with the auho
rites Thereupon he dropped down with his prize to
point below the town and its immediate defences whilst
the foreign residents of Rangoon prepared to execute his
order with haste than prudence sefpossession
The merchantmen preparing to receive the persons
and property, much could be got oil, OF all Euro
peans Americans, Dritis-pdian subjects, comprising
Parsecs, Armenans, Chittagonians, various Mussumen
traders tmbercutter &c and the servants of the hon
orable Company Among the rest were some sagacous
Burmese to whom abundant protection and encourage
ment extended; and even q few eomen, who are
strictly prohibited from leaving the country as indeed
are the females of every kindf
Such the aspect Of affairs when the 'sPhlegehon
entered the river. OF much property was lost
Mr. x, with his family, consisting of his wife and
her sister and three children as well Mr.. Dawson (sur
geon to the mssion with his lady and two children,
board the % Duchess Of Argyll Scotch ship They
escaped narrowly with only small part of their effects
Every thing valuable was lost Books medicines, surg
cal instruments, furniture, clothing all the stock in
trade of missionary and missionary doctor aban
doned to the mercy Of the heahens who, accustomed to
regard such tools of witchcraft with all heathens hor
ror doubtless consigned them their shaver, yellow
coated poonget to be purified by fire in the light of Gua
ddraah 1t is much be deplored that choice collections
of Burmese manuscript of interest and antiquity
were lost at this time for the poonge contempt
bic scholars and their scientific researches faithfully
recorded giltedged leaves of their sandal wood
ranged in volumes and regousy preserved in the holy
I places of their grotesque monaseries.
We ('' the Phegethon) had been busy engaged towing
out the merchantmen Meanwhile the Governor had
letter to the Commodore refusing to apologize in
the required. He had moreover, written to the
Governor General stating his for the insoen
titude which he occupied, and complaining Of Commo-
dore Lambert quarresome and overbearing person,
who .. depuation' of drunken officers and q low
American missionary to make noise at his gate. Fur
thermore, he threatened that il the Commodore presum
cd to send any Of vessels down the river again with
out his permission his stockades should fire them
The Commodore reply TO this challenge appeared in the
form Of order three of the proceed down
the stream and past the stockades after the other
and at prorokag intervals, the morning of the 9th
The Proserpne" took the lead and, passing the forts
without interruption pushed on to Calcutta with des-
patches. The Tenasserm" followed with the
suits, and proceeded to Moumein for few days The
Phlegehon brought up the Being light-armed
steamer and Of light draft she could closer in to the
stockade and object being at defy and tempt
them, it hoped they might FIRE into her after the
others had passed and she left in exposed posi-
tiou. Accordingly, down under easy until
the " Proserpne and Teuasserim' well beyond
range then proceeded ask the intentions
4 OF the stockade As we approached them they made
sudden demonstration Crowds Of armed men gathered
the banks aud the river face Of the works and for
little while had good reason to suppose that the Gov
would keep his promise. In less than five minutes
we had given them the legitimate " Irish hint. Our
guns shotted with grape and the full
" armed and at quarters magazine open and all clear
for action; aud right under their guns They
could see every deck and every movement. Our
distance about revolver-shot and backed in
and presented stern guns and the thrytwo the
buring, they had opportunity to appreciate the de-
monstraton. Our very impatient and half the
4 sick list TO quarters. We played of and on with
them for half hour without drawing shot and left
in disgust We proceeded the mouth Of the river to
the merchantmen safely out AMI then returned the
stockade saucily than before; but finding there
nothing TO be had, went back to the Commodore
Another message from that gdssy Governor, that II
attempt should be made to out the Kings ship the
should commence the morrow with attack from
4 him
A strange land is this Burmah The idea Of remote
attaches 10 it when is within its boders.
land Of story-book !" Of barbarc pearls and gold;
type Of = the splendor and the havoc Of the East
land of gold and gems, Of sumptuous state and squad
poverty Of great playing with precious stones and
humble dying for little rice land Of gilded pa
godas and unwholesome hus the very rats conemn and
where the most arbitrary cruelty, the cruelty Of SPORT is
let off by the insane submission Of supersous and in
atuated ignorance; land where all nature is lovely
human nature and where among tigers byenas and
/ elephants, the hercest beast is man. 4
In anticipation but with scarcely hope, Of being fred
into from the Da Silva stockade il was called the
Commodore had dropped down in the Fox early in the
morning Of the 10th Of January having previously order
ed the Hermes" to follow with the Kings ship in tow,
and ourselves in the wake Of them As we came down
found the Commodore lying broadside to the stock
ade the Serpent having got aground higher up the
river There was hurry and rush and lively four
ish Of gold umbrellas shore the - IIermes' APP
preached with her prize Then the order beat 10
quarters Three minutes afterward eleven guns from
the fort right It the Hermes Then up went the Com
modores signal 70 engage the enemy, and the work
began The fglte Of opened first broadside af
broadsde rapid and annhilating fire slap through
the works. The "Phlegcthon took up closer position
and engaged them at short distance; and the " Hermes
which had cast loose from the prize attacked the lower
stgcsade, where was small village half barracks half