Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-06

the governor-general Of India, anticipating, prob
ably, that the governor of Rangoon might either
be incompetent or rndlsposed 10 grant redress, in
structed the Commodore, in case ofrefusal 10 for
ward direct 10 the King of Burmah letter written
by the Indian government in anticipation of such
an event When the Commodore arrived at Ran
COON, he found there were other cases of COM
plant. He was beset by British merchants and
others, all claiming redress for real or imaginary
injuries suffered ut the hands of the Burmese au-
thoritieS. Under these circumstances, he suddenly
cut short all discussion with the local governor,
and transmitted 10 Ava the letter of the governor
general OF India, with an addendum OF his own,
addressed 10 the prime minister OF the King de-
manding the dismissal of the governor OF Rangoon,
on the plea that heinterposed endless delays and
disregardcd official communications addressed 10
him. The King OF Burmah was anxious either
10 do justice IN this case, or 10 avoid misunder-
standing with his powerful neghbor, that he APP
pointed a new governor at Rangoon, with full
powers 10 investigate and redress all the griev-
ances, old or new, complained of by the two origi-
nal captains, and by the supplementary traders of
Rangooa So lar all went on smoothly, and there
seemed no reason 10 dread so violent a catastrophe
as war. But, from the days of Hector and Achilles
10 those OF Lord Dahousie and Commodore Lam
bert, great events have arisen from little causes,
and sanSuinary wars from the merest trifes. All
oriental nations as everybody knows, mighty
sticklers for etiquette. Commodore Lambert was
either unaware of this important fact or in his
intercourse with the new governor of Rangoon,
chose wlliuliy 10 disregard H. He sent clerks and
inferior funciionaries 10 wait upon the governor
n man OF the very highest rank in Burmah--and
directed or allowed them 10 ride into his compound,
or palace when they ought 10 have dismounted al
the gate; and TO force an entrance nj the sultry
and unreasonable hour of noon when everybody
III Burmah, from the King TO the meanest peasant
yields TO the necessity Of n nap For these two
reasons the English emissares were not admitted.
In the first place the governor did not wish 10 re-
ceive them because their rank was inferior; and
IN the second place he was asleep, and no one
dared TO arouse him, even although the British ma
ton Knocked at his door. The ENJOYS of Comrrio
dorc Lambert were kept waiting quarter of an
hour in the sun, and departed in high dudgeon.
That same evening war was declared against the
King of Burmah, by Commodore Lambert. The
Kings war ship, the only one he had, was lorciby
seized and towed away. Submission his part
was thus rendered impossible. The governor
general OF India approved of what had been done
The war was carried on with vgor and success
Rangoon, Martaban, and Prone were successfully
taken In the first encounter the hapless Burmese
were slaughtered by hundreds, without any loss
of life on the part OF the British Stockades were
thrown down as easily and rapidly if they had
been built of card paper. The British found no
enemy worthy of the name unless il were the
climate. In due course the whole province of
Pegu was annexed and it is now question
whether our army will not have 10 march upon
Ava, and annex the whole Burmese empire.
Such is brief history of this unhappy war, as
narrated by Mr. Golden, on the authority of docu-
ments printed by the British parliament. We
should like, with Mr. Golden, 10 see the Burmese
version of the matter. II is not often that an En-
glishman has occasion 10 blush for his country
but if the narrative be true one, il is time not
only TO blush and be pentent, but TO put hon
orable end TO a war commenced and carried on
under such preteyts. No nation, be il ever so
mighty, afford the disgrace of such deed. |
There is public opinion even in the east that |
later will spread itself throughout all the
tribes and populations that yield us allegiance
and cry for vengeance against such an alrocity." |