War In India.
The Times, 1824-07-20T00:00:00

- You willhave seen a printed copy of. the proclamation, issued on the 5th inst., dcclaring war against the Burmans. I mentioned to you in my forrmer letter, that our counexion with that Dountr' was not on a very sure footing, as the frontier Rajahs had been making some incursio nsinto ourterritorie6 . -Government4has beet desirous of avoiding a war, particularly until next cold season; anO whil3t thefrontier Rajahswerekeptin check, it was intended to send an embassy to Amerapoorah to demand from the King a disavowal of 'iiy continuance of' the'acts Of the aggressors. This, it was thought, would prevent the necessity of any immediate hostile measures, but the unfortunate fanlure of an attack made lately by a party of our sepoys on a stockade formed by some of the aggressors, has changed the face of affairs, by giving the Burnmans a confidencein themselves which they did not formerly posse3s, and which they must not. re- tain, for the safety and honour of our Government and army. Hence war has been declared, and anexpedition on an extensive scale is now in rapid progress from this anud Miadras, to proceed(it is supposed) to Rangoon in the first place, and eventually to Amera-. poorah. All the ships procarabla both here and at Madras are taken up as transports, at the freight of 21. per ton per month for twelve months certain; and many more atre still required. The King's 13th regiment is ready to embark here; the 38th and 44th; King's regiments, are on their march to Calcutta, from the upper provinces; besidesseveralbattalionsof Native Infantry. Alargeforce of European and native troops are ready at Mladras to embark, and tojoin the force from Calcutta,at the place of disembarkation,which ;s, however, still kept secret, and is not, perhaps, altogcther deter- mined on ; for by the time the expedition can be got ready for ope- rations, the rainy season will have set in on the Burman coast, and then, besides the troops not being able.to advance, they will sufter muci from sickness, in consequence of not having proper canton. ments. " It is not to be doubted that this war will terminate favourably to the British arms; but it is certainly questionable how long it may require to subdue a country in point of extent of territory and population of such magnitude. Our Government seem suffi- ciently aware of this, from the nature of their preparations, which are commenced on a large scale, and whieh will, no doubt, be still greatly increased. The Burmese, although a rude and barbarous people, are still united amongst themselves; and there are no neigh. houring Powers whom our interest or political relations can enable us to stir up against them. Seventeen IniLlions of people, where every male capable of bearing arms can by law be called into the field- contented with their Government-generally speaking of a more warlike character than the other Indian nations_and-derivink little benefit from the very partial intercourse they have ever had with Europeans*':.nd in no way dependent on them-certainly may be con- sidered no easy task to conquer. Besides which, the interior of the country is but little known to us, and there may be iinumeraeble lo. calities to prevent the progress of our troops, at present little antici- pated. An expensive war, and e war of increasing expense, it muat unavoidably be; for aU supplies must nec essarily go from hence, and be conveyed to their destination with greater diffilcalty as the army advances into the interior. Freights, in consequence of the demand for ships, have got up to 101. lOs. per ton, which will materially affect all descriptions of East India produce; and as prohably the Company will require to draw largely on England, the exchange is expected to rise." WAR IN INDIJ. EXTRACT FRObi A LETTEt DAlTED CALCUTTA, bARC? 1I.