out his permission: no person being. allowed to trade in ivory but Chaca himself.

"An express arrived from Chaca to Mr. Farewell, two days before the boat left Natal (14th Dec.), informing him that two white men were within two days of his (Chaca's) kraal, having come from Delagoa Bay, and desiring to know if he should kill them!

"Chaca, it is said, intends sending by the first opportunity his two principal chiefs, with presents to His Exc. the Governor. He is very desirous of white

people settling in his country, and threatens a visit to the borders of the colony for the purpose of opening a communication. The men carry but one lance, with which they advance to the charge; any one returning from action without his lance is immediately put to death. They are at present at war with a powerful tribe. Chaca was desirous that the crew of the Mary should go to fight for him. The whole of Mr. Farewell's party (himself excepted) have adopted the dress of the country, which is nearly nudity.". Cape Town Gaz.

The following despatches are from the Calcutta Government Gazette.

To George Swinton, Esq., &c. &c. Sir: The enemy, defeated and driven from his positions at Limbike, Napadee, and on the west bank of the Irrawaddy, as detailed in my despatches of the 4th and 5th, I, on the 6th inst., marched back with the 1st division of the army to the villages of Zeouke and Natalaen, upon the Nawreie river, from whence the roads to Watteegoan and Neounbenzeik branch off, and where I had ordered the commissariat of the army to assemble.

Aware that the enemy had been long employed in fortifying the banks of the river from Meaday to Paloh, it became an important consideration to endeavour to turn these positions, naturally strong, and extremely difficult of access." For this purpose I determined to march upon Meaday, with one division, by the route of Watteegoan, Seeyangoon, Saindoop, and Tonkindine, turning the positions as high as Boallay; while the division under the orders of Brig. Gen. Cotton should march by

the road of Neounbenzeik, nearly parallel with the river, and in communication with the flotilla, on board of which I had placed a force consisting of H.M.'s royal regiment and details, commanded by Brig. Armstrong to act in close and constant cooperation with the naval forces under his Exc. Commodore Sir James Brisbane. From Tonkindine it was my farther intention to have turned Meaday by its left, and to have posted one division of my army in its rear previous to attacking it in front.

Pursuant to this plan of operations, I marched upon Watteegoan, with the 1st division, on the 9th inst., directing Brig. Gen. Cotton to commence his march upon the 12th, by which arrangement the approach of the two columns upon Paloh would nearly correspond, and his Exc. Commodore Sir James Brisbane was to move forward on the same day.

On the night of the 11th inst. we were visited with a heavy fall of rain, which continued for thirty hours, to the great injury of the roads; our commissariat has sustained a heavy loss in its transport, and in spoiled and damaged provisions,

an

an evil of all others least easily to be remedied in my present situation; and I lament to say, that numerous fatal instances of cholera have occurred in both divisions of the army. Delay unavoidably ensued, and I did not reach Tonkindine till the 16th inst. On patrolling to Boallay, on the river, I found the enemy had abandoned his position at Paloh, and the expectations I had formed from the flank movement of the 1st division were fully confirmed. At Boallay we opened a communication with the flotilla and Brig. Gen. Cotton's division, the report of whose march I have the honour to enclose, which, with the other letters herewith transmitted, will, I trust, afford the Right. Hon. the Governor-general in Council a satisfactory proof of the consequences resulting from the operations of the 1st, 2d, and 5th, and the subsequent movements of this force.

Finding that the enemy had retreated from Meaday with the greater part of his army, I, on the 17th inst., moved forward to Tabboo with the advance; from Tabboo I directed the Right Hon. the Governor-general's body guard, under Capt. Dyke, to push on towards Meaday by two roads, and feel the enemy's advanced posts. The enemy had evacuated the place; but at five miles beyond it Capt. Dyke came up with his rear, and took some prisoners, with a war-boat containing three guns; the cavalry having come suddenly upon six while close under the bank of the river.

The country over which the army has marched bears ample testimony to the panic and dismay in which the enemy has retired, while the numerous dead and dying laying about the country, afford a melancholy proof of the misery and privations which his troops are suffering. His loss in killed and wounded all the prisoners affirm to have been very great, and desertions to a great extent are daily taking place.

Patangoh and Melloon are the points that have been chosen for re-assembling the army, and in front of which I hope to be, with some part of the force, in the course of a few days, although some delay will unavoidably ensue before the state or the commissariat will permit the whole force again to move forward. I have, &c.

A. CAMPBELL, Maj. Gen. Head-Quarters, Meaday, 19th Dec. 1825 P.S. I have just received information that Melloon has been evacuated.

Camp, at Iny-gown, 19th Dec. 1825. Sir: I have the honour to acquaint you, that in consequence of the heavy fall of rain during the night of the 11th and following day, I did not move the division under my command from the encampment at Zecoope till the forenoon of the 13th inst.

The column arrived at Meiong, on the Irrawaddy, on the 14th, at which place I halted during the 15th, and marched on the 16th to Bollay, but was obliged to encamp three miles to the southward at Seinbow, in consequence of encountering an impassable nullah. Halted on the 17th at the above encampment, while the pioneers and strong working parties were employed, under the directions of the engineer officer, in constructing a bridge, and the commissariat officer was engaged in bringing up the provisions. The bridge was completed yesterday morning, the 18th, and I moved the column to its present encampment. During the march of the 16th inst., between Piumbi-hhan and Pulho, the column passed through the enemy's strongly stockaded position, extending two miles and one furlong; the works towards the river were particularly well adapted for defence, and the whole commanded by stockades on the hills to the rear, with abbatis and entrenchments.

I have much satisfaction in stating, that the commissariat with the division under my command, have suffered in a very trifling degree from the breakage of carts, &c., and that the entire department will arrive in camp during this forenoon. I have, &c.

WILLOUGHBY COTTON, Br. Gen. Com. Madras Troops in Ava. To Maj. Gen. Sir A. Campbell, &c.

Hon. Company's Steam Vessel Diana, off Meaday, on the Irrawaddy. Dec. 18, 1825. Sir: Adverting to that part of your Letter of the 15th of Nov. last, in which you do me the honour of expressing your readiness to receive my opinion upon any points connected with the future operation of the combined force, which the proximity of our movements may enable me to afford you;

I avail myself of that proof of confidence on your part, to lay before you such observations as have occurred to me in the advance of the Flotilla to this place. Having embarked his Majesty's Royal Regiment on the afternoon of the 11th inst., under the command of Brig. Armstrong, I proceeded from the Muisguis, a pagoda point, éarly the next morning, with the Flotilla under my orders. From the rapidity of the current, and the numerous shifting sand-banks, it became absolutely necessary to track or kedge the heavier boats along the banks of the river, which were, for the most part, lined with breast-works until we reached Yeondoun, a military post, recently occupied by the Royals. The enemy had previously retired, apparently a short time before our arrival. Proceeding up the river, I came in sight of Meong, where, by previous arrangement, the Flotilla came into communication with Brig. Gen. Cotton's division for the purpose of attacking the enemy in his strong posts of Pettoh and Palloh. Brig. Armstrong and myself having made a reconnoissance, as a preliminary measure, we found, to our great surprise, that these important posts had been abandoned. In advancing up the river, it is impossible not to be struck with a degree of admiration at the happy choice of situation of the enemy's positions, aided as they are by the decided natural advantages which the face of the country presents. The extensive and formidable works which have come under my own personal observation could have been erected only by the manual labour of the masses of men at the command of a barbarous government. When I consider these advantages, I cannot imagine why the enemy should have so hastily relinquished them, unless the recent successes of your force and the knowledge of your advance, had so far operated on their fears as to leave no hope of their retreat on your turning their positions.

The channel of the river was in many places so narrow as to oblige the boats to pass within two hundred yards of the banks, on the one side or the other. The destruction which the enemy might have caused, had they been so inclined, ís self-evident. The total abandonment of the enemy's works enabled the Flotilla to pass on towards Meaday, of which we came in sight yesterday afternoon; and on sending Capt. Chads with the light division a-head to reconnoitre, that officer reported to me that this formidable post had that morning been evacuated by the Burmese troops, commanded by the Kee Woongee in person, as your advanced guard made its appearance, and that a war boat, with three guns, had been captured, which, in the hurry of their retreat, they could not take with them. I have, &c.

JAMES BRISBANE, Commodore. To Maj. Gen. Sir A. Campbell, &c.

Steam Vessel, Meaday, 19th Dec. 1825. Sir: For the information of the Commander of the Forces, I have the honour to inform you, that the whole of the troops composing the water coJumn being embarked on the 11th inst., Commodore Sir James Brisbane moved with the Flotilla up the river on the morning of the 12th.-In proceeding up, a number of defences were observed on both sides, generally breast-works, with here and there embrasures for guns, and the situation invariably chosen with great judgment for the annoyance of boats ascending the river. Yewndoun, however, was not strengthened from the time of my being recalled from that post.

On the 13th inst., the Flotilla having arrived within two miles of Peloh (or Succadoun, as more generally named by the Burmese), and being well aware that the enemy were long employed in creating defences there, it was considered necessary by Sir James Brisbane, as well as myself, to reconnoitre it. We accordingly proceeded with the boats of the light division, and soon found that these works, like all we had previously met, were entirely abandoned; and proves in the most convincing manner, how completely broken, disarranged, and panic-struck, the enemy's army must be, from the success of our operations on the 1st, 2d, and 5th inst.; for it is not easy to conceive a chain of stronger works than here presented themselves, extending at least one mile in length on the eastern bank of the river, erected on bold undulating ground, every advantage of which was adinirably applied, so that the possession of the lower defence, had they been attacked in succession, would have exposed the troops to an enfilading

fire,

fire, and would thus have been untenable. The defences consisted of abbatised breast-works on the

river, with reverses running up the heights, and two strong stockades, the most northern (or upper) of which was constructed of very strong plank, about nine feet high, the whole of the faces thickly abbatised, and each of them at least one hundred and eighty yards in length. Time would not allow me to examine the continuation of these works, which I am aware were carried into the interior, and rested on the road to Prome; but those running near the river were in themselves so extensive and well built, that great multitudes of men must have been long and indefatigably employed in their construction, and had the enemy attempted their defence, they could not have been carried without very severe loss on our part. In fact, in our possession, I might say they would be impregnable. On the western bank, immediately opposite, a great number of defences were also erected, which ran entirely up the commanding hill, where they like. wise had a well-constructed stockade. As both sides of the river (which in this part is narrow) were thus strongly defended, it would have been impossible for the Flotilla to proceed up until either side had been reduced, had not the enemy by his flight thus rendered nugatory one of the best positions and chain of field defences I have ever seen. Every means the time would allow, by fire and otherwise, were used to destroy these

works.

The Flotilla arrived at Meaday early on the morning of the 17th inst.

I have, &c.

RICHD. ARMSTRONG, Brigadier.

To George Swinton, Esq., &c. &c. Sir: Adverting to my last despatch, I have now to state, that the information I received, regarding the evacuation of Melloon by the enemy was erroneous, certain information of his having rallied at that point reached me shortly after I began my march from Meaday, with the leading division of the army; and it was at the same time stated, that a chief of rank had been sent up to Ava after the defeats at Prome, for the purpose of representing to his Majesty the hopeless state of his affairs, and the impossibility of our progress upon the capital being arrested by any military arrangement.

On the 26th ult. these reports were confirmed by the arrival of a messenger to the steam-vessel, under a flag of truce, communicating that Holein Menghie had arrived at Melloon, deputed by His Majesty the King of Ava, and with full powers to conclude a treaty of peace with us. In answer to this message, I, in concurrence with the civil commissioner, sent Lieut. Col. Tidy, and Lieut. Smith, R.N., to the Burmese camp, to ascertain what arrangement the King of Ava's commissioners proposed making with us. A truce of twenty-five days was requested, and positively refused, as previously determined on; the above officers being directed to say, as was afterwards communicated in writing, that nothing beyond twenty-four hours would be given for the first meeting with the Burmese commissioners, and that the truce was at an end as soon as the British officers should have left the place. On reaching Melloon on the following morning, the 29th inst., I found the place strongly occupied, and the river, on the enemy's side, covered with boats, which they attempted to escape with, until a few shots from our guns (by which one man was slightly wounded) fired over the headmost boats, shewed our determination to prevent it, and the attempt was given up. In the mean time I received information that the Diana steam-vessel, the head-quarters of His Exc. Commodore Sir Jas. Brisbane, was passing the enemy's works unmolested, and accompanied by two Burmese war-boats; and although the enemy appeared throwing up entrenchments on the opposite shore, and marching and countermarching his troops, as if making preparations for defence, I accepted his forbearance to the steam-boat as a proof of his sincerity and desire to treat. Hostilities here ceased, and in the course of the day a correspondence commenced, and led to negociations which I earnestly hope will render this the last military despatch I shall have to make upon the war in Áva. I have, &c.

A. CAMPBELL, Maj. Gen. Head-Quarters, Patagonah, 31st Dec. 1825.

The expectation conveyed in the aforegoing despatch has unfortunately proved vain, as appears from the following letter, which has reached the Admiralty, and which is the only communication yet received respecting the recommencement of hostilities.

Melloun, Jan. 20, 1826.

The time granted for the receipt of the ratification of the treaty of peace by the Court of Ava having expired on the 18th inst., and the Burman chiefs continuing to act with base duplicity and evasion, no alternative was left the commander of the forces (Sir A. Campbell) than the painful one of renewing hostilities; which was done yesterday, and was attended, I rejoice to say, with the complete defeat of the enemy, and the capture of Melloun, with all the ordnance, boats, commissariat stores, and a small quantity of treasure.

"Sir A. Campbell having made his disposition for the attack of Melloun about eleven o'clock, and in a short time having made the necessary impression, the works were stormed in a fine gallant style. The enemy fled in the utmost confusion, with great loss, leaving us in possession of the stockade; with, I regret to say, the gallant Col. Sale, and Major Frith, severely wounded, and about twenty casualties.

(Here follow the names of officers who distinguished themselves, &c. and other minor details.) "I have, &c.

"H. D. CHADS, Capt. of H.M.S. Alligator, in command of the flotilla." Return of Killed and Wounded on board the flotilla at Melloun, Jan. 19, 1826:Boats of H.M.S. Alligator-killed, none; wounded, 4 severely; 1 slightly.

3d Division H.C.'s gun-boats-killed, 1; wounded, 6, severely.

4th Division H.C.'s gun-boats-killed, 1; wounded, 1, dangerously; I slightly.

5th Division H.C.'s gun-boats-killed, 2; wounded, 1.-Total: killed, 4; wounded, 14.

H. D. Chads, Capt. of H.M.S. Alligator, in command of the flotilla. Sir J. Brisbane, Commander-in-chief.

Bhurtpore.-Affairs in this quarter are becoming settled: Deeg and Khombeer have been given up, and a party moved off on the 21st January for Beeana, under Brig.-gen. Adams. No opposition is expected from the Rajah of Alwur.

The cash and jewels taken at the fortress of Bhurtpore, and in the equipage of Doorjun Sal, are reported to be of enormous value; it is also said that the usurper has mentioned where three crore of rupees are deposited; and his Ranee has spoken of another place where four crore more may be found. Much treasure is said to be deposited at Khombeer and Deeg.

Doorjun Sal has been sent to Agra: Bulwunt Singh has been restored with much ceremony to the residence of his ancestors, having been led to the palace by the commander-in-chief, and the political agent (Mr. Metcalfe) at the head of H. M's. 14th regt., which, it seems, is to garrison Bhurtpore.

Herbert, and three other deserters, who escaped the assault, were in course of trial by a court-martial.

East-India House, Wednesday, June 21. A quarterly general Court of Proprietors was held this day at the Company's House in Leadenhall Street.

BURMESE WAR.

The minutes of the last court having

been read,

Col. L. Stanhope rose to address the court; when

The Chairman (Sir G. A. Robinson) informed the hon. proprietor, that if he rose for the purpose of bringing forward the motion of which he had given notice, that was not the proper time for doing so. The hon. proprietor would have an op portunity of submitting his motion after

certain other business, which stood first to be brought forward, had been disposed of.

Col. L. Stanhope only wished to ask -a question, which was, whether any official accounts of the renewal of the Burmese war had been received from India, and whether the statements recently made on that subject were true?

. The Chairman said, that that part of the question of the hon. proprietor, the object of which was to ascertain whether any offi cial accounts of the renewal of hostilities with the Burmese had been received by the Court of Directors, he could answer in the negative; but at the same time he had not the least doubt of the fact, because the statement was contained in a letter from Sir James Brisbane to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

OFFICIAL PAPERS.

The Chairman then informed the court, that certain papers which had been presented to Parliament since the last general court, were now laid before the court according to the by-laws.

General Thornton wished to know if it was not usual to print these papers for the information of the proprietors?

The Chairman answered, that it was not. Capt. Marfield asked whether proprietors might take copies of the papers if they chose?

The Chairman said, that any proprietor was at liberty to take notes or copies if he pleased, as the papers were public papers, as respected proprietors of India Stock, to all intents and purposes.

Dr. Gilchrist hoped that the papers would be accessible in the proprietors' room, if called for.

The Chairman replied that they would.

After the titles of the papers had been read by the clerk, they were laid upon the table.

Asiatic Journ. VOL. XXII. No. 127.

HALF-YEARLY DIVIDEND.

The Chairman informed the court, that the Court of Directors, on the 20th of June, came to a resolution, recommending that the dividend on the Company's stock, from the 5th of January to the 5th of July next, should be five and a-quarter per cent. He then moved, that this court agree to the said resolution. Agreed to unanimously.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF

BY-LAWS.

Mr. Cumming said that, in the absence of the Chairman of the Committee of By. from attending, he was deputed to lay be Laws, who was prevented by indisposition fore the court the report of the committee. The report was then read, as follows:

"The committee appointed to inspect the East-India Company's by-laws, and to nake inquiry into the observance of them, and to consider what alterations and ad ditions may be proper to be made, have proceeded to the discharge of their duty, and have agreed to the following report:

of their investigation, the committee find themselves enabled to report to the general court that the by-laws appear to have been duly observed and executed during the past year. (Signed)

"It is with satisfaction that, at the close

"GEORGE CUMMING,
"P. HEATLY,
"GEO. GROTE,
"J. H. TRITTON,
"JOHN CARSTAIRS,
"JAS. SHAW,

"R. TWINING,
"BEN. BARNARD,
"JOHN DARBY,
"DOUGLAS KINNAIKD,

"H. STRACHEY,
" DAVID LYON."

"East-India House,
25th May 1826."

The Chairman said that, according to the 6th section of the 3d chapter of the by-laws, it was the duty of the court, at their general quarterly meeting in June, to elect a committee of fifteen to inspect the by-laws. He should propose the following gentlemen as members of the committee:- Humphrey Howarth, Esq., the Hon. D. Kinnaird, George Cumming, Esq.; Patrick Heatly, Esq.; George Grote, Esq.; David Lyon, Esq.

General Thornton wished to know, before the court proceeded farther in the election, whether it could be ascertained how often the gentlemen belonging to the committee last year attended. Should it

appear

appear that any of them had not been in the habit of attending, he thought it would be better to appoint others in their places. In some places, he knew it was usual to set down how many times a member attended the committee to which he belonged.

Mr. Cumming could not recollect how many gentlemen attended on particular occasions, but he could state that in general the attendance was very regular.

Dr. Gilchrist took it for granted that the statement of the hon. proprietor was correct; and if he should, on a future occasion, move that an entry be made of the number of times gentlemen might attend that committee, he conceived that those persons who attended regularly could have no objection to the motion. He thought it highly necessary that some regulation should be adopted for securing the attendance of the members. He would move, if he were permitted so to do, that a register be kept of the attendance of the members of the committee.

Mr. S. Dixon rose to order. The hon. proprietor should give notice of his motion for a future discussion. He (Mr. Dixon) was entirely opposed to the motion. He thought it degrading that gentlemen should be treated like school-boys, and have the time when they came in the morning marked down. It would be a dangerous precedent.

Dr. Gilchrist had always understood that at a general court any proprietor might suggest whatever he might think would do good to the Company. If the motion were irregular, he would give notice of it for a future day. He could not see any thing objectionable in it: men of business, instead of being ashamed of having their proceedings watched, ought rather to glory in being found always at their posts. He did not desire, however, to have the hours of attendance marked down: he only wanted the days.

The Chairman confessed himself guilty of some irregularity in allowing the conversation to proceed, because the court ought to have, he conceived, concluded the appointment of a committee without such interruption. He however was aware that, after the appointment of the committee, any proprietor might give notice of any motion he pleased upon the subject. In his opinion, the report before his eyes afforded the best answer to the observations that had been made respecting the attendance of the members of that committee; it consisted of fifteen members, and the names of twelve were signed to the report. (Hear!) He begged leave to move that the following gentlemen, besides those he had before named, be appointed members of the committee :Robert Williams, Esq.; Benjamin Barnard, Esq.; Sir Henry Strachey, Bart.; John Darby, Esq.; John Henry Tritton,

Esq.; John Carstairs, Esq.; Richard Twining, Esq., and Sir James Shaw, Bart. Agreed to unanimously.

The gentlemen nominated formed the committee of last year.

ENGAGEMENT OF SHIPPING.

The Chairman had to acquaint the court, that on the 10th and 24th ult. the Court of Directors came to resolutions to engage several ships by private contract, which resolutions were now reported to the court, agreeably to the by-laws.

"At a Court of Directors, held on "Wednesday the 10th May 1826,

"Resolved by the Ballot, that the court, "being of opinion that arrangements "should be made for the conveyance to "India of the troops belonging to his "Majesty's service, who, it appears by a "letter from Sir Herbert Taylor, dated "at the Horse Guards the 26th ultimo, "are in readiness to embark for India, viz. "230 for Madras, and 500 for Bengal, "and the advanced period of the season "not admitting of the issue of an adver"tisement for the hire of the requisite "tonnage, the undermentioned ships now "in the river, and which are reported to "be suitable to the service, be engaged "for a voyage outwards to Bengal for the "purpose of carrying out troops and stores, 6s at the following rates of freight per ton on the registered measurement, and in "every other respect conformably to the "terms and conditions upon which ton"nage was engaged for the same service last year, viz.

"Hercules, 483 tons; owners, Messrs. "Buckles, Bagster and Co.; freight, "£6 per ton."

"At a Court of Directors, held on "Wednesday, the 24th May 1826,

"Resolved by the Ballot, that as it appears from a letter from Lieut.general "Sir Herbert Taylor, dated the 18th inst.

and recorded in the former part of the "minutes of this day, that there are now "520 men in readiness to embark for "Madras, and 660 men for Bengal, in"stead of the number mentioned in his "letter of the 26th ultimo; and as the "late period of the season will not allow "time to issue an advertisement for the "hire of ships for their conveyance to

India, the undermentioned ships, which "are now in the river, and suitable to "the service required, be engaged for the "voyage outwards to Bengal, at a freight "of six pounds (£6) per ton on their re