of the entire war.

Previous to beginning the campaign, in 1825, general Campbell exerted himself, to inspire the inhabitants of the country with confidence in the British. He issued a proclamation in February, inviting them to return to their homes, and promising them perfect security in person and property, if they remained peaceable, and supplied him with provisions; for which he engaged they should be amply paid. By these means, he induced the inhabitants to return to Rangoon, in considerable numbers.

Great preparations were now made for carrying the war, farther into the interior of the Burmese empire. Lord Amherst began to feel that he was contending with no contemptible foe. Their pertinacious attacks on the British positions, their skill and activity in the science of fortification, the climate, the face of the country,-all contributed to render this a more serious struggle, than the company had been involved in for many years. The operations of the war were necessarily expensive, and, therefore, excited complaint in England, where entire confidence was not generally felt, in the capacity of lord Amherst, for the important duties of governor-general of India. Although the battles with the Burmese were not attended with

much from the climate. And early in the war, an unfortunate event occurred at Barrackpore, where a regiment of native troops refused to march on this service, and did not submit, until they were fired upon by other corps,--and upwards of 100 men killed. Disturbances happened, also, in other parts of the company's possessions; the natives appearing to think the English were engaged in a war of ambition and conquest, rather than of justice or necessity. All these considerations rendered the contest one of vital importance to the company; who, bad they failed in it, might have suffered severely from the consequences.

Sir Archibald Campbell recommenced offensive operations in February, his ultimate object being the capture of Prome. Having dislodged the Burmese from their posts on the Lyng river, preparatory to marching; general Campbell moved forward to Sorrawah, where he halted. The Carian inhabitants of the country, received him, as he represents, with much satisfaction, rejoicing at the expulsion of the Burmese, and assisting him with supplies of rice and buffaloes, and in road-making. He was not opposed in his progress thus far, although a strong division of his enemies, under Maha Silwah, showed a disposition to sustain an

attack at Mophi, but broke up on his approach, and dispersed into a close jungle in the rear.

General Campbell halted at Sorrawah, to await the issue of an expedition of the river-column against Donabew, under command of general Cotton. Bundoola had assembled there a force of 30,000 Burmese, defended by strong fortifications, where he determined to make a desperate stand. General Cotton attacked their first position at a pagoda, and after an obstinate struggle, carried it; but the Burmese made a successful resistance at their second position, and repulsed the British with great loss. General Cotton finding that his force was insufficient to carry the main defences of the Burmese, even should he take their second position, drew off his forces, and dropped down below Donabew, to wait for reinforcements.

On learning the state of things at Donabew, general Campbell retraced his steps for that place, and opened his batteries the 1st day of April. The next day, the Burmese retreated to the jungle, disheartened by the death of Maha Bundoola, who was killed by a rocket; or, as some accounts say, by the explosion of a shell. During the siege, the Burmese made several bold and desperate sorties, but were uniformly driven back. Much of this good fortune on the

part of the British, was owing to the use of shells and rockets, with which they did great execution.

It would be tedious, to narrate all the minor operations of the different forces, in their progress up the river. Suffice it to say, that general Campbell reached Prome towards the end of April, which he took possession of without firing a shot, the Burmese fearing to stand his approach. The fortifications of the place were very complete; and the Burmese had skilfully availed themselves of the great natural strength of the place, to construct stockades; which surpassed, both in materials and workmanship, any thing which the British had hitherto encountered in the country. The town was burning when they entered it, having been set on fire by the Burmese before they abandoned it.

Here the British remained during the rainy season. The mortality among their troops was considerable; the inundation of the country, in consequence of the rains, producing a destructive epidemic. General Campbell found it necessary to obtain his provisions from Rangoon, the Burmese having wasted the country along the route of the British troops, for the purpose of distressing them; in which they were successful. Nor did they leave the British camp at Prome any repose; incessantly approaching under cover of the

British, wear much the aspect of ambition to conquer another Indian empire. The immediate cause of the war, even as explained by them, was rather slight; and to this it should be added, that nearly all our knowledge of its origin or progress is derived from the British alone. Certain it is, that, even in the early parts of the contest, the company was continually calculating the benefit derivable from possessing the important sea ports and provinces, which they had conquer ed, or hoped to conquer, from the Burmans.

can.

We have already alluded to the mortality, which prevailed at Prome, during the rainy season. It was likewise, very great at ArraAlmost the whole army experienced its effects. A mortality also raged among the horses, and bullocks, attached to the army. But towards the month of August, the health of the troops, and cattle, began to improve, and all were anticipating the events of the approaching campaign; when, suddenly, the negociation of an armistice, opened a prospect of peace.

The armistice was concluded at Meeaday, in September, and was to last for a month. A line of demarkation, across the Irrawuddy, was agreed upon, and each party stipulated, not to cross it; and also, to suspend hostilities, upon the frontiers, until the termination of

the armistice. An exchange of prisoners, was one of the condi tions of the agreement.

Commissioners, on the part of the British, and Burmese, met, October 2d, to discuss the preliminaries of the peace. As the British demanded a large cession of territory, and indemnification, for the expenses of the war, the Burmese requested the prolongation of the armistice, until November, to give them opportunity of consulting their court. their court. Arrangements, were accordingly made, for transferring the negotiations to Ummerapoora, in the confidence of effecting a peace.

This expectation was destined to be disappointed. Just after the expiration of the period appointed, for the first armistice, bands of Burmese passed the line of demarkation, and plundered the villages within the British limits. Remonstrances being made to the Burmese chiefs, they retorted, in complaints of the insincerity of the British; and did not deny, that a large force was advancing upon Prome, to intercept the progress of sir Archibald Campbell. Their aim apeared to be, to cut off the communication between Prome, and Rangoon, from whence all supplies were obtained; and at the same time, to make a desperate attempt to take the British army by surprise.

General Campbell foresaw their object, and prepared to defeat it. He began, by sending detachments, to dislodge some Burmese troops, posted so as to be troublesome to the British camp. Most of these

were successful; but one, commanded by colonel M'Dowall, was repulsed, and sustained a heavy loss.

Soon afterwards, the main army of the Burmese, divided into three corps, consisting of 50,000 men, took post in the vicinity of Prome, extended in a line across the Irrawuddy, and fortified by strong entrenchments along the hills. General Campbell attacked one of these corps, December 1st, with nearly all his forces, drove them from their stockades, with the loss of their commander, Maha Memiow, and all their guns and stores. The next day, he attacked the second corps, and pushed the Burmese troops on, from hill to hill, at the point of the bayonet, till the whole of the position was in his possession. On the fourth day, general Cotton assaulted, and carried the remaining position; and the Burmese were now completely routed and dispersed.

General Campbell immediately advanced to Meeaday, which he found evacuated by the Burmese, whose dead and dying, were scattered along the whole line of

his march. He reached the place,

on the 17th, and after a short stay, marched on to Melloon, which was occupied by the enemy; their army being assembled, within the defences, and the river being covered with war boats. Here, overtures of peace were again

made, and hostilities immediately ceased.

These overtures ended in a treaty, signed by British and Bur-mese commissioners, January 3d, 1826, to be ratified by the king of Ava, within fifteen days. Sir A. Campbell was now perfectly satisfied of the sincerity of the Burmese; but at the expiration of the time agreed on, the Burmese asked for an extension; and suspicions again arose, that they were only seeking to entrap the British. General Campbell instantly demanded the evacuation of Melloon, as a preliminary condition of the extension.

On the refusal of the Burmese, he made immediate preparations for assaulting the place. The Burmese, on their side, had not been idle; but, in the mean time, constructed extensive works, in addition to the former entrenchments. Nevertheless, the British carried Melloon by assault, inflicting upon the Burmese, a severe loss in men, and capturing a large quantity of stores, ordnance, munitions, and specie.

After a short delay, sir Archibald