he received instructions from Ammerapoora, to issue immediate directions for prosecuting such which place he had despatched messengers. a systern, both of offensive and defensive arrangeThe interpreter stated farther, that the comments, as is indispensable for the security of our mander had behaved to him in a very outrageous eastern districts of Bengal. We entertain a manner, sometimes threatening in a violent confident hope that this important object may manner to cut off his head, and 'sometimes de- yet be provided for, and, at the same time, a claring that he would satisfy his resentment by salutary impression made on the enemy before marching to England. the setting in of the periodical rains.

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Declaration on the part of the Right Honourable the Governor-General in Council, dated Fort William, 24th February, 1824.

The above despatch contained copies of Mr. Scott's several letters to the address of the Burman chiefs at Juttrapore. In that dated 2d instant, the agent to the governor-general, with reference to the reported designs of the Burmahs During a long course of years the relations of against Jyntia, stated as follows:-" Now I peace and friendship have been established be“hear that you intend to enter the Jyntia tween the honourable East India company and country, and that you have sent people to the the state of Ava, by public engagements, and "rajah: therefore I acquaint you that we will by the mutually beneficial intercourse of trade not permit the execution of this fresh act of and commerce. The supreme government of aggression. First, because the rajah's ances- | India, scrupulously adhering to the obligations tor received that country as a gift, after con- of public faith, and cordially solicitous to culti quest, from the honourable company, and he vate a good understanding with all surrounding "himself has sought our protection. Second, states, has never ceased to manifest, in a special "because, as you threaten war, we cannot per- degree, its desire to cement and improve the re"mit you to occupy that or any other favour-lations of amity subsisting with the court of “able position for commencing hostilities. Ava. It is notorious, however, that notwith"Having understood this, you will do well to standing the uniformly pacific and conciliatory "return speedily by the road by which you demeanour of the British government, the Burcame, otherwise you may lose the country of mese court has in repeated instances committed "Assam whence you proceeded." or sanctioned acts of provocation and aggression, which have more than once placed the two countries on the brink of hostilities, and the

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only by the moderation and forbearance of the British power, conscious of its superior strength and resources, and naturally disposed to make the largest allowances for the peculiar character of the people and government of Ava.

On the 4th instant, Mr. Scott received from the rajah of Jyntia, through the acting magistrate of Sylhet, a letter, in the Burmese charac-natural consequences of which have been averted ter, addressed to that chief by the Burman generals. This paper declares Jyntia to be one of the provinces of Assam, calls upon the rajah and his ministers, wherever they may be, to bow submission and send offerings, and invites him to come to the place where the Burmese forces were assembled, for the purpose of affording explanations.

Of late the Burman monarch, emboldened by a career of successful encroachments against the petty states intervening between the two empires, and more especially elated by the conquest of Assam, has dared to offer injury to the British power, under circumstances of studied insult, menace, and defiance, such as no government, alive to a sense of honour, and duly mindful of its safety and best interests, can suffer to pass unrevenged.

Since the above date, we have reflected deliberately and maturely on the insecure and exposed state of our whole eastern frontier at the present critical juncture; the evident policy, if not the urgent necessity, of measures being at once adopted for expelling the Burmese from the threatening positions which they now occupy in Cachar and Assam whilst the season yet admits In the prosecution of a singularly wanton and of an effort being made; the extinction of all unfounded claim to the island of Shahporree, hope of an amicable and honourable adjustment situated on the southern extremity of the Chitof our differences by correspondence or nego-tagong district, the Burman chief, styled the tiation with the haughty and barbarous govern- rajah of Arracan, addressed a letter to the ment of Ava; and the discredit and manifold governor-general in August last, demanding, evils attending a protracted state of passiveness under the implied alternative of a rupture with and inactivity on our part, whilst our adver- the state of Ava, the removal of a small guard, saries are constantly offering fresh insults, and which had been stationed on that island as an are gathering strength and courage for some yet arrangement purely of police. No time was more daring attack on our possessions. The lost in replying to this letter, by a temperate result of our deliberations has been a conviction, exposition of the undeniable title of the British that whilst we are fully authorised in consider-government to the place, as established no less ing war as actually commenced, by the hostile by its position on the British side of the main and injurious proceedings of the Burmese govern-channel of the Nââf, than by the indisputable ment, there is in reality no course left for us, compatible with our honour and safety, but to

evidence of the public records. The governorgeneral on the same occasion expressed his per

cities of Dacca and Moreshedabad, which originally belonged to the great Arracan rajah, would be taken from it by force of arms.

suasion that the tone assumed in the rajah's it would allow the matter to pass; but if it letter had been adopted without due resection, should rebuild a stockade on the island, the and that neither that nor the abrupt and unwarrantable demand for the evacuation of Shahporree, could have been authorised by the government of Ava: an offer was farther made, No comments can be needed to illustrate the should the arguments contained in the letter character of proceedings thus pushed to the exfail to satisfy the rajah's mind as to the justice treme of insult and defiance by a people who, of our title, to depute an officer, during the notwithstanding their barbarous character and approaching cold season, to afford additional ex- extravagant pride, are by no means ignorant of planation on the spot, and to adjust all disputed the principles and observances which ordinarily boundary questions appertaining to the Chitta-regulate the intercourse between independent gong frontier, in concert with the commissioners states; and who, as their whole conduct and from Arracan. Some of the subordinate Arracanese authorities having previously declared in writing to the local officers of the Chittagong district, that the British guard, if not speedily withdrawn from the island of Shahporree, would be attacked and forcibly expelled; they were in reply distinctly warned, under orders from the governor-general in council, that any such violent and unwarrantable procedure must be re-cussion had arisen between the two govern. sented by the British government as an act of positive hostility, and be punished accordingly.

The language of the Burmahs, in their official communications with the British officers, had been ever of a singularly boastful, assuming, and even insolent strain; and adverting to this habitual extravagance of tone, and to the fact that the government of Ava itself had never raised a claim nor addressed any representation to the supreme government on the subject of this paltry object of contention, it was not imagined that the Arracanese rulers seriously meditated the execution of their insolent and outrageous threat.

It was, therefore, with equal astonishment and indignation that the governor-general in council learnt, early in October last, that the Burmese chiefs of Arracan, called the four rajahs, after suddenly assembling an unusual force at their frontier posts on the Nââf, had, under cover of the night, deliberately attacked our guard on the island, consisting of a jemadar and twelve privates of the Chittagong provincial battalion, whom they forced to retire, after killing or wounding six of our men. The rajahs at the same time sedulously promulgated, both verbally and in writing, that they had acted under the authority of a mandate from the sultan of Ava, and that any attempt of the British government to recover possession of what that government had solemnly declared to be its unquestionable right, would be followed by an invasion of the eastern districts of Bengal, for which purpose the forces of the Burman empire were advancing to the frontier. In a letter also addressed shortly afterwards by the rajah of Arracan to the governor-general, that chief had the unparalleled audacity to declare, that the party on the island of Shahporree had been destroyed in pursuance of the commands of the great lord of the seas and earth; that, if the British government wanted tranquillity,

language have shewn, can feel keenly enough in their own case any supposed infraction of national rights or honour. If any additional circumstance were wanting to demonstrate to the conviction of the whole world, the utterly wanton as well as gross nature of the injury thus offered to a friendly power, in a time of profound peace, and when no question or dis.

ments,-it will be found in the fact, that recently these very officers have professed their perfect willingness that Shahporree should be considered neutral ground; thus acknowledging the dubious nature of the Burman title, and insidiously tendering a proposition at this late period of the season, which, if advanced in proper language by their government on the first commencement of the discussion, would probably have been assented to by the British authorities as an admissible compromise, where, notwithstanding the clearness of our right, the object in dispute was so utterly worthless and unimportant.

The first impulse of the British government, on learning the outrage at Shahporree, was naturally to take into its own hands the instant chastisement of its authors, by fitting out an expedition to attack any assailable points in Arracan; but various considerations induced the governor-general subsequently to pause in the adoption of this course.

On further reflection, it appeared possible that the king of Ava might have been misled by false and interested reports, or that the name of their sovereign might have been used without authority by the rajahs of Arracan and Ramree, whose intemperate and even insolent language had on former occasions excited the serious displeasure of the British government; it was deemed, at all events, a step worthy the magnanimity of a powerful nation, and consistent with our uniform policy towards the state of Ava, to afford the Burman monarch an opportunity of disavowing and making atonement for what we were willing to consider, in the first instance, as the unauthorised act of a subordinate authority.

Under this view, a letter was addressed to the ministers of the king of Ava, in the form of declaration on the part of the governor-general, explaining in decided, but moderate language, the sentiments to which the occurrence at Shah

porree had given rise on our part; demanding | in the Nââf, whom with their boat's crew they reparation for that outrage, by the disgrace and treacherously seized, in defiance of the laws of punishment of its immediate authors; and solemnly warning the Burman government of the consequences which must inevitably attend a refusal to comply with this just demand; and to repress in future the insolence and hostility of tone which its local officers had invariably assumed at every point where they had come in contact with the British power, whether in Chittagong or Assam: copies of this letter were forwarded to the capital of Ammerapoora, by two separate channels, about the middle of November last.

Conformably with the intention avowed in the letter to the court of Ava, the governor-general in council at the same time despatched reinforcements to Chittagong, in order to ensure the safety and restore the tranquillity of that district, which had been so seriously disturbed by the conduct of the Burmese, and likewise to overpower any opposition that might be made to the reoccupation of the island of Shahporree. On the arrival of the force in the Nââf river, the limited objects with which it had been deputed, and the pacific intentions of the British government, pending the reference to the court of Ava, were distinctly explained to the Arracanese authorities, both by the magistrate of the district and the officer commanding the troops; and so perfectly disposed were the Burmese to credit our assurances, that an intercourse was speedily reestablished between the officers and functionaries of both states on the most friendly and confident footing.

good faith and hospitality, and imprisoned and detained for nearly a month, expressly on the ground of their having anchored their ship off the island of Shahporree. Shortly afterwards the standard of the Burman empire was hoisted by stealth during the night on the disputed ground, an act which, however contemptible in itself, must necessarily be regarded as a further pledge of the obstinate determination of the Burman government to carry its point, even at the known hazard of involving the two nations in war.

During all this period the king of Ava has maintained a haughty and contemptuous silence on the subject of the remonstrance addressed to the Burmese court more than three months back. The above document must have reached the capital some time previous to the deputation of the commissioners, and the governor-general in council is hence compelled to interpret the acts and declarations of these ministers as the only answer which the government of Ava deigns to return.

Whilst the British territories on the southern frontier have been thus actually violated, under circumstances of peculiar and aggravated insult, the language and proceedings of the Burmese on the north-east frontier of Bengal have evinced more extensive and mischievous designs of aggression, and leave no rational ground to doubt that the king of Ava has deliberately resolved to pursue the schemes avowed by his officers, in contempt of the rights and dignity, and in open defiance of the British government.

For many years past, the parties dividing authority and struggling for ascendancy in the raj of Cachar, had incessantly applied to the British government, soliciting it to interfere, as the paramount state, to settle the affairs of that country; its internal dissensions had frequently disturbed

For a time hopes were entertained that the differences with the Burmese might be amicably adjusted on terms consistent with the national honour; that the Burman government would consent to the definition of such a boundary between the two countries as would obviate the future occurrence of disputes and misunderstand-the tranquillity of the adjoining district of Sylhet; ing on the south-east frontier.

and the governor-general in council having satisfied himself that Cachar was independent of the Burmese, and that the measure could afford no just ground of umbrage to that government, adopted a resolution, on the 19th June last, to take the country avowedly under protection, on the usual conditions of political dependence. Whilst arrangements and negotiations were in train for defining the terms of our connexion with the chief whom it was determined to rein.

About the middle of January this pacific aspect of affairs was suddenly changed, and all friendly intercourse suspended, by the arrival of a military officer of the highest rank, at the head of large reinforcements, accompanied by two commissioners from the capital, vested with extensive powers, and bringing positive orders to dislodge the English, at whatever hazard, from the island of Shahporree. The purport of these orders was ostentatiously proclaimed, with a dis-state in possession, and who was then residing tinct intimation that any attempt on our part to interrupt their execution would be considered tantamount to a declaration of war between the states. The first act of the commissioners was to cross over in state to the disputed island, obviously for the purpose of recovering a nominal possession, the British detachment having been previously withdrawn in consequence of the unhealthiness of the spot. The following day they succeeded in decoying to the shore two of ficers of the honourable company's armed vessels

under British protection within the honourable company's territory, intelligence arrived from Assam that the Burmese were preparing an army to invade and conquer Cachar. The governor-general's agent on the north-east frontier lost no time in addressing letters to the Burman governor of Assam, briefly apprising. him of the nature of our views and measures in regard to the raj of Cachar, and calling upon him to desist from any project of molesting that country. The outrage of Shahporree having in the

were wanting, the ambitious designs and insufferable arrogance of the court of Ava.

interval occurred, the agent subsequently warned the Burman authorities, under the express instructions of government, that their occupation After long detaining and grossly insulting the of Cachar would not be permitted, as, independ- vakeel and successive messengers deputed to ently of the resolution recently taken by the their camp by the governor-general's agent, they British government to protect that territory, it notified, in a letter to Mr. Scott, that they had could not without a culpable dereliction of duty entered the country of Cachar to restore the and disregard of the plainest maxims of pru- rajah, and to follow up and seize the Munnipo dence, allow the Burmese to advance unopposed rian chiefs wherever they might be found ; know. to a position, the command of which would so ing well at the time that the whole of those greatly facilitate the execution of the threat of chiefs had obtained an asylum within the British invasion repeatedly pronounced by their coun- provinces. "Should," they observed, “* Chortrymen in other quarters. The only answer “jeet, Marjeet, and Gumbeer Singh, and the Casreturned to these communications was, that or- sayers, enter the English territories, apprehend ders had arrived from the king of Ava to follow" and deliver them to save any breach of friendup and apprehend certain Munniporian chiefs" ship; so doing, no rupture will take place, and (peaceably residing within the British territory)" the commercial intercourse now in existence wherever they might be found; that these orders" will continue. If the Cassayers enter the would be executed without any respect to terri-" English territories and their surrender is retory or jurisdiction; and that the Burmahs were" fused, and if they receive protection, know that not to be hindered from carrying into effect the" the orders of the most fortunate sovereign are, mandates of their sovereign by any opposition" that, without reference to any country, they which the British authorities might offer.

It soon appeared that an army had been assembled in the Burman dependency of Munnipore, as well as in Assam, for the execution of the fresh purpose of aggression now distinctly threat

ened.

On the advance of the invading force from the eastward, the acting magistrate of Sylhet addressed letters of remonstrance, under the orders of government, to the military chiefs in command, of a purport and tendency similar to those which had been previously transmitted to the commander of the forces in Assam.

Totally disregarding, however, the intimation thus explicitly given by the British government of its determination to resist the occupation of Cachar on grounds the justice of which cannot be questioned, and anxious only to effect their object of concentrating a large army on the immediate frontier of the company's possessions, the parties from the northward and eastward hurried on by forced marches, in avowed defiance of our remonstrances, and effected a junction at Juttrapore, only five miles from the frontier of Sylhet, where they entrenched themselves in extensive and formidable stockades. Happily a party of observation had been advanced to the frontier, on the first intelligence of the near approach of the forces of the king of Ava, of sufficient strength to keep them in check and prevent any actual violation of the British territory in that quarter; but the injury already sustained by their advance has been serious, no less to the suffering country of Cachar than to the district of Sylhet, throughout which a general alarm has been spread, causing many of our ryots to abandon their homes, and materially impeding the collection of the public

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"must be pursued and apprehended."

Whilst occupying their threatening position in Cachar, the generals of the king of Ava had moreover planned the conquest of Jyntia, another petty chiefship, situated similarly with Cachar in regard to the British frontier, but which, having formerly been restored as a gift to the rajah's family by the British government after a temporary convulsion, was more distinctly recognised as a dependency of Bengal. The rajah of Jyntia, in a letter addressed to him by the Burmese commanders, was called upon to acknowledge submission and allegiance to the king of Ava, and to repair forthwith to the Burman camp. A demonstration was further actually made against Jyntia to enforce the above requisition, when the advance of the British troops frustrated the execution of this hostile and menacing encroachment.

Two successive checks, sustained by the armies of his Burmese majesty on the Sylhet frontier, at length induced their partial retreat from the threatening position which they had taken up in that quarter. One party, however, still maintains its position in Cachar; and the retirement of the Assamene force, which had taken post more immediately on the British frontier, has been made under circumstances indicating no retraction of the ambitious designs of the government. The officers and men also of the honourable company's armed vessel Sophia have been released, but no kind of apology or explanation of their detention has been offered by the chiefs who committed that outrage.

From the foregoing detail it will be evident, that in a season of profound peace, and wholly without provocation, the court of Ammerapoora has grossly and wantonly violated the relations of friendship so long established between the The conduct and declaration of the Burman two states; and by the hostile conduct and larscommanders on the Sylhet frontier have unequi-guage of its officers, and the actual advance of vocally disclosed, if indeed any further proofs its forces to several and widely distant points of

revenues.

our frontier, has compelled the British govern- |logy, and involve the concession of such terms as ment to take up arms, not less in self-defence are indispensable to the future security and than for the assertion of its rights and the vin- tranquillity of the eastern frontier of Bengal. dication of its insulted dignity and honour. By command of the right honourable the governor-general in council,