"Lieut. Keele of the Arachne, Lieut. Bazely of the Sophie, and their respective crews, behaved with their usual gallantry. Lieut. Keele's unremitting exertions with this little force, as also the share he has taken in the fall of the place, together with the good understanding kept up between the services, I leave for you, Sir, properly to appreciate."

In the mean time the disgrace which had attended all the Burmese enterprises, the fall of their stockades, the loss of their maritime provinces, and the occupation of Rangoon, produced no pacific overtures from the stubborn King of Ava; on the contrary, arro gantly buoyed up by the probable effects of pestilence upon his invaders, he recalled Maha Bandoola from Arracan, to assume the command before Rangoon. This chief was esteemed the most distinguished warrior and statesman of the empire; and had been on' the frontier for the conquest of Calcutta, from whence he had orders to lead the Governor-General, in golden fetters, to Umerapoora. With him there came a large and apparently well-appointed army, attended by a numerous artillery and a body of Cassay horse; and he was allowed to extend his line round our flanks, and commence his entrenchments. The British troops had fortunately also received a reinforcement, and a sensible change had taken place in the health of the soldiers; so that they were not at all despondent, although the resources and strength of the opposing force were, no doubt, greatly exaggerated to alarm them.

On the 30th of November, the enemy's war-boats were descried by the Teignmouth, a Company's vessel in advance; they were coming down in formidable numbers, and crowded with men, which induced the commander to slip and avoid them. This, unfortunately, left. Kemmendine exposed to a furious attack both by land and water; and as Major Snodgrass does on this occasion laud the naval cooperation, we will do him the justice to extract the passage which relates the events of the 1st of December, though we should have been still more gratified had he mentioned the gallant defender of the fort, Major Yates, by name.

"The day had scarcely dawned when hostilities commenced with a heavy fire of musketry and cannon at Kemmendine, the reduction of that place. being a preliminary to any general attack upon our line. The firing continued long and animated; and from our commanding situation at the foot of the Great Pagoda, though nearly two miles distant from the scene of action, we could distinctly hear the yells and shouts of the infuriated assailants, occasionally returned by the hearty cheers of the British seamen, as they poured in their heavy broadsides upon the resolute and persevering masses. The thick forest which separated us from the river prevented our seeing distinctly what was going forward; and when the firing ceased, we remained for a short time in some anxiety, though in little doubt as to the result of the long and spirited assault. At length, however, the thick canopy of smoke which lowered over the fierce and sanguinary conflict gradually dissolving, we had the pleasure of seeing the masts of our vessels lying at their old station off the fort, a convincing proof that all had ended well on our side."

"During the day repeated attacks on Kemmendine had been made and repulsed; but it was not until darkness had set in, that the last desperate effort of the day was made to gain possession of the post. Already the wearied soldiers had lain down to rest, when suddenly the heavens and the whole surrounding country became brilliantly illuminated by the flames of

several tremendous fire-rafts floating down the river towards Rangoon; and scarcely had the blaze appeared, when incessant rolls of musketry and peals of cannon were heard from Kemmendine. The enemy had launched their fire-rafts into the stream with the first of the ebb tide, in the hope of driving the vessels from their stations off the place; and they were followed up by war-boats, ready to take advantage of the confusion which might ensue, should any of them be set on fire. The skill and intrepidity of British seamen, however, proved more than a match for the numbers and devices of the enemy: entering their boats, they grappled the flaming rafts and conducted them past the shipping, or ran them ashore upon the bank. On the land side the enemy were equally unsuccessful, being again repulsed with heavy loss, in the most resolute attempt they had yet made to reach the interior of the fort.

"The fire-rafts were, upon exammation, found to be ingeniously contrived and formidably constructed, made wholly of bamboos firmly wrought together, between every two or three rows of which a line of earthen jars of considerable size filled with petroleum, or earth-oil and cotton, were secured; other inflammable ingredients were also distributed in different parts of the raft, and the almost unextinguishable fierceness of the flames proceeding from these can scarcely be imagined. Many of them were considerably upwards of a hundred feet in length, and were divided into many pieces, attached to each other by means of long hinges, so arranged, that when they caught upon the cable or bow of any ship, the force of the current should carry the ends of the raft completely round her, and envelope her in flames from the deck to the main-top-mast-head, with scarcely a possibility of extricating herself from the devouring element."

But Kemmendine was so important an object, that the repulse only inflamed Bandoola's anxiety to retake it. On the morning of the 2nd Capt. Chads sent a timely reinforcement of seamen to assist in working the guns,-and Lieut. Kellett gallantly cleared both their flanks of the enemy. On the following day the Sophie was directed to occupy a position for the defence of the post, and, as the warboats had become very troublesome, they were attacked and seven of them captured; one of these was ninety-six feet in length, pulling seventy-six oars, and, like three others, mounting a long 9-pounder on the bow. For several days the assaults were incessant, but the enemy was uniformly repulsed, till at length a decisive movement of Sir A. Campbell upon the enemy's trenches, by which Bandoola's main body was routed, with an enormous loss of artillery, arms, and ammunition, freed the British lines for some days.

We will here instance the military Commander-in-chief's idea of the naval exertions :—

"The attacks upon Kemmendine continued with unabated violence; but the unyielding spirit of Major Yates and his steady troops, although exhausted with fatigue and want of rest, baffled every attempt on shore; while Capt. Ryves, with H. M. sloop Sophie, the H. C. cruiser Teignmouth, and some flotilla and row-gun-boats, nobly maintained the long-established fame of the British navy, in defending the passage of the river against the most furious assaults of the enemy's war-boats, advancing under cover of the most tremendous fire-rafts, which the unwearied exertions of British sailors could alone have conquered.

"I requested Capt. Chads, the senior naval officer here, to move up to the Puzendown creek during the night, with the gun-flotilla, bomb-ketch, &c. and commence a cannonade on the enemy's rear at daylight. This service was most judiciously and successfully performed by that officer, who has never yet disappointed me in my most sanguine expectations."

On the 8th of December the same gallant chieftain reports to the Governor-General that his obligations to Captains Chads and Ryves, and the officers and seamen of H. M. navy, were great and numerous. "In Capt. Chads himself," says he, "I have always found that ready alacrity to share our toils and dangers, that has ever characterised the profession he belongs to, and the most cordial zeal in assisting and co-operating with me on every occasion."

And he concludes a general order thus:-"The conduct of both officers and men during the whole affair was characteristic of the British navy! What can be said more to their honour ?"

Lieut. Marshall proceeds to relate several useful co-operations, which, together with a successful expedition to Paulang, are all overlooked by Major Snodgrass. We refer the reader to the details, for our business is but to testify that the Blues acquitted themselves properly; in proof of which we cite the thanks of the Supreme Government:

"The Governor-General in Council seizes this opportunity of expressing his warm acknowledgments to Capt. Chads of H. M. S. Arachne, the senior naval officer at Rangoon, and to Capt. Ryves of H. M. S. Sophie, for their distinguished personal exertions; and requests the former to convey to the officers and crews of his H. M. ships, of the H. C. cruizers, as well as the officers and men of the transports who volunteered their services, the sense which Government entertains of their gallant conduct in the several actions with the enemy's war-boats, where they so conspicuously displayed the irresistible and characteristic valour of British seamen."

Bandoola, now beaten at all points, was in full retreat, but being met by numerous reinforcements, he entrenched at Kokeen, about four miles from the great Pagoda,-with a judgment, according to Sir A. Campbell, "which would do credit to the best instructed engineers of the most civilized and warlike nations." From hence, he having procured emissaries to set fire to Rangoon, the British General was determined to dislodge him; and on the 15th of December, with only 1500 men, he stormed and carried by assault the most formidable stockaded lines which had yet been met with, and which were defended by an army supposed to be little less than 20,000 men. The warfare on land was accompanied by a concurrent operation on the river, and we may mention, as Major Snodgrass does not, that Lieut. Kellett with the steam-boat, and a division of flotilla, being sent up the Lyne branch of the river, by a judicious manœuvre took three large war-boats out of a fleet, and about forty other vessels, many of them laden with ammunition and provisions for their army. In announcing his victorious achievements, Ŝir Archibald says:

"Our gallant friends afloat were determined not to let the auspicious day pass without their share of its operations. Every day's experience of the zeal and cordiality with which Capt. Chads, and every individual composing the naval part of the expedition, co-operates with me in carrying on the combined service, increases my sincere obligations, and merits my warmest thanks."

The character of the war was now entirely changed, and the enemy were restricted to defensive operations. It was therefore resolved, in the beginning of 1825, to move upon Umerapoora ; but in order to leave no danger in the rear, a detachment of 200 soldiers

and 50 sailors were sent against the Syriam Pagoda, the last remaining post of the Burmese in that vicinity. It is almost needless to say that the place, though strong, was carried; but we may add, that the sailors, as on a former occasion, threw a bridge across the creek for their brethren in arms, and that their commanding officer, Lieut. Keele, was the first man over the stockade.

On the 22nd of January, H. M. S. Alligator arriving at Rangoon, the naval command devolved upon Capt. Alexander; though in other respects the routine of duty continued the same.

Previous to the advance upon Ava, a force was sent up the Lyne to Quangalee, to clear the way for the progress of the main body, which it was decided should be supported as far as possible by the flotilla, during its intended route of 600 miles. The armament was headed by Lieut.-Colonel Godwin and Capt. Chads, and the result was the storming of the strong stockade of Than-ta-bain, the capture of thirty-six guns, and the destruction of an immense number of warboats and fire-rafts. Never was there a better spirit and mutual goodwill shown between the two services than on this occasion; every individual, military and naval, did his duty with the greatest cheerfulness and alacrity. As the historian of the war, however, passes over this expedition without a single word, we will show what part the sailors took, from the mouths of the higher authorities. "A detail of the operations of the column," says Sir A. Campbell," affords me another opportunity of bringing to the notice of the Right Hon. the Governor-General in Council, the judgment and decision of Lieut.-Colonel Godwin and Capt. Chads; and bearing no less honourable testimony to the irresistible intrepidity so often displayed both by soldiers and sailors on this expedition."

"To Capt. Chads the Governor-General in Council desires to express his constant acknowledgments for the distinguished share he bore in the action. His Lordship in Council has also noticed, with particular satisfaction, the characteristic gallantry displayed by Lieutenants Keele and Hall, who with their boat's crews were the first to enter the enemy's fort, followed by Capt. O'Reilly of the Grenadiers of His Majesty's 41st regiment."

Every thing being now ready for an active progress, the army was divided into two columns; one of about 2500 men was to proceed by land, and the other, 1200 strong, by water; the former to be commanded by Sir A. Campbell, and the latter by Brig.-Gen. Cotton; while the charge of the flotilla, which contained every disposable officer and man of the Alligator, Arachne, and Sophie, was in the immediate hands of Capt. Alexander. A third division of 780 men, accompanied by the Larne and Mercury, was sent up the western branch of the great river, to attack Bassein, as a necessary preliminary to the investment of Bandoola, in his stronghold at Donoobew.

These arrangements completed, the Commander-in-chief began his march on the 13th of February, through a deserted country, in which the few natives found, were in the last stage of misery and destitution. Meanwhile the flotilla advanced with the greatest perseverance, capturing the stockades by the way, and overcoming every difficulty. Not aware that the land column had proceeded onwards as far as Sarrawah, full thirty miles beyond Donoobew,

Brigadier Cotton and Capt. Alexander reconnoitred the latter place, for the purpose of attempting it. Bandoola was found to have concentrated his force here; and he had raised a succession of forts, beginning at the pagoda, and terminating on an elevated position, surrounded by a strong abattis and deep ditches. An attack on the 7th, though at first successful, proved to be severely disastrous; the military force was far too insufficient to carry one of the strongest positions in the empire, garrisoned by 12,000 choice men, and commanded by the ablest of the enemy's generals. At least 150 of our men were killed and wounded, and, in the hurried retreat, many of the latter were not carried off. Upon this the armament dropped ten miles down the river, to occupy a position till they could hear of the main body; and, in so doing, they were assailed on every side by the Burmese war-boats. The following day, some of the unhappy men left in the enemy's hands were crucified upon rafts, and floated down the stream.

The heavy cannonade had been distinctly heard by our troops at Sarrawah, where it had given a conviction on their minds that the place had fallen; but the only mention of the occurrence by Major Snodgrass is, that they heard" our troops had failed." The consequence was, a retrograde movement of the main column, and the formal investment of Donoobew, For the interesting particulars of the death of the stern Bandoola by a shell, and the capture of his camp with 140 pieees of ordnance, 269 jingals, abundance of ammunition, and an extensive depôt of grain, we refer to Lieut. Marshall's narrative:* our duty is merely to show how the Commanderin-chief esteemed the naval co-operation.

"I now beg leave to acknowledge my obligations to Capt. Alexander, C.B. senior naval officer, and commanding the flotilla, for his hearty and cordial co-operation on all occasions since we have served together, and for his very great exertions on the present occasion in bringing up stores and provisions. Since we have been before Donoobew, eleven of the enemy's large class warboats have been captured by our advanced boats, under his own immediate orders; making, with others evacuated by their crews, thirty-eight first-rate war-boats, now in our possession; and I have every reason to think that only five of the large squadron the enemy had stationed at this place have succeeded in escaping. A vast number of other boats, of an excellent description, has also fallen into our hands. By Brigadier-Gen. Cotton, and all the officers embarked, the zeal and incessant labour of His Majesty's navy are mentioned in terms of high admiration."

This victory settled the fate of the Burmese empire, as it is called. The road to Prome, the grand object of the campaign, was now open. On the 3rd of April, the columns advanced, and although the passage by water was tedious and fatiguing, from the strength of the currents and violence of the rapids, the flotilla, now reinforced by the boats of H. M. Ships Liffey and Tees, maintained its communi

During the siege, the garrison tried the effect of several desperate sorties, but our line received them so coolly, that they were all repulsed. On one occasion, a singular scene was presented in front of the contending armies: no less than seventeen huge elephants, richly caparisored, and carrying a proportion of warriors, were brought forward to sustain the charge of the British cavalry. The monsters showed unusual steadiness and courage, and when the riders were mostly shot, walked back into the fort with the greatest composure.