At half past one on this day, the force anchored opposite Pegue. The houses on the banks of the river were all deserted, and finding that the ancient city was about a mile inland, I immediately gave directions for the landing of the Troops. This was effected (agreeably to orders issued the day previous) with perfect regularity and steadiness. In rear of the village is a plain on which the detachments formed, and the artillery landed without loss, of time. Beyond the plain along a very considerable extent, are the remains of one side of the ancient rampart and ditch, all parts of which being surrounded with jungle, I sent out a reconnoitering party which was accompanied by my Brigade. Major Captain Briscoe, H. M. 41st regiment, and Captain Jones, of H. M. 89th regiment who acted as my Aid-de-Camp. During their absence I advanced with the guides, crossed the causeway that led to the city, and then formed to wait the return of the party, who after having proceeded to the Great Pagoda of Shoe Madoe, reported that the inhabitants had all fled on their approach, and that the city and every part adjacent was entirely deserted. On hearing this intelligence, I proceeded with the Grenadier companies of the Madras European regiment and 28th regiment Native Infantry, to the city of the Pagoda, and hoisted the British colours. Among the houses were found a few old men and women, from whom I ascertained that from a hundred and fifty to two hundred fighting men were all the place contained; these had on our arrival dispersed in the jungle. The object of the expedition having been thus completed, I made arrangements for my departure. The force was re-embarked the same evening, when Capt. Chads, R. N. with myself deeming it advis able to reconnoitre the upper part of the river, and endeavour to as certain the existence of a high road to Prome, he proceeded with the Man of War's Boats about six miles, beyond Pegue, and on his return on the afternoon of the 30th instant, the whole weighed for Rangoon. I cannot close this dispatch without expressing the high gratification I felt on witnessing the steadiness and order with which the troops landed, and the ardour they evinced during the advance towards the City, all being in full expectation they were leading to the attack of a well-defended Fortress; and I have only to regret that the premature retreat of the enemy deprives me of the gratifying part, that no doubt I should otherwise have had to perform, that of stating every one under my command had done his duty. I feel much indebted to Lieutenant Colonel Brodie, Commanding the Detachment of the 28th Regi ment Native Infantry, as also to Captain Forbes, commanding that of the 1st Madras European Regiment, for the promptitude and zeal with which they landed and formed column; and great praise is due to Captain Murray, Madras Artillery, for landing the Guns (which, with the assistance of the Naval part of the force, was effected with speed) over the steep and rugged bank of the river, as well as to Lieutenant Macartney, of the 1st Battalion Pioneers, for his arrangement re garding the the scaling ladders. I must call the particular attention of the Brigadier General to the zeal and ability shewn by Captain Chads, R. N. in his conducting the Flotilla and the valuable assistance I at all times received from him. In conclusion I beg to notice the assistance I derived from CapBriscoe. His Majesty's 41st Regiment, and Captain Jones His Majesty's 89th Regiment, together with that of Captain Russel, Bombay Artillery, and Lieutenant Trent, His Majesty's 38th Regi- J. W. MALLET, Lt. Col. To Brigadier General Sir Archibald Campbell, K. C. B. &c. your &c. &c. I have the honor to remain Sir. H. D. CHADS, Commander, By Command of the Right Honorable the Governor General in Council, GEO. SWINTON, Sec. to the Govt. GENERAL ORDER BY THE RIGHT Secret Department, 24th Dec. 1824. The official Despatches already published in the Extraordinary Gazette having announced the late brilliant achivements of the British Arms at Rangoon, the Right Honorable the Governor General in Council now proceeds to the discharge of a most gratifying duty, in signifying, in the most public and formal manner, his high admiration of the judgment, skill and energy, manifested by Brigadier General Sir Archibald Campbell, in directing the operations of the troops under his command on that important, and arduous occasion. The Governor General in Coun. cil requests Brigadier General Sir Archibald Campbell to accept the cordial thanks of the Government, and to notify to the brave Officers and Men under his command the of admiration with sentiments which it regards the gallantry, spirit, and enthusiasm evinced by them, throughout the severe and protracted conflicts with the enemy, which terminated in his entire rout and dispersion, with great slaugh ter, and the loss of two hundred and fifty pieces of Artillery and most of his Military Stores. His Lordship in Council has remarked with particular approbation the recorded instances of meritorious conduct displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Miles, second in command and Lieutenant Colonels Mallet, Parlby and Brodie; Majors Evans, Sale, Firth, Yates, Dennie, Thornhill, Gore, Wahab, Farrier, and Basden; and Captains Piper, Wilson and Ross. The Governor General in Council entertains also the highest sense of the efficient services and honorable exertions of Captains Murray, Russel, Timbrell and Montgomerie, of the Artillery, of Captain Cheape, commanding Engineer; Captain Wheeler, of the Madras Pioneers; Lieutenant Colonel Tidy and Major Jackson, Deputy Adjutant and Quarter Master Generals; and of Captains Snodgrass and Campbell. Personal Staff to Brigadier General Sir Archibald Campbell. The Governor General in Council seizes this opportunity of expressing his warm acknowledgements to Captain Chads, of His Majesty's Ship Arachne, the Senior Naval Officer at Rangoon, and to Captain Ryves, of His Majesty's Ship Sophie, for their distinguished personal exertions, and requests the former to convey to the Officers and Crews of His Majesty's Ships of the Honorable Company's 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, when they so conspicuously displayed the irrestible and characteristic valor of Bristish Seamen. On these occasions His Lordship in Council observes that Lieutenant Kellett, of His Majesty's Ship Arachne, and Lieutenant Goldfinch, of His Majest's Ship Sophie, particularly distinguished themselves. The high encomium bestowed by Brigadier General Sir Archibald Campbell on the conduct of all the troops under his command, in which he states that their valor was only equalled by the cheerful patience with which they bore long and painful privations, and that whilst his Europeans fought like Britons and proved themselves worthy of the country that gave them birth, the gallant Sepoys successfully obtained the palm of honor in rivalling their European Com rades in every thing that marks the steady, true and daring Soldier, has been perused by the Governor General with peculiar gratification; and His Lordship in Council requests the Brigadier General to take the most effectual means of making known to his troops at large the high estimation in which their valrous deeds and exemplary fortitude are held, end especially to mark the admiration of Government of the heroic manner in which the Native troops have so nobly sustained the long and well-earned fame of our Indian Army. The Governor General in Council deeply laments the loss of Major Walker, of the 3d Madras Native Light Infantry, emphatically styled by Sir Archibald Campbell, Rangoon.--By the last accounts from Rangoon it will appear that the reports of the Revolution at Ava were incorrect. The following paper of intelligence was given in a short time before the departure of the Nereide. "The King of Ava having placed his Son, Prince CHOKIA-MEN on the Throne, merely for the purpose of dispelling the predominant influence of ill luck, went himself to Tsagine. Consequently the present war with the English is carried on in the name and under the auspices of the said temporary King, C "SARA WOONGHEE, is dead. SYKIA WOONGHEE has been disgraced and stripped of all his titles and dignities, in consequence of his cowardice at Thantabain, when attacked by the British forces. "The Grand Army of the Burmese, consisted, before the action, of from forty-seven to fifty thousand men, also one thousand Invulnerables, armed with swords, and decorated with silver gorgets and and medals, conferred on them by the Regent CHUKIA-MEN." Martaban.-We have much pleasure in publishing the following Extract of a Letter from Martaban, dated the 24th of November: "The people of this place began to come in in numbers the day after the dispatch of the account of its capture, and the town has now a large and quiet population. The markets are well supplied daily. The Heads of Villages all around have come in, and Passes have been furnished to them at their request, as belonging to the British Government. The Rajah they say is still about twenty-five miles off, with three or four hundred followers. He is very badly off, and some of the villagers it is said, have promised to bring him in. His people have committed some depredations on some villages. In two instances they were beaten off by the inhabitants themselves, and the depredators brought into Martaban as prisoners, when we found them to be people of Rangoon. Prome, &c. Altogether the very best disposition towards us prevails both here, and in the surrounding country. Measures are in progress for dispatching Draft Cattle to Rangoon, including three fine Elephants. The resources of this part of the country seem to be immense. Here is a great deal of hidden property in Silver, Lead, Bees' Wax, and Elephants' Teeth. The grain here is in the highest state of preserva tion, the accumulation of two years; this town, being from its situation a general depôt, is of great value. It is lodged in three large store-houses, strongly built of timber, 270 feet long, 60 broad, and 26 to 30 high, quite full, and another half full. which is now used for the Troops. We have excellent Buffaloe Beef served out daily, of which this District produces great abundance. We pay from ten to fourteen Rupees per head. We are very healthy here. Not more than eight are sick in H. M. 41st, and the Artillery together, amounting with Non-commissioned Officers, to upwards of 160 men. "A report came from some people in the jungle the other day, that three thousand fresh troops had arrived, and were three days march from Martaban, but as none of the villagers have come in with their property we do not credit it. It agrees certainly with the force with which the Bundoola promised to reinforce Martaban, Tavoy, &c. Such a number will not, I am afraid, dare to attack us here.” Tavoy and Mergui.-The reports from Tavoy and Mergui represent those Provinces to be in a state of perfect tranquillity and the demeanour of the inhabitants as most peaceable and friendly. Measures we understand. were in progress for obtaining surveys both of the Coast and of the interior, and for collecting the most accurate information regarding the geography, resources, and population of the whole country between Martaban and the Town of Tenasserim.— Govt. Gaz, 27th Dec. Madras, 31st December,-The private accounts from Rangoon state that the 26th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry under the Command of Major Yates, had "obtained no ordinary share of renown"-this Regiment with about 75 men of the Madras European Regiment, were stationed at Ke- "Bundoola's army and that of Serawaddy joined on the 28th or 30th November, and on the 1st Instant, broke ground on the North and East faces of the Dagon Pagoda; and at the same time made an attack on the Stokade at Ke mendine. Kemendine had the 26th Regt. under Major Yates, and about 75 Europeans, with three or four pieees of cannon for its defence. It gave the enemy a warm reception on the first attempt, and has since then been supported by H. M. Sloop Sophie and the Teignmouth Cruizer, with some gun boats, which tolerably well flanked the N. and South faces of that work: Since that attempt however, day and night, the efforts of the enemy have been unceasing at that point, as being the most assailable part of our position, and since the first, (Major Yates writes) not a soul has changed their clothes or eaten anything except on their knees. The enthusiasm of the Sepoys is beyond imagination, and not having time to cook, all they as ask is, lots of ammunition and avel-and they think themselves equal to the whole Burman Army. Tho' Kemendine is the Post of Houor, still we have not been left idle The enemy is numerous enough to afford occupation for all of us. His approaches have been brought regularly on to within 200 yards of the Pagoda, and tho' we occasionally sallied, and beat him out, he returned to them immediately they were quitted by our troops. As early as 2 o'clock on the first day, the Flags and Golden Chatters of the Enemy were seen on the heights, and on the bund of the tank to the right of (what is called) the Bengal line; and threatening our little post of 75 men at the village of Pussendow-A party of 400 or 500 men under Major Sale, of H. M. 13th Light Infantry, were sent to beat up their quarters. The Burmans, tho' scarce two hours on that ground, had constructed a trench, behind which they lay and gave their fire, when the head of the column reached a convenient distance, by which 4 Officers and some leading men were laid low-our lads pushed on however, and the Enemy fled with precipitation-we followed some distance and then returned, The following day, December 2d, saw the enemy in possession of the same ground, pushing on their approaches towards white house Picquet, and the N. E. angle of the stockade of Rangoon rumours were now afloat that they intended to make a grand rush, and attempt |