Although the war with Burmah must be considered rather as a military
than a naval war, yet as our ships and steamers have been actively
engaged in it from the commencement, and our navy have taken a
prominent part in the operations even on shore, we are bound to
devote a portion of our work to the description of its progress.
The Burmese empire is situated on the north-east portion of India,
embracing most of those regions known as India beyond the Ganges. In
the years 1824 and 1825, a campaign was undertaken by the British
Government against the Burmese, known as the Burmese War, when the
provinces of Arracan, Martaban, Tavoy, and Tenasserim were ceded to
us.
The Burmese Empire is about 600 miles long, and 300 in width. Its
capitals are Ava and Ameerapura.
Its principal port is Rangoon, a very flourishing place, situated
about 36 miles from the sea, on the right or north bank of a branch
of the Irrawaddy. On account of its facilities for trade, many
English merchants had settled there. Towards the middle of the year
1851 numerous complaints had reached the supreme Government of
Calcutta of the oppressive tyranny of the Governor of Rangoon,
directed, it appeared, chiefly against British subjects residing at
or trading to Rangoon.
The more immediate cause of British interference was the conduct of
the Governor towards Captains Shippard and Lewis, the latter
especially, he had placed in irons, insulted, heavily fined, and
otherwise ill-treated. These proceedings were in direct violation of
the Ninth Article of the Treaty of Tandaboo, which enacts "that the
King of Ava will abolish all exaction upon British ships or vessels
in Burman ports that are not required from Burmese ships or vessels
in British ports; nor shall ships or vessels, the property of British
subjects, whether European or Indian, entering the Rangoon river or
other Burman ports, be required to land their guns, or unship their
rudders, or do any other act not required of Burmese ships or vessels
in British ports."
The Government, in consequence, resolved to demand reparation for the
infraction of the treaty, and despatched accordingly, on the 18th
November, 1851, H.M.S. 'Fox,' flag-ship of Commodore Lambert,
Commander Tarleton, and the H.C. steamer 'Tenasserim,' from Calcutta,
which were joined at Maulmain by the H.C. steamer 'Proserpine,' and
H.M.S. 'Serpent,' when the squadron proceeded at once to Rangoon, off
which they moored on the 25th of the same month. On the next day,
Commodore Lambert received a message from the Governor, ordering him
to remove his vessels further down the stream: to this the Commodore
replied, "That Her Majesty's ships were in the habit of choosing the
position that best suited themselves." No further communication took
place with the shore during the day. This excited the surprise of
the Commodore, and accordingly early the next morning, he despatched
Captain Latter to ascertain the reason. Captain Latter, of the 67th
Native Infantry, had come in a political capacity, in consequence of
his perfect knowledge of the Burmese language. He returned with the
Rev. Mr. Kincaid and Mr. Birrell, who stated that the Governor had
threatened to behead any European who should communicate with the
squadron. Notwithstanding this, several residents came off to
explain their grievances to the Commodore. He had before written a
despatch to the Governor, demanding a letter of apology, and 10,000
rupees as damages for the injuries received by British subjects; but
from the representations he had now received, he considered this not
sufficient, and he therefore wrote another, stating why he had come,
but that from the gravity of the complaints made to him, he must
refer the matter to the Governor-General of India in Council, and
await his further instructions.
This letter was sent by a deputation, consisting of Captain Tarleton,
Commander of H.M.S. 'Fox;' Captain Latter, Lieut. Elliot, and Mr.
Southey, as secretary. They were received by a guard, with
sufficient state, but when they arrived at the outer gate of the
Governor's palace, an attempt was made to compel them to dismount.
As this is considered a token of inferiority in the East, Commander
Tarleton boldly refused to do so, and riding to the foot of the
stairs, was ushered at once into a handsomely decorated hall of
audience, filled with a number of chiefs in rich dresses, and gaudily
accoutred soldiers. Here the officers were desired to seat
themselves, and wait the Governor's arrival, but this Commander
Tarleton refused to do, and standing with the Commodore's letter in
his hand, demanded that the Governor should at once be informed of
his arrival, that he might perform his duty and depart. In ten
minutes the Governor appeared, very plainly dressed, and smoking a
cigar, though surrounded by several officers in magnificent costume,
with gold chains round their necks. Commander Tarleton instantly
walked up to him, accompanied by Captain Latter, and after the last
mentioned had in a few words introduced the subject they had come on,
he took the Commodore's letter which Commander Tarleton handed him,
and first reading it aloud in English, translated it in a clear and
decisive tone into Burmese. The boldness of the British officers
very much astonished the Governor and the chiefs, and still more
astonished were they when refusing all their proffered civilities,
the deputation returned at once on board.
The following day the Deputy-Governor paid the Commodore a visit, and
stated that it would require five weeks to receive an answer from the
court of Ava. As might have been expected, the Burmese used every
stratagem to hoodwink the British, and to procrastinate matters till
they were prepared for resistance.
The Emperor's letter arrived, and was delivered with great pomp, on
the 1st of January, 1852, and at first it was hoped that affairs
might be peaceably arranged. On the 4th a new Governor arrived, but
on the 6th it was found that he intended to carry out the system of
his predecessor with greater rigour. One of his first acts was to
order Mr. Birrell to lower a flag-staff erected in his garden, under
pretence that it was used to carry on a secret communication with the
squadron. The Commodore, still anxious to give no cause of
complaint, desired him to comply with the order; but as afterwards
the Viceroy (as the new Governor was called) refused to receive a
deputation, consisting of Capt. Fishbourne, of H.M.S. 'Hermes,' Capt.
Latter, and other officers sent by the Commodore, after he had
actually agreed to do so, the Commodore sent a circular into the
city, stating that all further pacific relations were impossible, and
warning all foreigners to quit the place, and advising them to put
themselves under the protection of the British flag, promising them
at the same time every assistance in his power.
Two hours only could be allowed to them to take advantage of this
offer, during which time the 'Proserpine' steamer ran close into the
wharf, and eight or ten boats from the other ships pulled on shore to
receive the fugitives. While the foreigners, consisting of natives
of British India, Armenians, Portuguese, and others, besides English,
came crowding down, in vain endeavouring to induce the natives to aid
them in embarking their property, bands of Burmese officers and
soldiers moved among them, threatening with severe punishment any who
should venture to assist them. Of course but little property could,
under these circumstances, be saved, and some 60 persons, who
returned at night to attempt the rescue of more, were seized and
thrown into prison by the Burmese. The morning following these
events all the merchantmen were either anchored on the opposite side
of the river, or were towed by the steamer out to sea.
The Burmese, seeing that the British were in earnest, once more tried
to avert the coming storm for a time. The Commodore, even yet
anxious to prevent bloodshed, undertook to postpone operations till
the following evening, in order to allow the Viceroy time to tender
the apology he demanded. Instead of an apology, however, at 8 P.M. a
message arrived from the Viceroy to the effect that if the British
ships attempted to pass the stockades erected on the banks of the
river, they would be fired on. Information was received that nearly
5,000 troops were assembled near the stockades, and during Wednesday
night and the following day, numerous war-boats, each containing from
50 to 80 men, were discovered coming down the river. At the same
time several vessels full of armed men arrived at the general
rendezvous from the Pegu River.