Ceylon.

MISSION COLLEGE.

It is proposed by the American missionaries in this island, to establish a mission college at Jaffna, for the instruction of Tamul and other youth. The prospectus published insists upon the importance of extensive school establishments, as one of the most effectual methods of propagating Christianity. A leading object of the institution will be to give the native youth a thorough knowledge of the English language, and introduce them to the sciences of Europe. The testimony of the Bishop of Calcutta is expressed in the following letter :—

66 Chowringhee, December 6, 1825. "Reverend and dear Sir;-I have read with much interest the Reports of your missionary establishment, and intended plan of Christian education in the neighbourhood of Jaffna, and regret that the prior and urgent claims of Bishop's College prevent my contributing at present towards it in any other way than by good wishes. Those good wishes are strengthened by all which I have heard and known of your labours and those of your brethren in Ceylon; where I can say with truth that I found an unanimous testimony, borne by the members both of the Church of England and other Christian sects, to the zeal, the judgment, and exemplary conduct of American missionaries. I remain, &c.

66

"REGINALD CALCUTTA." 'The Rev. M. Winslow."

TUNNEL.

We are happy to announce that the Tunnel near Kandy has been open for wheel carriages since the 7th instant, and little more remains to be done towards its completion but to secure by masonry some few parts where the rock is defective, or cannot be depended upon.-[Ceylon Gaz. Sp. 14.

Persia.

The news from Herat, received viá Amritsir, is of rather an interesting description. It appears that the Persian prince who governs part of Khorassan had arrived from Meshed with a large army at Toorbut, a place belonging to Mahommud Khan, the son of Esa Khan, whose territory is situated in the hilly country between Meshed and Herat. Mahommud Khan applied for as istance to the Doorannee prince, Kamran, who sent Sirdars Salov Khan and Peer Mahommad Khan, with 4,000 horse, to his support, and at the same time despatched an envoy to the ruler of Oorgunj (Kharezm) requesting his co-operation.

When the Prince Kamran arrived near Toorbut, he determined to make an attack by night on the Persian army. The other party, however, having heard of the design, and the preparations that were making against them, were the first to attack. The Doorannees sustained a defeat, many prisoners were taken, and the Sirdars were obliged to retire to Herat, leaving Toorbut in possession of the Persians, who seized and put to death its chief.

In the mean time, Mahommud Ruheem Khan, the ruler of Oorgunj, according to the Prince Kamran's request, advanced to his aid with 30,000 men; but the latter taking alarm at his approach, shut the gates of Herat. Ruheem Khan encamped outside the walls, and sent a messenger to the prince, saying, "You first asked my assitancse, and now that I am come, you shut your gates,-what is the meaning of such change? Pay me the Nalbundee (tribute exacted in return for service), and allow me to depart." Kamran replied that he had nothing to give. Ruheem Khan then plundered the villages round Herat, carried many of the inhabitants into captivity, and returned to Oorgunj.

The Persian prince afterwards surrounded Herat, and began to plunder the adjacent country. Such was the posture of affairs when the letter containing the above particulars was despatched to the Punjab.-[Cal. Gov. Gaz. Dec. 5.

Netherlands India.

ASPECT OF AFFAIRS.

The following letter speaks in a more desponding tone than the government papers and despatches hitherto published.

Extract from a letter dated Batavia, December 18:-The affairs of this government wear a gloomy aspect; their finances are in a distressed state owing to large debts, the amount of paper money in circulation being great, and little silver to be had-as you may suppose, when silver guilders range in the several divisions of the island at from 35 to 20; they are bought by this government at 20 to 22 to pay their troops. The policy pursued during the last five years by government has brought this colony to the verge of ruin; the natives have discovered the weakness of the Dutch, and are taking advantage of it in many of their possessions.

In Java, the natives interior of Samarang have taken the field since July, and this government acknowledge that they have not power to put down this serious rebellion. Many soldiers have been sacrificed, and with no other effect than teaching the insurgents how to fight, to retreat, and value the Dutch power. Their

leaders

leaders are getting bolder every day. The Dutch forces are now compelled to remain inactive in their several fortresses. I shall not be in the least surprised to learn that the rebels have carried them all by storm, when the rains are passed. The object the leaders of the insurrection have in view is to establish the native power, say the Sultan's dominions, independent of European control. They have no disposition to make conquest of the sea coast west of Cheribon.

China,

Three proclamations have been issued concerning the entry of the European merchants of Canton into the city, the particulars of which are given in a preceding page. These documents are extremely verbose and lengthy. We shall extract their substance.

The first is from the Viceroy, expatiating upon the audacity of the foreigners in transgressing the law and entering the city; and declaring that if any foreigner shall take upon himself to enter the city, he shall be chained and examined upon his knees, after which he shall be kept in prison, and tried and punished according to law. Should the officers and soldiers in charge of the gates kill any person in trying to apprehend them, it shall be no offence. The Viceroy excuses the Kwanghee, or Kong-heep, for his enlarged and indulgent treatment of the merchants, as they "showed signs of fear and contrition, and begged for indulgence; appearing penitent, and petitioning, that this their first offence might be forgiven!" In the other officers, he says, there was great remissness. "The head (Hong) merchant and the other six (to whom the six foreign factories belong) must be thrice awarded as guilty of a high offence; the porter and upper intendants must be loaded with heavy collars; the officers at the Tsinghaw gate severely punished with forty blows, and the soldier severely beaten and dismissed. In future the names and surnames of all the foreigners inhabiting the foreign factories, together with those of the compradores and superintendants, must be returned by the Hong merchants once a month, as well as the captains and mates of the ships, and the occasions of their movements at Whampoa and Macao, which are to be sent to the proper magistrate, in order that they may be subject to examination when required.' His Excellency allows the foreigners to hire fast-boats, as a mark of compas

sion."

66

The next mandate from the new Hoppo to the Hong merchants commences with the following preamble:-" The present dynasty instituted the office of

Hoppo, who has the general superintendence of maritime trade, on account of its compassionating feelings towards distant foreigners, surely not in consequence of any necessity that it has for the foreigners' clocks and watches, broad-cloth, longells, &c.; or for the sake of the annual duties, amounting to several hundred thousand tales. The central nation (China) possesses silk and cotton manufactures of various kinds, enough to clothe and cover all its people, and abundance of dials, clypsedras, and hour glasses as well as clocks and watches, from Soachou and Yang Chou, sufficient to ascertain the lapse of time With regard to the rare and precious articles which are brought from the four seas, and by the nations of the north and south, these are piled up in the imperial palace in mountainous heaps. When any of the provinces are afflicted with famine, millions of tales are issued from the national treasury for their relief; what necessity, then, can there be for trifling commodities of foreign nations? In consequence of the various people of the Western Ocean having long been dependent upon the tea, rhubarb, and other goods of China for their existence, therefore the office of Hoppo was established to superintend the trade on just and impartial principles. But as it was to be apprehended that the foreigners, coming from afar, over a tempestuous ocean, ignorant of the language, and unable to procure food for themselves, would be deceived and cheated by wicked natives, the Hong merchants were instituted to buy their goods, and the linguists to be their interpreters, while pilots and compradores were provided them, as well as food and water to support their existence. As it was likewise to be feared that the foreigners, unacquainted with the laws of the celestial dynasty, might be led into a violation of them by wicked natives, a high and trusty officer was appointed for their especial superintendence, while the Viceroy delegated to the proper civil and military officers their government and control. The mercy was most great; but the laws are most severe ! The foreign merchants have either chiefs to superintend their affairs, or there is an inferior jurisdiction exercised by each captain or master over those under his immediate command. If they can strictly conform themselves to ancient usage, mutual good understanding may be preserved for ever. But it appears that of late years remissness has proceeded from long neglect. With the exception of the English chief, who indeed understands the general principles of moral fitness, and the foreigners of that nation (those in the Company's employ) who preserve a due regard for themselves, the others, namely, the American and Indian foreigners, regardless of

the

LOSS OF THE H. C. SHIP, ROYAL GEORGE.

By the ship Farquharson accounts have been received of the total destruction, by fire, of the H. C's ship Royal George, at Whampoa, on the morning of the 24th Dec. last.

The fire commenced in the gun-room, and the alarm was first given about 4 A. M.; but from the extreme rapidity with which the conflagration extended, the ship must have been burning for some time previous to the bursting forth of the flames. Every exertion was made to smother the fire: but the flames soon communicated with the spirit-room, which burnt with the most irresistible violence, and in less than an hour after the first alarm all prospect of saving the ship became hopeless. She blew up at about 8. The greatest coolness and intrepidity were manifested by the officers and crew; and we are happy to learn that no life was lost on the occasion. She had most of her cargo on board, consisting of tea and raw silk.

St. Helena.

COURT MARTIAL ON CAPT. H. S. COLE.

At a General Court-martial, whereof Major H. H. Pritchard, St. Helena artillery, was President, held at the Library, 17th October 1825, by virtue of a warrant from the hon. Brig.-Gen. Walker, governor and commander-in-chief, and the Council, Captain Henry Sutton Cole, of the St. Helena regiment, was brought

before it a prisoner, under the following

Charge.-Captain Henry Sutton Cole, of the St. Helena regiment, ordered into arrest by the Commander-in-chief, at the request of Lieut. A. A. Younge of the same corps, upon the following charge, viz.

For scandalous and gross conduct, highly unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman, in publicly and unprovokedly insulting me at the gate of the garrison parade, on Thursday the 6th of October 1825, a few minutes previous to my mounting guard, and when I was in waiting for that duty; by addressing himself in substance as follows, and in presence of several officers: "Younge,

you are a damned_black-guard and no gentleman, nor do I consider you better than Homagee the hangman:"-and being in breach of the articles of war.

(Signed) A. A. YOUNGE,

Lieut. St. Helena Regiment. Finding and Sentence.-The court having maturely considered the charge, and the evidence adduced in support of it, with what has been stated in defence, is of opinion, that the prisoner, Captain Henry Sutton Cole, is guilty of the charge preferred against him, with the exception of the word "scandalous," and in virtue of the articles of war, it doth sentence him, the said Captain Henry Sutton Cole, to lose one step of rank in the regiment he is in, by being placed next to and below the present third Captain of that corps.

Approved and confirmed, (Signed)

A. WALKER, Gov.

Y. H. BROOKE, M. C. G. BLENKINS, M. C.. Observations.-The Governor and Council deem it incumbent on them to remark, that Captain Beale being the captain of the day, and senior officer of the regiment present when Captain Cole insulted or abused Lieutenant Younge, who was for duty at that moment, ought to have adopted decided steps immediately to protect that officer, as well as to prevent the consequences that might have resulted from such intemperate language. Captain Beale, on the contrary, has, by his objecting to the questions put to him by the prosecutor, which required to know if he had not been told by Captain Cole that he would abuse Lieutenant Younge, rendered himself open to the conclusion that he was accessary to the unofficer-like conduct of which Captain Cole has been found guilty.

By order of the Governor and Council,
F. H. BROOKE,
(Signed)
Secretary to Government.

BEFORE We insert the official details of the events which followed the rupture of the armistice by the Burmese, it will be proper to relate shortly the transactions which preceded it, as stated in the Government Gazette of Calcutta, on the authority of despatches received from Prome.

It appears that throughout the month of October the Burmese had manifested symptoms of a disposition to renew hostilities, several bands of marauders having crossed the line of demarkation, ostensibly without the authority of their chiefs, and plundered villages on our side. The villagers themselves in several instances defended their property successfully against the attacks of these banditti, and small detachments sent from the head-quarters prevented their ravages being carried to any serious extent. Some correspondence passed between Sir A. Campbell and the Kee Woongee on the subject, when the latter promised to exert his best endeavours for checking these excesses, and positively denied that they were committed with his sanction or knowledge.

On the 24th October Major General Campbell wrote to the Kee Woongee, to enquire whether the English prisoners had been brought down from Ava according to agreement, and also whether he had learnt the result of the reference made to the court of Ava after the close of the late conferences. An answer was received from the Kee Woongee and Lamian Woon on the 29th. After taking credit to themselves for sincerity and fair dealing, and accusing the British authorities of insincerity and breach of faith in bringing armed sepoys, ships and boats to Rangoon, and crossing troops from Cheduba to Sandowey, which showed no wish or desire for peace, the writers say," If you sincerely want peace, and the re-establishment of our former friendship, according to Burman custom, empty your hands of what you have, and then if you ask it, we will be on friendly terms with you, and forward a petition for the release of the English prisoners and send them down to you. However, after the termination of the armistice between us, if you show any inclination to renew your de

mands for money in payment of your expenses, or any territory from us, you are to consider our friendship at an end. This is Burman custom."

By intelligence received at the same time from various quarters, it appeared certain that the voice of the king of Ava himself was loud for war, and that he had issued reiterated orders to the Burmese commanders to attack the British army immediately.

The faction of the concubine-queen was also clamorous for a continuation of hostilities, and the brother of the queen put his army in motion to attack the English,

A large force, amounting to about 80,000 men, was consequently assembled by directions from the court; the soldiers were promised gratuities, and all the officers promotion. Such of the com

manders as shewed a reluctance to the measures of the court, were either executed or imprisoned. Bundoolah's brother was put to death for deserting his post at Donabew; Prince Sarrawuddy is in disgrace.

The Burmese army accordingly moved to attack the English forces at Prome about the middle of October, with directions, it is said, to destroy every man, woman, and child in the villages that had sought British protection.

General Campbell announced the rupture of the armistice to his army in the following general order:

"Prome, Oct. 20.

"The Commander of the Forces has this morning received information, too circumstantial in its details to be neglected, though almost too atrocious in its nature to be credited, being in substance that the Burmese Army is now in full march towards us, with a view to a general attack upon our position, and that they are executing this movement under express orders from the King of Ava, in open and shameful violation of an armistice concluded under the authority of the commanding generals of both armies, on the basis of the plighted faith of their respective Governments."

The events which followed are detailed in the official despatches, copies of which will be found in a subsequent page.

We add the following particulars from

the

the Government Gazette, as to the feeling which prevails amongst the Burmese respecting the war :

A messenger who had been despatched to Memboo states, that when the English general and officers returned from Membenziek after the conference, the Burmese chiefs reported all through the Burmese soldiery and populace, that the English had come to treat in consequence of the Cochin Chinese, the friends of the Burmese, having proposed to come forward and shut the English in, and thus prevent their getting away. They also said that the English demanded a large sum of money as payment for the expenses of the war, but the Burmese answer was,-We too are at great expense; our soldiers cost us 150 rupees each. The English also asked for Arracan, which the Burmese refused; the English then asked for Cheduba, which was in like manner refused. The general report, all through the Burmese army, was, that there must be Peace, as the English were tired out. When the conference was held at the Lotoo, the Burmese, by the advice of Lamain-woon and the Attawoon, had 4000 musketeers, with jinjals ready in the surrounding jungle, to fight if any difference took place, or the English gave

trouble. Every one thinks there must be Peace. The common people think, from the reports spread by the higher classes, that it is because the English give it up. But all the chiefs know that it is desired by their Government, as the treasury is exhausted; and the King is now borrowing or exacting from the merchants, and every one he can raise money from. A man who lately arrived at Memboo from Ava, says there is a general confusion there, in consequence of the rapacity of the Government for money; there is no credit, and the great Chinese trade is entirely at a stand, confidence being destroyed. The report of assistance from China is all false. The English, Ameriand Armenian prisoners, being in the greatest distress for food, sent to Monshoozar to say, they were so long without food they were starving. Monshoozar sent rice and money for their relief, which, when the King heard, he ordered him and his whole family for execution, and they were only saved by chance, by the intercession of the King's sister. But all his property is confiscated, and he is in irons. Some of the white people who were in irons are dead, but none have been executed. They died from trouble, broken hearts, and ill usage.

can,