HIRING VESSELS. Captain MAXFIELD said, that in pursuance of a notice he had given at the last quarterly meeting, he intended to call the attention of the Court of Proprietors to the Act of Parliament, namely, 58 of George III., respecting the hiring of ships. The CHAIRMAN thought the hon. Proprietor had better give notice of motion on so important a subject, in writing; though, if the hon. Proprietor pleased, he had it in his power to press the subject forward at present, as this was a General Quarterly Court. Captain MAXFIELD said, he certainly did not wish to take the Court by surprise, for he had before given notice of his motion. The SECRETARY referred to the minutes, and stated that no notice of such a motion had been given in. Captain MAXFIELD stated, that he had not given notice in writing, but that he had, at the last Quarterly Meeting, expressed his intention of making some observations on the subject. The Act of Parliament obliged the Company to engage a ship for three years, whether they wanted it during that time, or not. Now this was a provision which he wished to see repealed or amended. He considered the engaging of ships the worst part of the Company's business. The CHAIRMAN conceived that it was absolutely necessary to have notice given in writing upon a subject of such importance. Every Proprietor ought to have notice of the intention to bring such a question forward. Captain MAXFIELD thought the Proprietors met in that Court to investigate their affairs, and did not assemble merely for the purpose of approving of the resolutions of the Court of Directors. He understood that no notice was necessary upon the subject; but he had, notwithstanding, given notice. He certainly did not think it necessary to write the notice, or to publish it in the Newspapers, and he considered himself perfectly in order in bringing forward the question now. The CHAIRMAN repeated his opinion, that it was indispensably necessary to give notice in writing, in order that the Proprietors at large might have an opportunity of attending the discussion. General THORNTON said, that the hon. Proprietor had, undoubtedly, a right to bring forward any motion he thought fit; but he would advise him to adopt the course pointed out by the hon. Chairman. Capt. MAXFIELD said, that he should avail himself of the present opportunity of meeting the wishes of the Court, and would give a notice in writing of his motion for a future occasion. SEIZURE OF Pepper. Mr. ADINELL wished the correspondence which had passed between Government and this Company respecting himself to be laid before the Proprietors, with a copy of the scandalous letter from the Secretary of the Company to the Government, by which his property had been confiscated. Mr. MAXWELL rose to explain the circumstances of this case: he had heard from the hon. Proprietor a statement of his case, and he would now lay it before the Proprietors. It appeared that the hon. Gentleman had bought a quantity of pepper on the Royal Exchange from a broker. The warrant of the Company was delivered with the goods to prove that the seller had come properly by them. Notwithstanding this the pepper was seized as smuggled. Mr. Adinell then wrote to the proper department of Government, stating, that he had the warrant of the Company in his hands. Upon this a correspondence passed between Government and this Company, the result of which was that the goods were confiscated. The hon. Proprietor conceived himself aggrieved in laying under the imputation of being a smuggler, and he, therefore, now moved for the production of that correspondence. The CHAIRMAN said, there was no motion before the Court at present, but if the hon. Proprietor chose to make any motion, he begged he would put it down in writing. 186 Treaty of Peace between Mr. ADINELL wished to know how to word his motion. The CHAIRMAN told him, that he was to write down just what he wanted. The motion being committed to writing, The CHAIRMAN said, what he held in his hand, was no motion at all. He would read it, however, to convince the Court of the necessity of having all motions committed to paper. "That there be laid, before this Court, the whole of the correspondence between his Majesty's Ministers and this Court." (A laugh. He thought, however, he should meet the wishes of the hon. Proprietor, if h put the motion in the following manner: "That there be laid before this Court, copies of all Correspondence connected with Mr. Adinell, between al Departments of Government and this House, on the subject of some pepper seized in 1821." He would give his support to the motion, with an addition to it, "That there be included all Mr. Adinell's letters to the Court of Direc tors, and the Court's replies." Mr. PATTISON stated, that this case had been before him in a Committee where the subject was fully examined, though it was one of great obscurity He thought it highly improper to remove the question from the tribunal of the Committee, to the general tribunal of that Court, where private interest migh operate. The motion was then put and carried, and the Court afterwards adjourned. TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN THE ENGLISh and the Burmese. India Board, Sept. 1, 1826. A despatch has been received at the East India House from the GovernorGeneral in Council at Fort-William, in Bengal, dated the 7th of April, 1826, of which despatch, and of its enclosures, the following are copies ;Copy of a Letter from the Governor-General in Council at Fort William, in Bengal, to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East Indi Company, dated the 7th of April, 1826. Honourable Sirs,-We hasten to announce to your honourable committe that the Enterprise steam-vessel, having on board Major-General Sir Archi bald Campbell and Mr. Robertson, the Civil Commissioner in Ava and Pegu has arrived wi h the important and gratifying intelligence of the conclusion o peace with the King of Ava. The ratified copy of the trea'y, bearing date the 24th of February, and exe cuted at Yandaboo, within four days' march of the capital, together with the first instalment of 25 lacks of rupees, was dispatched by Major-General Si Archibald Campbell from Rangoon, in his Majesty's ship Alligator, on th 17th of March, ten days before the departure of the steam-vessel from tha port, and may be hourly expected. A copy of the treaty having, however been received from Sir Archibald Campbell, we now transmit it with this ad dress to Bombay, for the purpose of being forwarded over land, and beg to offer our cordial congratulations on the honourable and successful termination of the long and arduous contest in which we have been engaged. The Alligator having been placed at our disposal by his Excellency Commo dore Sir James Brisbane, and being also, we understand, appointed to retur to England, we propose to dispatch her, immediately on her arrival, to Eng land, committing a copy of the treaty to the charge of Captain Snodgrass Military Secretary to Sir Archibald Campbell, who will afford your honour able committee every information regarding the recent operations in Ava. I the mean time it will be highly satisfactory to you to know, that the mai body of the force in Ava had returned to Rangoon, and several regiments ha been actually embarked in the transports then in the river, and sailed for thi Presidency and Fort St. George. Major-General Sir Archibald Campbell, having communicated personally with us on various points, will return in the Enterprise steam-vessel to Ran goon, in the course of the ensuing week, to superintend the embarkation o the remaining troops, all of whom, it is expected, will be ready to leave the Burman territories by the time when the second instalment of 25 lacks falls due, namely, the 4th of June next. We have, &c. AMHERST, J. H. HARRINGTON, W. B. Bayley. P. S.-April 9.-His Majesty's ship Alligator arrived this morning. Copy of a Letter from Major-General Sir Archibald Campbell, K.C.B., to George Swinton, Esq., Secretary to the Bengal Government, dated Headquarters, Camp at Yandaboo, 45 miles south-west of Ava, February 24. SIR:-The late defeats sustained by the Burmese army, and which led to its almost total dispersion, together with the vicinity of the British force to the capital of Ava, has had the effect (I trust sufficiently) to humble that haughty and arrogant Court to a submission, which will, no doubt, be made for a length of time subservient to its policy, so as not again wantonly to disturb the peace of the British Government in India. The treaty of peace this day concluded and ratified by the Burmese Ministers of State, will be submitted to his Lordship in Council by the British Commissioners in Pegu and Ava. I have, therefore, only to say, that I shall at once return with the force under my command to Rangoon, there to await the further commands of Government. I have, &c. A. CAMPBELL, Major-General. Treaty of Peace between the Honourable East-India Company on one part, and his Majesty the King of Ava on the other, settled by Major-General Sir Archibald Campbell, K.C.B. K.C.T.S., commanding the expedition, and Senior Commissioner in Pegu and Ava, Thomas Campbell Robertson, Esq., Civil Commissioner in Pegu and Ava, and Henry Ducie Chads, Esq., Captain, commanding his Britannic Majesty's and the Honourable Company's naval force on the Irrawaddy river, on the part of the Honourable Company; and by Mengyee-Maha-Men-Klah-Kyun-Ten Woonghee, Lord of Lay-Kaeng and Mengyee Mahah-Men-Keah-Sheehah-the-Ahren-Woon, Lord of the Revenue, on the part of the King of Ava; who have each communicated to the other their full power; agreed to and executed at Yandaboo, in the kingdom of Avu, on this 24th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1826, corresponding with the fourth day of the decrease of the Moon Tuboung, in the year 1187, Mandina Aera. Article 1.-There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between the Honourable Company on the one part, and his Majesty the King of Ava on the other. Art. 2.-His Majesty the King of Ava renounces all claims upon, and will abstain from all future interference with, the Principality of Assam and its dependencies, and also with the contiguous petty States of Cachar and Jyntia. With regard to Munnipore, it is stipulated that, should Gumbheer Singh desire to return to that country, he shall be recognised by the King of Ava as Rajah thereof. Art. 3.-To prevent all future disputes respecting the boundary line between the two great nations, the British Government will retain the conquered provinces of Arracan, including the four divisions of Arracan, Ramree, Cheduba, and Sandowey, and his Majesty the King of Ava cedes all right thereto. The Annonpeeteetonmien, or Arracan Mountains, known in Arracan by the name of the Yeornabourg or Pokhengloung Range, will henceforth form the boundary between the two great nations on that side. Any doubts regarding the said line of demarcation will be settled by commissioners appointed by the respective Governments for that purpose, such commissioners from both powers to be of suitable and corresponding rank. Article 4.-His Majesty King of Ava cedes to the British Government the conquered provinces of Yeh, Tavoy, and Mergui, and Tenasserim, with the islands and dependencies thereunto appertaining, taking the Saluen river as the line of demarcation on that frontier. Any doubts regarding their boundaries will be settled as specified in the concluding part of article 3. Article 5.-In proof of the sincere disposition of the Burmese Government to maintain the relations of peace and amity between the nations, and as part indemnification to the Bri ish Government for the expenses of the war, his Majesty the King of Ava agrees to pay the sum of one crore of rupees. Article 6.-No person whatever, whether native or foreign, is hereafter to 188 Treaty of Peace between the English and Burmese. be molested, by either party, on account of the part which he may have taken, or have been compelled to take, in the present war. Article 7.-In order to cultivate and improve the relations of amity and peace hereby established between the two Governments, it is agreed that accredited ministers, retaining an escort or safeguard of fifty men from each, shall reside at the durbar of the other, who shall be permitted to purchase or build a suitable place of residence, of permanent materials; and a commercial treaty, upon principles of reciprocal advantage, will be entered into by the two high contracting powers. Art. 8.-All public and private debts contracted by either Government, or by the subjects of either Government, with the other, previous to the war, to be recognised and liquidated upon the same principles of honour and good faith as if hostilities had not taken place between the two nations; and no advantage shall be taken by either party of the period that may have elapsed since the debts were incurred, or in consequence of the war; and, according to the universal law of nations, it is further stipulated, that the property of all British subjects who may die in the dominions of his Majesty the King of Ava, shall, in the absence of legal heirs, be placed in the hands of the British resident or Consul in the said dominions, who will dispose of the same according to the tenor of the British law. In like manner the property of Burmese subjects, dying under the same circumstances in any part of the British dominions, shall be made over to the Minister or other authority delegated by his Burmese Majesty to the supreme Government of India. Art. 9.-The King of Ava will abolish all exactions upon British ships or vessels in Burman ports that are not required from Burman 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. Art. 10. The good and faithful ally of the British Government, his Majesty the King of Siam, having taken a part in the present war, will, to the fullest extent, as far as regards his Majesty and his subjects, be included in the above treaty. Art. 11.-This treaty to be ratified by the Burmese authorities competent in the like cases, and the ratification to be accompanied by all British, whether European, or native (American) and other prisoners, who will be delivered over to the British Commissioners. The British Commissioners, on their part, engaging that the said treaty shall be ratified by the Right Hon. the Governor General in Council, and the ratification shall be delivered to his Majesty, the King of Ava, in four months, or sooner if possible, and all the Burmese prisoners shall, in like manner, be delivered over to their own Government as soon as they arrive from Bengal. ADDITIONAL ARTICLE. The British Commissioners being most anxiously desirous to manifest the sincerity of their wish for peace, and to make the immediate execution of the fifth article of this treaty as little irksome or inconvenient as possible to his Majesty the King of Ava, consent to the following arrangements with respect to the division of the sum total, as specified in the Article before referred to, into instalments, viz. :-Upon the payment of 25 lacs of rupees, or one-fourth of the sum total, (the other Articles of the Treaty being executed,) the army will retire to Rangoon ; upon the future payment of a similar sum at that place, within one hundred days from this date, with the proviso as above, the army will evacuate the dominions of his Majesty the King of Ava, with the least possible delay; leaving the remaining moiety of the sum total to be paid by equal annual instalments in two years. from the 24th day of February 1826, A.D., through the Consul or Resident in Ava or Pegu, on the part of the Honourable the East India Company. LARGEEN MEONJA WOONGHEE. (Seal of the Lotoo.) SHWAGUM WOON ATAWOON. (L. S.) (L. S) (L. S.) A. CAMPBELL, Maj.-Gen. and T. C. ROBERTSON, Civil Com- H. D. CHADS, Captain, Royal Navy. SUMMARY OF THE LATEST INTELLIGENCE FROM INDIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE EAST. BENGAL. WE were just enabled to announce, in a brief Postscript to our last Number, the ratification of the treaty of peace between the British forces in India and the Burmese, and the conditions on which that ratification had been effected. This intelligence was brought to England by an overland despatch, which left Bombay at the latter end of April 1825. But though a whole month has elapsed since the arrival of that despatch, no subsequent information has yet reached us from that quarter. A vessel from Bombay arrived at Bourdeaux, during the course of last month, having left Aleppee on the coast of Malabar so late as the 17th of May; but nothing of any public interest has transpired since her arrival. The despatch received overland containing the announcement of the ratification alluded to, as well as a copy of the treaty itself, will be found in another part of the present Number, among the official documents recorded and preserved; as well as the general orders issued on the occasion of the capture of Bhurtpore, which have not before appeared. The absence of all information, subsequent to the date of the overland despatch, arises from an unusual delay in the arrival of ships leaving Bengal, Madras, and Bombay, in April and May, occasioned by prevailing adverse winds, and severely tempestuous weather. Even the ships of war, on board which duplicates of the public despatches were to have been sent, have not yet (at least at the period of our writing this) been announced among the shipping arrivals: while the number of merchant vessels daily expected, and beyond the time at which their arrival might have been calculated on, is greater, we believe, than has for many years been remembered. We have on several former occasions so unreservedly expressed our sentiments, as to the injustice and folly of the war now brought to a close, that it must be unnecessary for us to repeat those sentiments here. There has been nothing in the manner in which it has been terminated, or in the conditions exacted of the Burmese, that leads us to entertain more favourable opinions now than we have hitherto done. Supposing even the whole sum agreed upon to be paid, which all who know anything of Indian treaties must think extremely doubtful, it is not a tenth part of the actual pecuniary expences incurred by the East India Company. But for the higher considerations of loss of life and loss of character, if the whole empire of the Burmese had been ceded, it would have been a most inadequate compensation. The £250,000 already |