or any other individual sentenced by a Civil or Military Court to any penalty or punishment. It may be painful to such individuals to see the memory of their recorded guilt revived: it may be even illegal, as the decision in Bochsa's case seems to prove, for any man ever to advert to such recorded convictions, true as they undoubtedly are; and it may be thought, by the parties themselves, quite unnecessary to the ends of public morals or public justice, that any action of former days should ever be spoken of in later ones. But on these points, whatever the law and the guilty individuals may determine, the rest of the world will be likely to think for themselves: and the reply to any complaint of the wounded parties would be-" If you would avoid all pain of feeling, abstain from doing acts, the recollection of which disturbs your complacency; or, at least, have the discretion not to add fuel to the flame, by seeking, through your unreasonable complaints, to provoke a renewal of their discussion."

To conclude-As Capt. Macnaghten, in indulging the vituperation which characterises his unpublished pamphlet, has laboured under a most unfortunate mistake in supposing that Mr. Buckingham is actuated by personal malice and hatred towards him individually, Mr. Buckingham takes this occasion to declare, in the most solemn manner, that no such feeling has ever for a moment entered his breast. He regrets---as who would not---to see one whose early professional career, and private habits and pursuits, promised so brilliantly, arrested suddenly in his progress, and his latter days obscured by clouds, of which his early ones gave no sign or portent. He, therefore, attributing much to the influence of the misconception under which Capt. Macnaghten so unfortunately laboured, forgives him freely for all the epithets of "slanderer, miscreant," and others of similar import, with which he has so abundantly deformed his pages; conscious that as they were meant for the writer of the Strictures on Capt. Macnaghten's proceedings, (who is altogether another individual, though quite as undeserving such epithets as Mr. Buckingham himself,) they are words without force or meaning: and assuring him, that so far is Mr. Buckingham from being his enemy, that no man would rejoice more sincerely than he should do, if so impossible an event could happen, to witness the entire obliteration of every questionable act of Capt. Macnaghten's life from the records of the times; and to hail his restoration to that happier state, in which their intimacy was once marked by mutual respect and esteem. For the rest---as this can never be---he wishes him health and virtuous resolutions, with a long life of distinguished merit, by which to eclipse the lesser, and at the end of his career, it may be hoped, the forgotten, imperfections of the past.

SUMMARY OF THE LATEST INTELLIGENCE FROM INDIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE EAST.

BENGAL.

THE latest arrivals from India have brought us papers and letters from Bengal up to the 31st July, and from Madras to the middle of August. The intelligence they contain is not very important. The second division of the army had arrived at Madras from Rangoon; but the second instalment due from the Burmese had not been paid, and the final evacuation of that port was consequently delayed. It is pretty evident that the Court of Ava, now that the greater part of our forces are withdrawn, will not be disposed to hurry themselves in paying up the arrears of the imposed tribute. They cannot be entirely ignorant of the peculiar and precarious tenure by which we hold the empire of India and control the Native powers who still have a shadow of independence. They may naturally hope by delay to gain something from the chapter of accidents; and if they gain nothing else, they gain time. As for good faith or adherence to treaties-considerations of this nature, when not strengthened by clear views of interest or fear of retribution, have but a slight influence even with European States. What then can we expect from the monarch of Ava, and a court of "wily and faithless barbarians"- -as we ourselves have called them?

In the meanwhile, it appears that the Natives, under the impression that Rangoon will not be given up at all by the British, are flocking thither in great numbers, and the trade of that place was rapidly reviving. The following intelligence from Rangoon is dated May 30, 1826:

"Since the restoration of tranquillity, the population of Rangoon has increased in a most astonishing manner: it is suspected that part of the augmentation is only temporary, the people being so far on their way to the southern settlements; however such a purpose is not avowed. The Burman authorities are very suspicious of the intentions of the Peguers, and very unreservedly express a hope that we may be solicited to remain some time at Rangoon, until the new order of things is fully established; no intimation of such a wish, however, has been officially made, and our preparations for a final remove proceed without interruption. Shortly after Sir Archibald Campbell's return to Rangoon, a party, with elephants and cattle, were detached from the land column to Martaban by way of Pegu. In consequence, however, of the unusually early commencement of the rains, the roads proved impassable, and the party were compelled to return to Pegu, whence they will proceed to Rangoon. The most friendly intercourse is maintained between the British authorities and Burman chiefs, and amongst others a letter has been received from Udina, the ex-Raja of Martaban, who is rather in an awkward predicament, as he has not been restored to his Government by the Court of Ava. This chief is seventy years of age, addicted to the use of spirits, mischievous at all times, but particularly when in his cups.

He served under the Bundoola in Assam and Cassay, and from his temper and habits is not unlikely to be a troublesome neighbour, if replaced in his post. His power to do mischief, however, is very limited, and his years and propensities render it probable he will not, however well disposed, be troublesome long. Commerce is beginning to revive at Rangoon, and considerable supplies of grain have been already received from the Martaban province,-a proof of the productiveness of the latter."

Other letters of a late date have been received, which confirm the preceding, as well as convey additional intelligence from that quarter. The following is under date of June 10, 1826:

"The Moira arrived here on the 16th instant with the two Chiefs of Tavoy, and three vakeels, who were lately prisoners of war at Calentta. The other prisoners, viz., the Rajah and Rahnee of Cheduba, may be expected every day by the steam-vessel. The other ships which have arrived between the 14th and this day, are the Thetis, the General Wood, and the Hydery. His Majesty's ship Atlas, from the coast of Africa, arrived this day. The non-arrival of ships from Madras, makes all the Madrasees, high and low, very anxious. The trade of Rangoon is returning by degrees to its usual briskness, and the population of Rangoon has considerably increased. Those fugitives who have returned, as well as the most considerable part of the Burmans, are buoyed with the hope that the English will permanently retain Rangoon; if they do not, the Burmans will all remove to the territories of the English. The New Town is becoming very prosperous-houses are building, and some of the settlers are so enterprising as to send to the Coromandel coast for brick and chunam; but they will find it an unnecessary expense, as the country abounds with lime, and bricks may be easily made, the clay of the country being peculiarly fit for that article."

Among other curiosities which have found their way from the Burmese territories to Calcutta, the following may be numbered. It is thus described in a paper of recent date:

"An interesting specimen of Hindu Sculpture has lately been set up in the compound of the Asiatic Society's House at Chowringhee; a colossal statue of Bhudda, which stares the visitor in the face, the moment he is within the gates. The figure is of black granite, in a sitting posture, as usual with statues of Bhudda or Gantama, and is characterised by the large ears and curling locks, which have been supposed to indicate the African origin of this divinity. The nose, however, is any thing but African-the figure is raised upon a low pedestal, and upon the whole is ten or twelve feet high. We understand this figure was surreptitiously brought down from Guya by the Raj Gooroo of the King of Ava. How he contrived to smuggle such an article is not easily conceived. On its arrival in Calcutta, it could no longer be hidden in a corner, and the image was redeemed from its purloiners. After the departure of the Gooroo, the image was left in the compound of the Insane Hospital, where the European soldiers amused themselves with profanely pelting it with stones, by which the hands have sustained some damage; in other respects it has escaped unharmed, and forms a very appropriate Durwan for the Asiatic Society's apartment.'

The following notice of the trade of the Burmese Empire, especially that with China, given in one of the last Calcutta papers, is of some importance. It appears that tea of different descriptions from those brought to Canton, and of good quality, is procured from China, and retailed in Ava for about seven pence per pound:

The principal articles of import by sea into the Burman dominions are Bengal, Madras, and British piece goods, British woollens, iron, wrought

and unwrought, copper for sheathing, lead, quicksilver, borax, sulphur, saltpetre, gunpowder, fire-arms, sugar, arrack, and rum, and a little opium, earthenware, Chinese and English glass-ware, cocoa-nuts and betelnut. The trade in British piece goods has of late years much increased, whilst that of Madras piece goods has, proportionately, diminished. On the northern frontier of the Burman dominions, an active trade is carried on with China and other eastern states; the chief emporium is at a place called Banmo, on the Chinese frontier, and at Midai, four or five miles to the northward of Amerapura, Mohammedan and Burman merchants of Ava go to Banmo to meet the Chinese, part of whom, not unusually four or five thousand, come down to Midai. The Chinese import copper, orpiment, quicksilver, vermillion, iron pans, silver, good rhubarb, tea, fine honey, raw silk, spirits, hams, musk, verdegris, dry fruits, and a few fresh fruits, with dogs and pheasants; the Chinese travel on small horses and mules, and are said to be two months on the road. The tea that is brought by the Chinese is black, and is made up in round cakes or balls; some of it is of very fine flavour, and it is all of a very different description from any which is sold in the market of Canton; the better qualities are well adapted for Europe: the retail price is but one tikal; little more than a rupee for one vis, or nearly four pounds. This tea is used by all who can afford it, but a cheaper sort, said to be the produce of some part of the Burman territory, is an article of great and general demand. It is eaten after meals, with garlic and sesamum oil, and it is customary to offer it to guests and strangers as a token of welcome. The returns of the trade with the Chinese are chiefly cotton, ivory, and bee's wax, with a small quantity of British woollens, chiefly broad cloths and carpets. The quantity of cotton is annually very considerable, it is estimated at not less than 70,000 bales of three hundred pounds each: the greater part of it is cleaned: the Ava cotton of the lower provinces is of a short staple, but that of the upper, long, and of a fine texture. The cotton of Pegu, it is said, is sent to Chittagong and Dacca, and is the material of the fine Dacca muslins. Another line of traffic is that with the country of the Shans, or, as it is termed by Europeans, the kingdom of Lao. The Shan traders repair annually, in the dry season, to the Burman country, bringing with them stick lac, bee's wax, a yellow dye wood, various drugs and gums, raw silk, lacquered ware, ready made jackets stuffed with cotton, onions and garlic, turmeric, and coarse sugar in cakes: the chief returns are dry fish, nappi, and salt. The chief fair at which the shans attend is at Plek, six or eight miles south of Ava, on a small river which falls into the Irawadi under the walls of the capital: there are several smaller fairs along the east bank of the Irawadi, and one more considerable is annually held at the Dagon Pagoda, near Rangoon."

The latest accounts which reach us, from various quarters of the country recently acquired from the Burmese, show, however, that the climate is such as to prove a great drawback to the true value of such possessions. The following is from Cheduba, dated June 1,

1826:

"The south-west monsoon set in here about the middle of last month, with its accompaniments, violent winds and rain: for some days previous the weather had been extremely hot, no wind, with the thermometer frequently as high as 94 degrees. From this period, I am sorry to say, we have experienced much sickness, and the mortality which has attended our men has been very great. On the 1st of last month, our strength was about four hundred men, forty and more of whom have since been laid in their graves, and, ere this month is closed, I dare say, twice that number will have shared the same fate-our sick in hospital have increased from fifty to upwards of two hundred and fifty, besides convalescents in barracks that were obliged to be discharged to make room for others, whose cases were of a more urgent nature. It is truly melancholy to see the state that the corps is in-from the circumstance of this being only the commencement of the healthy season, and from the

recent calamitous fate before our eyes which attended the army in Arracan, similarly situated to what we are at present,-despair is almost visibly portrayed in every countenance! and such is the baneful influence of this pestilential climate, that neither care nor attention to your health is seemingly of much avail, as death generally seizes the youngest, stoutest, and most sober of the men-our Bengal servants are equally as sickly as the European soldiers; the fever, however, must be with them of a less degree, as few have been carried off by it; they were, however, become perfectly helpless, and look miserable."

While speaking of the commerce of the east, we are reminded of the late pressure for money in Calcutta, which was occasioned by the drains of the war, and the consequent demand of specie for all the operations of Government, which led to the opening new loans, and procuring cash from every available quarter. It appears, from recent advices, that this pressure has at length abated: as the following paragragh from a Bengal paper of July 3, 1826, which states the causes of its removal, and the sources from whence relief has been obtained, will show:

"Treasure, to the amount, as stated to us, of seventy lacs of Rupees arrived at Calcutta from Bhurtpore, on Sunday afternoon, under a strong escort, and was landed on Monday morning.

"Fifty lacs from Lucknow are also, we understand, daily expected. This supply, in addition to the ten lacs which have arrived from Chittagong and Aracan, and the twenty-five that may be daily expected from Rangoon, must effectually relieve the Money Market, already, indeed, in a recruiting state."

On the other hand, one of the principal articles of export in the commerce of India was likely to fall very short in quantity, and some loss to be occasioned to the planters of Indigo, by the deficiency of the harvest in this now widely cultivated and highly valuable plant. Letters from Calcutta, to the 14th of July, give a very unfavourable account of the Indigo crop. One letter, of the 8th, says: "The general opinion of the crop is, that it will be very deficient. The estimated quantity is-50, 60, to 70,000 maunds. Last year's crop was 140,000 maunds. The river is rapidly rising, and the crop, in no case, can exceed 75,000 maunds. The exports to England will consequently be from 10 to 12,000 chests less than last season. There are no complaints of money being scarce."-In another letter of the 13th, it is mentioned, that "accounts of the Indigo crop, of the most discouraging description, continue to be received from all the Indigo districts; and the failure, particularly in Bengal, is likely to exceed the most gloomy predictions. There is no Indigo in the market; and no prices are quoted for it. Large shipments of cotton have taken placefreights, 51. 10s. to 71.; Exchange, 2s. to 2s. 1d.; discount on private bills, 7 per cent.; European goods now in the market, selling generally at an advance of 2s. 6d. per sicca rupee."

Although we have not heard of the return of the cholera morbus, which was for so many years the scourge of India; yet we regret to observe, by a paragraph in the India Gazette' of the