CHAPTER XX. India.-Persia.-Reduction of Jara, by the English.-Affairs of China. HE transactions in the Penin suggested this expedient as the Tsula of India, during the last only method of settling their oppo and present years, which have come to our knowledge, have not been of great importance. An event of some consequence to the powers in the northern part of Hindostan, and which exemplifies the practice of Hindoo policy, was that of the death of the Princess of Oudipore, by poison. This lady was the daughter of the Rana of Oudipore, whose family being accounted more ancient and honourable than that of any other Hindoo prince, his alliance was sought by the neighbouring Rajas of Jaypore and Joudpore, both of whom aspired to the hand of the princess. Their rivalry produced a war, in which Scindia, Holkar, Ameer Khan, and all the other native chieftains in that quarter, have at one time or another taken a part. To terminate this scene of contention, the poor princess was sacrificed, poison being administered to her by her own aunt, with the knowledge of her father. It is said that the scheme was secretly contrived by Ameer Khan, who, finding the Rana of Oudipore (now entirely in his power) was too far engaged to the Jaypore Rajah to retract, and resolved that his own ally, the Rajah of Joudpore, should not be disgraced by the triumph of his rival, site pretensions. In the south of India, a revolution has taken place which illustrates the British mode of interference in the affairs of that part of the world. The misconduct of the new Rajah of Travancore, and his ill treatment of some of the branches of the deceased Rajah's family, attracted the notice of Col. Munro, the British resident at that court; and an investigation of his right to the throne being set on foot, it appeared that by the laws of the state his title was invalid, and that the Ranah Letchma Amah, in her 18th year, was the rightful succcesor. The interest of the British government made it expedient that the Rajah should be dethroned, and a notification was made to him to that effect; but as he attempted some resistance, he was placed under an escort of the 17th regiment, and marched from Trivanderum to Tellicherry. On the next day, March 17th, the Princess Letchma Amah was proclaimed, and invested with the khalut, jewels, and sword of state. She was crowned at an adjacent pagoda by the principal Brahmins, the British troops being drawn up on the occasion, to each corps of which she made a donation, of 500 rupees: she was also honoured with Town, and the adjacent gardens and villages The ships at anchor in the roads were for the most part driven ashore and lost; but of these, the crews were generally saved: among them was the Dover frigate and Chichester store-ship. About 70 sail of country small craft went down at their anchors, with most of their crews. with a royal salute from the fort. On her return to the palace she ascended the throne, where she received the congratulations of Col. Munro, the officers of government, &c. and was presented with some valuable jewels, and other articles, in the name of the British government. An attempt on her life was made by the adherents of the deposed Rajah, but was frustrated. This revolution, said to have been "rendered necessary by certain political considerations," was happily free from the guilt of bloodshed. The new female sovereign has promoted to places of high trust several Brahmins, attached to the British interest. All foreigners in her military service have been dismissed; beneficial arrangements bave been made at the suggestion of the BriWhile the events, passing on tish resident; and pains have been the continent of India, have been taken to reconcile the minds of the thus limited to a few comparapeople to the new order of things. tively minute transactions, its No attempt was made, as was islands have afforded scenes of exapprehended, to rescue the Extraordinary interest. The most rajah, and a handsome establishment has been formed for him at Tellicherry. The province of Vellore was safflicted, in 1810, with a drought and famine, in consequence of which: 6000 people perished, together with a great number of cattle From Bombay, news has been received of the capture by storm, and the restoration to its lawful chieftain, of the fortress of Chya, a dependency of the Rajah of Poorbunder, who had sought and obtained the protection of the East India Company. It had been usurped from him by his son. The English force employed on this occasion consisted of the 47th regiment. splendid acquisition made by the British arms in the course of the year 1811, was that of the capital of the Dutch settlements in the East Indies, Batavia, with the rich island in which it is situated. After the reduction of the islands of Amboyna and Banda, with the French isles of Bourbon aud France, the Governor-general of India, Lord Minto, resolved to complete the British dominion in that quarter of the world by the conquest of the Island of Java. In the month of March a body of troops destined for this expedition were encamped at Madras, consisting of his Majesty's 14th, 59th, and 69th regiments of foot, fohr squadrons of the 22d dragoons, tavin weldgamla two squadrons of horse, and a party of foot artillery. The 78th regiment was to sail from Bengal. The chief command was vested in Sir Samuel Auchmuty, and Gen. Weatherall was nominated second in command. Lord Minto, himself, determined to accompany the armament, which was appointed to sail in April. It was understood that Gen. Daendels, the Governor of Jaya, was making every possible preparation for a formidable re sistance to the expected attack. He had successfully terminated a destructive war against the people of Bantam, who had rebelled (as it was termed) against the Dutch authority, and his government, un der the influence of French direc tion, was conducted with unusual vigour and intelligence. " On August 4th, Sir S. Auchmuty effected a landing without opposition at the village of Chillingching, 12 miles to the east of Batavia. As the enemy's chief force, commanded by Gen. Jan sens (who had succeeded General Daendels in the government) lay at Cornelis, some distance up the country, it was resolved first to explore the road leading to Batavia; and the troops on the 6th approached the Anjol River, the bridge over which had been broken. A great fire being then perceived in Batavia, it was concluded that the garrison intended to evacuate the city, for which reason Col. Gillespie was sent with a detachment to take possession of the suburbs. On the 8th the burghers applied for protection, and surrendered the city without opposition and although large store houses of public property were consumed in the conflagration, yet 099 is to cool garfoode Ε some valuable granaries and other stores were preserved. On the 10th, Col. Gillespie moved with his corps to the enemy's cantonment at Weltevreede, which he found abandoned; but a strong position had been taken a litle beyond, and two miles in advance of the works at Cornelis, defended by an abbatis, and 3000 of the enemy's best troops. This was attacked with the bayonet by the British, and carried, with consi-?derable loss to the defenders. A column that came to their assistance was driven back on the ar rival of the British line. There now remained the main body of the enemy, in the works's of Cornelis, greatly superior in numbers to the assailants, and strongly entrenched in a favourable position, guarded by several redoubts and a numerous artillery. For some days; a cannonade was carried on, by which several of the enemy's batteries were silenced; and at the dawn of day, on the 26th, a general assault was made.. Col. Gillespie led the attack against an advanced redoubt, which was carried with the greatest rapidity, the victors passing a bridge on the other side, along with the fugitives, and at the bayonet's point storming a second redoubt. Col. Gibbs, on the right, carried roother redoubt, but an explosion of the magazine of that work dem stroyed a number of officers and men who were crowded on the rampart. The lines in front of Fort Cornelis were then forced, the fort itself taken, and at length the whole enemy's army was killed, taken, or dispersed. The slaughter in the action and pursuit was immense, and near 5000 pri 21 16 Day i Sopers, 100 F 1 prisoners, among whom were three general officers, with all the artillery, attested the extent of the victory. Gen. Jansens with diffi culty escaped during the engagement, and reached the distance of 30 miles with a few cavalry, the sole relics of an army of 10 thousand men. The loss of the conquerors, though considerable, might be regarded as moderate compared to the obstacles they had to overcome; and never, perhaps, did a more complete success confer honour on the courage and discipline of British troops. Gen. Jausens, notwithstanding the decisive blow he had received, showed no intention of giving up the contest, but employed himself in collecting what remained of European and native force for the defence of the rest of the island. Sir S. Auchmuty therefore prepared to push his success with vigour, as neither the climate nor the season admitted of delay in military operations. In the beginning of September the Fort of Cheribon was occupied by the seamen and marines of three frigates detached for this service. A body of troops was embarked on board the ships of the fleet under RearAdm. Stopford, which were ordered to proceed to Samarang, where they were joined by Sir S. and the admiral. Gen. Jansens, who had retired to that town, upon a summons to surrender the island, professed a determination to persevere in his resistance, on which account preparations were made to attack Samarang; but it was discovered on the 12th that he had evacuated the place, and had occupied a position on the road to Solo, the residence of the VOL. LIII. Emperor of Java. Samarang was therefore taken possession of without opposition, and the admiral sailed with some ships to occupy the harbour of Sourabaya. The general then directed Col. Gibbs, with the few troops that were there assembled, to attack the enemy's position, which was performed on the 16th with success, and on the next day a flag of truce was sent in, and an armistice was agreed upon. After some attempt by Gen. Jansens to procure better terms than were offered, the firm tone assumed by the English general induced him to comply, and the European troops surrendered at discretion. The terms of capitulation, putting the whole island of Java in the possession of Great Britain, were highly advantageous to this country, and at the same time reflected great honour on the British character. The small adjacent island of Madura, which had been occupied by the French, also submitted at the same time; and thus, to that overgrown power of which Holland now composed an integral part, not a vestige of oriental dominion was left. E The neighbouring countries of the east have presented little mate v ter for historical record. From the kingdom of Ava has been re. ported a dreadful conflagration at Ummerapoora, on March 10th, 1810, by which the town and fort, including the palace, temples, and 20,000 houses, were entirely destroyed. The barbarous policy of the governor in shutting the gates, ine order to compel the inhabitants to use their efforts to stop the pros gress of the flames, was the cause. of a shocking loss of lives, 1200 [N] person 1 |