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FEBRUARY, 1897.]
At the end of the book are bound into it a number of blank leaves, on part of which only, as if the writer had intended to include a great deal more than he accomplished, is the document to which these remarks are a preface. It is unsigned, but is written in the same clear handwriting as the note first quoted, and is, therefore, presumably, by the same writer.
FIRST BURMESE WAR.
The document is commenced merely with "See Appendix, page xxix.," and by a reference to that page will be found the official (Government Gazette, May 22nd, 1826) version of the private narrative which the MS. gives of the first attempt to cross the mountains between Prome and Arracan.
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At p. 214, in a distribution statement of the British force in Ava (Government Gazette, 6th April, 1826), it is stated that "the Detachment en route to Arracan consists of the 18th Native Infantry, with Lieutenants Trant and Bissett, of the Quarter-Master-General's Department." I have two copies of a remarkable book, Two Years in Ava, from May 1824 to May 1826, "by an officer on the staff of the Quarter-Master-General's Department"; John Murray, 1827 on the front inside cover of one of which is noted, apparently by some one making a catalogue, "[Trant, Capt. J. A.]." That Capt. Trant was beyond doubt the author of this and, to my mind, most intelligent of all the individual books on the War - may be taken for granted from a footnote in Lawrie's Pegu, 1854, to p. 287:"Trant's Two Years in Ava, Ch. X." Now, from p. 416 of that book, which commences a third account of this same expedition, we learn in a footnote that "the contents of this Chapter [XVII.], with but few exceptions, were published by order of Government in the Calcutta Government Gazette for May or June, 1826."
anonymous
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It would thus appear that Capt. Trant was the author of both the printed accounts of the journey from Prome into Arracan; but who the author was of the narrative now published I cannot say, for he could not have been 'C. Hopkinson' himself, as he was too senior an officer to be with the party.
From his copy of Wilson's Documents, we learn who C. Hopkinson' was. Thus, at p. 87, where an account is given of the attack on Melloon [Malôn] on 20th January, 1825, we find :"The efforts of all concerned in the attack were of the most meritorious description, but to none was the success due in a greater degree than to the Artillery and Rocket Corps' under Lieutenant-Colonel Hopkinson and Lieutenant Blake." This notice also accounts for a MS. marginal correction in Col. Hopkinson's handwriting on the same page to a statement in the text: "Colonel Sale was wounded whilst in his boat." On this Col. Hopkinson remarks, "just as he got ashore."
At p. 194 ff. is given Sir Archibald Campbell's despatch on this action, which contains, and no doubt gave rise to, the mistake as to how Col. Sale was wounded. In this despatch, Sir Archibald recommends Col. Hopkinson to the Governor-General's notice. And, again, at p. 210 ff. is published the Governor-General's Orders after the war, in which "Brigadier and Lieut.-Colonel Hopkinson" is twice mentioned with distinction.
With these remarks I now print the MS. in full. It can be compared, as above said, by students with Trant's two published accounts, which are not at all inaccessible.
Document.
Narrative of an Expedition by a Detachment of the 18th Regiment of the Madras Native Infantry commanded by Major David Ross, and accompanied by Lieutenant Trant of His
1 In a curious collection of old-world chromo-lithographs and plates entitled, To the Honorable the Court of Directors of the East India Company these eighteen views taken at and near Rangoon are respectfully dedicated, by permission, by their Grateful, Obedient, Humble Servant Joseph Moore, Lieut. of His Majesty's 89th Regiment,' and published by both Kingsbury and Clay in 1825, in Plate 12 is shown a rocket, rather out of drawing. The Plate is entitled 'Rangoon, the position of part of the Army previous to attacking the stockades on tie 8th of July, 1821. This collection of Plates is worth examining, if only to grasp the difference in methods and implements of warfare between the First and Third Burmese Wars, a period of about 60 years only.
