r -Om the -^diof^Augu'st^Gaptain, Alves reachëdsQfet^ffig, at this time:
pfethp .Birman-King,, who with, a numerous, armty-wsÉ
i^ ^ g f t h ^ r eM genepalfiP, Ava; on the ^^h&wasshOT.toed^with an
I audience, ,ïto- deliver- hkgeredsntials^ The letters from tbdGpYeimora-ell
Madras and Bengal, wprq translated into the Persian,. Portuguese, - and Birman
languagesj^mid.the differejit version?' carefully ;eqilated. ,His majesty. I
expressed his surprize that the.Qoyern.or,of Madras should demand satisfaction
fm,Gqnse<plenceSi which the misconduct&f their own servants; had drawn
upon themselves; that the disaster of Mr. Southby, was an aceidjnt .which
I could not be foreseenpr, guarded against: at the same timefieused a f e # le J
metaphor,;» far,” says the Birman King, *»3 suppose jo u ^ vM ^ n , that
» in this country/jjg the wet season, there grows so mucfc^rsejjs^gmssJ
“ and Wëe^jimthe ièMv that in dry-weather we are forceito~Kuj|S|teni
» to clear the pound : it sometimes happens there are sahïbripus, herbs, I
» amongst these-noxidus'weeds, and.grass, which,jas they cannot^asgy.bo
“ distinguished, are indiscriminately consumed with the othej^;-^^^ifc
happened to be the new Governor’s lot.” Compensation|^Mr...W'hite-
hill’s property, that chad been confiscated, and re g itm iom > p f^ f^ s .e li
were peremptorily refused, for the alleged reason, that
the Governor of Nepais were the aggressorsi: his majesty was pleased' to
agree, that the property of the East India Company,should be restored*
Having given an order for thé release of .all English subjects that were
prisoners in his dominions, he.desired that two S h e most prudent s h | | I j
remain to take care of the timbers, and reside at Persaim, where he consented
to give the Company, a grant of as much ground as they .might
have occasion tm occupy, under the stipulation that their chief-settlement
* Journal of Captain Alves, recorded in the Bengal Proceedings.
ifpulcj be att-Persaim, and.not at Negfais:, He assigned âs. a'*rea^oiî, that at
Neplai?it'hey3£wquId,be.,exposed3o the d^edati0$s$oj th'ef French, or any
olIico nation with: whom the English Un;fg'ht''be at war',. without-. a possibility;
of. his extent^g-<’.fih'î^^d^eb'ffp^'|toïth‘eifi he wished,; but of which
theÿ-^ppld.alita)Sjhavosthe fiiliHjaipht’at. Persaim. In reqüitaf for, these
opn.Qüssions,’ InSsntajcstyJntjnîalcd his expectation d^a regular supply of
arms and ammunition‘from tjm/EgMi® settlements ,' together with several
othei»^prpduqt%ôf. ^j^efe^mture^MpH^wbielBGaptaiii-Alves prudently
retürned^açepnditfarrijja’ecjuiescei-ice. *k«
During these conferences, explanations took place yhifcliu dated at court,
fsi^^uoiih>f<tfieifaçidiu.-»wlfOWgoiyjiii.liis CcLpatity/o'|iïfiltef-preter : a minuté
investigation lQs^iihrjAp Gonfidence-èffMsjmastêr,-and had! nearly, caused
the^prfeiêjof his; l i f ||| His'’disgiiace was sudden,' and-ignominious,
i- - QrP-the tfolof September, Captain Alves,*attln<dfedf ' in etimpany -with
tKe great- officers*of stated and the principal nobility, t& payfhis respects-at
the^qhjehffeetj, as1 is. the’ custom on thecannual/feas^Offi^Sdefignit.1 On
.tffisi day. thêlîKmgidesired i GaptâM* Alves tbii^^n^fi^wnateVer mark of
faypur « Itethought proper, Jwth.an assjiraïfcefthàt it1 shotiMsbe granted, to
him.. ‘Tlmrir|ddpn^‘qf, all the^EngJish subjects having'bedri? alloady p*io-
cttredjuQaptain •. Afyës^Sumanëly- intreated|-fe^^aiper[iatioh!-of -three
Butj#xmèn,iwho. had’Uedn* captured by-Alompra durihgl-hisi expedition to
the Siamucountry. In compliance-with-his desifdi 'anlprder ,was imme-
diatelyiissued .-for their release.
he*distracted and critical state of public affairsvnefejissaffilyi weakened
the hand of,power, and diminished the adtfiority of the KinglipÇBjt rigid
sèierity of police, which characterizes the Birmanigoy'êrî^Ètâit^qbeca^lii®--
laxed, and illicit exactions were imposed and levied, by inferior officers, with