by the “royals.” Proceeding up the Irrawaddy, Sir James Brisbane came in sight of Meong, where, by previous arrangement, the flotilla formed a junction with Brigadier-General Cotton’s division, for the purpose of attacking the enemy in his strong posts of Pettoh and Paloh. Brigadier Armstrong and the Commodore then made a reconnoissance, as a preliminary measure, and found, to their great surprise, that these important positions had been abandoned. In advancing up the river, it was impossible not to be struck with a degree of admiration at the happy choice of situation of the enemy’s posts, aided as they were by the decided natural advantages which the face of the country presented: their extensive and formidable works could have been erected only by the manual labour of the masses of men at the command of a barbarous government. The channel of the river was, in many places, so narrow as to oblige the boats to pass within 200 yards of the banks, on the one side or the other: the destruction which the enemy might have caused, had they been so inclined, is self-evident. “When I consider these advantages,” says the Commodore, in a letter to Sir Archibald Campbell, “I cannot imagine why the enemy should have so hastily relinquished them, unless the recent successes of your force, and the knowledge of your advance, had so far operated on their fears as to leave no hope of their retreat on your turning their positions.”
The total abandonment of the enemy’s works enabled the flotilla to pass this excellent chain of field-defences, and to gain sight of Meaday on the afternoon of the 17th. Captain Chads was then sent to reconnoitre; and he reported to Sir James Brisbane, that that formidable post had been evacuated by the Kee-Wongee, as the advanced guard of the army made its appearance; also that a war-boat, with three guns, had been captured, which, in the hurry of their retreat, the Burmese could not take with them. During this reconnoissance, the boats of the Arachne had two men killed and two wounded.
Certain information of the enemy having rallied at Melloone, A strongly fortified and entrenched city, reached Sir Archi-
