est places of attack. After the
dispersion of Bandoola's army, Prome was considered the best place
to stop the invading troops, and the utmost energies of the local
authorities were employed in fortifying that place and organizing a
force for its defence. All the disposable force of the empire was, in
fact, concentrated at this spot: a spot memorable for the many battles
fought there with the people of Pegu. But all the Burmese preparations
were wholly disconcerted by the rapid movement of our army: Sir
Archibald Campbell entered Prome on the 25th of April without firing
a shot. Before they withdrew, the enemy had set fire to a part of the
town, and one quarter of it was reduced to ashes. In their flight,
also, the Burmese troops burned and laid waste all the villages in
their route, driving thousands of helpless people to the woods. This now
became their mode of warfare; and it has been said that Russia in her
memorable resistance to the French armies did not offer to the invading
hosts such a scene of desolation as did the Burmese empire to the
British troops. Neither man nor beast escaped the retiring columns; and
heaps of ashes, with groups of howling dogs, alone indicated the spots
where villages and towns had stood. While these movements occurred, a
series of actions had put the British in possession of the kingdom of
Arracan, and the Burmese were totally expelled from Cachar and Assam.
Thus terminated the second campaign of this desolating war. The British
army took up its winter-quarters at Prome, where cantonments were
provided for the troops, and preparations made for future operations.
Nor was the Burmese monarch idle; rejecting all overtures made by the
British general, troops were levied in every part of the kingdom, and
the tributary Shan tribes bordering on China were called on to furnish
their contingent force. Before the end of September a disposable force
of 70,000 men was ready to act against the British, who threatened to
advance on the capital. At the close of the year an armistice was agreed
upon, and negociations were entered into for a definitive treaty of
peace; but as there was no honesty on the side of the Burmese, and no
lack of penetration on that of the British, all proposals failed.

REVIEW OF FOREIGN RELATIONS.

Among the events of this year that which seemed pregnant with the most
important consequences to Europe, was the death of the Emperor Alexander
of Russia. This appeared cap