The Chamber of Commerce of Rangoon has formally pro- nounced
against the King of Burmah. The cruelties, massacres, monopolies, and taxes, favoured by Theebaw, who is at once an educated native and a drunken savage, have, it is affirmed, reduced the trade of Rangoon fifty per out., and threaten still
further reductions. The Government of India has already broken off relations with Mandalay ; but the King imagines he can obtain help from France, and refuses to listen to advisers, who warn him of the danger of provoking British power. He even, it is said, exults in the idea of putting that power to the test. Under these circumstances, Rangoon prays either for annexation or for Theebaw's deposition,and considerable pressure will be applied to Lord Dafferin to make a military demonstra- tion against Burmah Proper. We trust the new Viceroy will be slow to yield. If we could quietly support a Pretender, we should be amply justified, for Theebaw, though sane enough. must be regarded as a lunatic; but invasion would almost necessarily be followed by annexation, which would bring us in direct contact with the Chinese Empire.
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