The news from Burmah is not yet satisfactory. The Chief
Commissioner, Mr. Aitchison, has ordered an official intimation to be put out by the Secretary, stating that to defend its sub- jects the Government has strengthened the garrisoning force; but that it stands upon the defensive, and will avoid a rupture with the King of Burmali, unless he takes to aggression and insult. This is, of course, in consequence of sharp orders from home—as war with Burmah was originally intended—and is sensible enough ; but the Daily News correspondent says it has produced an impression of weakness, and the King has called out the whole fighting population, and has stationed war-boats on the river. This may have been done in pure alarm, and it is difficult to believe that the King would attack British posts with his rabble ; but he has once given the order for the arrest of the Resident, and there is no knowing what a boy of that kind, drunk with flattery and brandy, will or will not do. There are now 6,000 troops in Burmah, and owing to the good-will of the Peguans, the only population in Asia who would give us a plebiscite, there is little danger of insurrection. At the same. time, the British are, in Burmese theory, only encamped in Pegu, the Burmese having always refused a Treaty, and the Burmese think of themselves as a conquering race.
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