1824     THE BURMESE WAR     441

from their long guns, five boats having them mounted, and taking their distance that the carronades should not reach them ; when about seven miles up, a raft was drawn right across the river, and set on fire by them, to prevent the advance of our vessels; but an opening was found, and Lieutenant Kellett, now seeing the river quite clear, with great judgment, decreasing the power of steam, deceived the enemy, and lulled them into security ; when, putting on the whole force again, and casting off the Prince-of-Wales, he was immediately within grape and musketry distance ; the enemy finding themselves in this situation, drew up in a regular line to receive him : this little band was not, however, to be daunted by their show of resistance, but nobly dashed on, although the Prince-of-Wales was out of sight ; the heavy fire from the boats' carronades, and musketry, threw the enemy into confusion and panic, and they flew in all directions, leaving us in possession of three of their large war-boats ; one belonging to the chief, mounting three guns, and pulling 60 oars ; the other two, one in their bow, 9 and 6 pounders ; with about 40 other boats of all descriptions, many of them loaded with ammunition and provisions for their army before Rangoon.

" ' The securing of thirty of these boats, and destroying the others, took up the whole of the flood ; when Lieutenant Kellett, having most fully accomplished my instructions and wishes, returned, destroying, on his way down, quantities of materials for fire-rafts, and a great many canoes laden with earth-oil. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded must have been very great ; we, I rejoice to say, had not a man hurt, the steam-vessel having been stockaded to secure the people.

" ' I cannot find words sufficiently strong, in which to recommend Lieutenant Kellett's uniform gallantry to you ; his conduct on this, as well as former occasions, proves him a most valuable officer. Lieutenant Goldfinch, of the Sophie, I have also frequently had occasion to name to you, and, with pleasure, I repeat my former recommendations ; he was in the Sophie's pinnace, with Mr. Murray, midshipman. Mr. Tomlinson, admiralty midshipman, commanded the Arachne's pinnace ; and Mr. Winsor, admiralty midshipman, was in charge of the steam-vessel, and showed his usual judgment and good conduct.

" ' Lieutenant Kellett speaks in the highest terms of the determined steady conduct of every man under him, soldiers, sailors, and marines; and feels much indebted to Lieutenant Collinson, commanding the Prince-of-Wales, for the able assistance that vessel rendered him.'

" During these operations, of which Major Snodgrass takes no notice, Sir Archibald Campbell attacked the enemy in the same direction, and gained a most brilliant victory. With only 1300 infantry, he stormed, and carried by assault, the most formidable in trenched and stockaded works which he had ever seen,

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