Page 496 - INDIANNAVYV1

464 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NA^T".

works and war-boats, steady and creditable. The officers
commanding divisions of gnnboats and vessels, have my best
thanks, particularly Captain Finucane, H.M.'s 14th Regiment,
whose zeal and activity has always been conspicuous. I request
you will be pleased to recommend these officers, whose names
are specified below, to the favourable attention of the Kight
Hon. the Governor-General in Council.
" Gunboats.—1st Division, Captain Finucane, H.M.'s 14th
Regiment; 2nd Division, Lieutenant Laughton, Bombay
Marine; 3rd Division, Lieutenant Rowband, Bombay Marine
;
4th Division, Mr. Lindquist ; 5th Division, Mr. Hutton. Gun-
—
vessels. ' Swift,' ' Sulkea Packet,' — ' Elizabeth,' ' Saugor,'
' Tiger,' and Emma.' Mortar-vessels. ' Powerful ' and Tom
'
'
Tough.'"
General Cotton continued his route by river, and, on the 24th
of April, the Commander-in-chief established a communication
with the flotilla, which was anchored a short distance below
Prome; he soon concerted measures with Captain Alexander
for an attack upon that place, which, however, was found to
have been evacuated and set on lire by Prince Sarrawuddy. The
stockade was of great strength, and in the different works
were mounted one hundred and one guns. The inhabitants
now gradually returned to Prome, and confidence was restored
throughout the country—a matter of prime necessity, as
supplies were urgently needed for the arm}^ which made pre-
parations for passing the rainy season, which sets in early in
June. Cantonments were laid out, a large fleet of canoes was soon
placed at the disposal of the commissariat for the purpose of
forming a depot of provisions at Prome, and two divisions of
gunboats, armed with 24-pounder carronades, which had come
up the Irrawaddy by way of Bassein, having arrived from
Commodore Hayes' squadron in Arracan, all the gun-vessels
were stationed at regular intervals, so as to afford protection to
the supply boats.
In consequence of reports of the advance of the Burmese
army, General Cotton, on the 13th of August, proceeded
in the ' Diana,' with some gunboats and fifty soldiers,
to reconnoitre their positions, and, on the 15th, discovered
them at Meaday, forty miles up the river, where they
had entrenched themselves, having their boats ranged under-
neath. The enemy opened fire from sixteen guns, which was
returned by the flotilla, " to make them develope their whole
force," estimated by the General as between fifteen and twenty-
thousand men. On the Hth of September a mission arrived
from the King of Burmah to propose terms of peace, and, in
conformity with the request of the Commissioner, Mr. Robertson,
Sir Archibald Campbell deputed two officers to confer with the
Burmese Commander-in-chief. Several meetings took place