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iced so many hundred thousands, if not millions 

 of our own countrymen, to a state bordering on 

 starvation, the question is one that ought to have 

 special interest for the people of England. 



The physical obstacles in the way of establish- 

 ing a communication between the North Eastern 

 Frontier of Assam, and the territories of the King 

 of Burmah, are doubtless very great ; but if the 

 Burmese could march an army into the province, 

 devastate it, and drive before them into Burmah 

 30,000 captives, with their cattle and house-hold 

 goods, to the British Government these obstacles can- 

 not be insurmountable. Now, moreover, since by the 

 late commercial treaty, political difficulties are in some 

 degree removed, the hostility of the Singphoos and 

 other Hill tribes, can hardly be considered a valid 

 ground for objecting to attempt this highly important 

 measure. Our Burmese territories almost border 

 the most populous country in the whole World ; a 

 country in which notwithstanding an unequal 

 struggle has long been maintained between the laws 

 of Man, and the laws of Nature, to restrain the 

 over-flow of population from streaming out of 

 it the people are daily seeking new outlets for 

 their energy and industry. In Pegu, we hare 

 28,000 square miles of uncultivated land, a great 

 portion of which has been pronounced to be equal 

 to any Cotton land in India; and these circum- 

 stances, to my mind, indicate that there are Acts 



