TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
103 
went to the capital, became a first-rate favourite 
with the present King, then heir-apparent, and 
through his influence was appointed Intendant 
or Collector of Rangoon. When the Burmans 
resolved upon a war with the British, which he 
always deprecated, he was on his annual visit 
at Ava with the produce of the customs of 
Rangoon. The personal attachment of the 
King, his known partialities to the French in¬ 
terest, and his family relation with the sove¬ 
reign, did not exempt him from the universal 
suspicion which fell upon all Europeans. One 
or two letters from English merchants at Ran¬ 
goon reached him, confined wholly to matters 
of business. This was enough. He was clapped 
into a dungeon, in fetters. One or two other 
letters from the same quarter, and of a similar 
ten our, arrived. The enemies of Mr. Lanciego 
now framed a plot against him. He was re¬ 
presented as holding a correspondence with the 
English, and persons were found to swear that 
his emissaries had been seen in the enemy’s 
camp. The King issued the order that he should 
be examined “ in the usual manner.” He was 
accordingly sent for from prison, put to the 
torture, and his property confiscated. At the 
peace of Yandabo, but not until then, he was 
released, but his property was not restored, and 
M 2 
