TO THE COURT OF AYA. 
431 
evening, from two quarters, that the Barman 
Government had made up their mind not to 
grant the free exportation of gold and silver, 
but that they had another project to offer, with 
a view of getting the period of paying the 
third and fourth instalments put off for a time. 
The proposal, as I understand, had in view the 
paying of interest for the debt for a limited 
time. The Burman Government, notwith¬ 
standing the mysteriousness of its character, 
certainly does not possess the art of keeping 
its own counsel. Every thing of consequence 
which transpired in the Palace was soon made 
known to us, and we were generally made ac¬ 
quainted with the different propositions to be 
brought forward by the Burman negotiators, 
always a day or two before the conferences on 
which they were introduced. I was this morn¬ 
ing informed that a boat had arrived at Prome 
with dispatches from Sir A. Campbell. Our 
situation, I have no doubt, had excited some 
uneasiness among our friends at Rangoon, for 
the watchfulness and suspicion of the Burman 
Government had prevented us from writing 
ever since our arrival; so that no accounts of 
us could have been received for nearly two 
months and a half. 
Nov. 23 .—The old Governor of Bassein and 
