TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
317 
received, which greatly impeded any grant from 
the Pegu Government, though the Buraghmah 
Prince seems to despise it. It is a report that, 
about this period, a nation wearing hats shall 
conquer the empire, and overthrow the Govern¬ 
ment. I mention this that I might have an 
opportunity of observing, that in all countries 
there are vulgar prophecies, which will ensure 
success to the politician who is observant of 
them.” 
For four-and-thirty years we seem to have had 
little diplomatic intercourse with the Burman em¬ 
pire. In the mean while, the timber of Pegu 
became a necessary in our Indian naval and mili¬ 
tary arsenals, and this chiefly gave rise to a com¬ 
mercial intercourse between Pegu and our prin¬ 
cipal settlements. The conquest of Arracan by 
the Burmese at length made them our neigh¬ 
bours ; and circumstances arising out of this 
event, produced the mission of Captain, afterwards 
Colonel Symes, in 1795. The narrative of this 
accomplished officer, long published, is by far the 
most complete and satisfactory before the public- 
Its great fault is the exaggerated impression 
which it conveys of the strength and resources of 
the Burman empire. Colonel Symes describes the 
Burmese as a civilized, improving, numerous, and 
warlike race : a picture of them which our recent 
contest, and the close examination of their cha- 
