APPENDIX. 
71 
— A. Yes, I am of opinion that, from the King to the 
beggar, they were hot for a war with the English. They 
looked upon the English as a parcel of merchants, and 
considered the Governor-General to be of no higher rank or 
consequence than the Viceroy of Rangoon. 
Q. What has induced you to form this opinion ?— 
A, What I heard repeated at the Prince’s levees daily 
as coming from the palace, and the opinions expressed 
by himself and his courtiers upon many occasions, almost 
daily. I judged also from the opinions expressed by 
Burman merchants who were in the habit of transacting 
business with me. 
Q. What advantage do you consider the Burmans ex¬ 
pected to derive from a war with the English ?— A. They 
expected to conquer Bengal, to plunder it, and extend 
their territories to the westward. 
Q. Did you ever hear that the Burmans, before the 
war, were alarmed at the power of the British Govern¬ 
ment in India?— A. No, I never heard so. I have always 
considered that the Burmans had a contempt for the Bri¬ 
tish, whom they considered as merchants who had hired a 
few mercenary soldiers to fight for them. 
Q. Were they aware of the wealth of Calcutta and 
Bengal?— A. Yes, certainly: they judged of it from the 
reports of their own merchants who visited Calcutta, as 
well as by the large investments brought to Rangoon by 
British merchants. 
Q. Do you consider that this circumstance was any 
inducement to a desire for war with the English ?— A. Cer¬ 
tainly. 
Q. Were you ever in the presence of his Majesty the 
King of Ava ?— A. Yes, often. 
Q. On such occasions, did you ever hear an opinion 
expressed which led you to believe that the Court was 
