“The official despatches already published in an Extraordinary Gazette having announced the late brilliant achievements of the British arms at Rangoon, the Right Honorable the Governor-General in Council now proceeds to the discharge of a most gratifying duty, in signifying, in the most public and formal manner, his high admiration of the judgment, skill, and energy, manifested by Brigadier-General Sir Archibald Campbell, in directing the operations of the troops under his command, on that important and arduous occasion. * * * * *
“The Governor-General in Council seizes this opportunity of expressing his warm acknowledgments to Captain ChadSt of H.M.S. Arachne, the senior naval officer at Rangoon, and to Captain Ryves, of H.M.S. Sophie, for their distinguished personal exertions, and requests the former to convey to the officers and crews of H.M. ships, of the H.C. cruisers, as well as the officers and men of the transports who volunteered their services, the sense which Government entertains of their gallant conduct in the several actions with the enemy’s war-boats, when they so conspicuously displayed the irresistible and characteristic valor of British seamen.”
On the 17th December, the following correspondence took place between Captain Chads and the commandant of Kemmendine:–
“My dear Sir,– Considering your post now secure, and the war, as a war against fire, I have deemed it right to recall the Sophie and mortar-boat, as the more vessels the greater risk, and the responsibility is very great and heavy on the shoulders of so junior an officer as myself. Whilst danger threatened you, I was willing to incur all risk, and make any sacrifice, feeling the very welfare of the whole expedition hung on the result of your gallant exertions. The two cruisers remain, and they have my directions now not to be too tenacious in holding on against fire-rafts. Believe me, my dear Sir, yours very faithfully,
“To Major Yates, &c. &c.”
“My dear Sir,– Believe me, I feel as I ought the depth of obligation I owe to you; and that, while grateful for the aid you have afforded me, I was fully sensible of the extent of responsibility to which your ardour in the cause had induced you to expose yourself. I feel with you the necessity of your present arrangements, and am confident that your own personal exertions, in the active employ of your boats, will impart to those arrangements stability which will secure your ultimate object. I cannot tell you how proud I feel of your approval. Believe me it is infinitely more valued than that received from any other source, by yours, my dear Sir, ever faithfully,
“To Captain Chads, R.N.”
