In the beginning of 1825, Sir Archibald Campbell and Captain H. D. Chads, of the Arachne sloop, then senior naval commander, prepared to advance upon the Birman capital. The joint crews of the Arachne, Larue, and Sophie, including supernumeraries, and the officers and men employed in the flotilla, at this time amounted to no more than 237 persons[1].
On the 11th Jan. and following day, Lieutenant Fraser assisted in driving the enemy from the old Portuguese fort, and doubly stockaded pagoda of Syriam: “his steady bravery and good conduct” on this occasion was officially reported[2]. On the 6th Feb. he commanded a division of boats, under the orders of Captain Chads, at the capture of a formidable stockade at Than-ta-bain, the particulars of which service have been given in the preceding memoir[3]. On the 17th of the same month, the Larne sailed from Rangoon, accompanied by the Hon. Company’s cruiser Mercury, and the Argyle transport, with 780 troops under Major Robert H. Sale, for the purpose of attacking Bassein, on the western branch of the Irrawaddy. After a tedious passage, this little armament arrived off Great Negrais on the 24th Feb.; and next day, the boats of the Larne, under Lieutenant Fraser, were sent in to reconnoitre, and sound the passage, in the execution of which service they received a harmless fire from two stockades, apparently full of men, and distant about a mile from each other. On the 26th, at daylight, the Larne and her consorts stood in; the Mercury, on account of her light draught of water, taking the lead. At noon, the first stockade commenced firing; and shortly afterwards the Larne and Mercury took their positions, within one hundred yards: the enemy soon fled, and the troops landed and occupied the work. The second stockade was taken in the same manner, without loss; both of them were burnt, and their guns, &c. either brought off or destroyed. On the 27th, at dark, the expedition anchored
