ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 555, 23 October 1852, Page 139

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

The last Indian Mail brings intelligence of the fall of Rangoon, at less cost to our troops than could have been anticipated. This important movement was preceded by an assault upon Martaban, a strong frontier town of the Burmese, situated so close to our garrison at Moulmein that it was apprehended the Burmese would open their campaign from that point, and prevent the junction of our Moulmein force with our Bengal division destined to act upon Rangoon. Anchoring off Moulmein on the sth of April, the Madras division of the flotilla took the garrison on board, and conveyed them in a few hours to Martaban. Landing the next morning, our troops gallantly proceeded to the assault, and the place fell into our hands before noon. The junction with the Bengal army was then effected without difficulty at the place of rendezvous, and the combined forces ascended the river, demolishing the water-side defences of the Burmese as they advanced. As soon afterwards as the troops could be landed, and the heavy guns brought up, the general assault on Rangoon was opened. The reduction of the place, like that of Martaban, was literally the work of a morning. In carrying out these brilliant operations, it appears we have suffered more from the climate than the enemy. The death of two subalterns, and one mortally wounded, are all the casualties we have suffered from tbe Burmese ; while two field-officers, Majors Oakes and Griffiths, died on the field, and three commanding officers, Cola. Foord, Warren, and St. Maur, were struck down by the fatal rays of a Rangoon sun. From this successful opening of the campaign, the best results may be anticipated. The facilities for the transport of troops, and conduct of operations, are much improved on our part since the last Burmese war; and the experience which the enemy acquired upon that occasion is not unlikely to exercise a salutary influence over the future policy of the. Court of Ava.— Home News, June 2.

Sir Harry Smith landed at Portsmouth on Sunday, and was immediately afterwards visited by the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Thomas Briggs. On Monday morning he was waited upon by the principal officers at Portsmouth, and a congratulatory address was presented to him at a public meeting convened for that purpose by the Mayor. His speech in acknowledgment, in which he reviewed his campaigns, and entered into some details respecting the future prospects of the colony, created a profound sensation. Sir Harry appeared to think that the last operations he had directed bad effectually terminated the war; but the despatches brought over by himself hardly confirm that view of the case. We learn that the enemy was still active, and that Colonel Eyre had been engaged in a desperate action, in which Captain Gore and Mr. Davidson were killed, and that Major Tottenham had a severe rencontre, in which he was hard pressed by the Kaffirs, and lost several of bis men. According to the statements the snake is scotched not killed.— lbid.

Completion op the Submarine Tele graph.— A submarine telegraph between the coast of England and Ireland is now an accomplished fact, and an^event pregnant with interest as regards the future welfare of this country. Yesterday morning, at four o'clock, the Britannia steamer started from Holy head with the telegraph cable on board, preceeded by her Majesty's steamer Prospero, a vessel furnished by the Admiralty as a pilot to the expedition. The steamers proceeded at a low rate of speed, varying from four to 'six miles an hour, paying out the wire with the greatest care and precision as they receded from the English coast : and at length, after a passage of little more than sixteen hours, and without the occurrence of any contretemps, arrived at Howth Harbour amid the cheers of those who had assembled to witness their approach. The moment the Britannia had arrived at her destination, and communicated the fact to Holyhead that the Irish shore was reached, the final grand test was applied to the telegraphic cable by connecting the wire with one of the ship's loaded guns, and passing the word, " Fire ! " to Holybead. The answer was the immediate discharge of the gun on board the Britannia. The hour was then just half past eight o'clock. The work had been performed in little more than eighteen hours t Messages were now rapidly interchanged, and a salute of the Britannia's guns fired from Holyhead. A letter had arrived in Dublin, directed to a gentleman who had left for Holyhead by the midday steamer, and whose presence was immediately required in London. A message was sent to seek him out. Within half an hour he was discovered, and he responded, "lam here." " You are wanted in London." " I shall start by the next train." Another hour and the cable was ashore, the connexion completed with the land wires, and the indicators at the Dublin terminus of the Drogheda Railway, in Amiens Street, were conversing with tho.se at the terminus of the Chester and Holyhead Railway, in Holyhead. The Britannia remained outside the harbour during the night, and it is expected that at an early hour to- morrow the connecion of the submarine wire with that already laid down upon the Howth line will be completed. When this has been done an unbroken line of electric | communication will be established between London and Dublin, and from this fact arrangements will result, in a brief space of time, which will virtually— as respects the transmission of news — bring the metropolis of Ireland from four to six hours, the distance from Holyhead to Kingstown, nearer to London than it has heretofore been. — limes, June 3.