Hostilities commenced against the King of Ava in the year 1824, General Sir A. Campbell commanding the united forces. After a two years' campaign the sovereign of Burmah was compelled to sue for peace upon any terms. Again, on the 18th January, 1826, the fortress of Bhurtpore, the stronghold of the usurper, Durgoon-Sal, succumbed to the prowess of British arms; Lord Combermere, who directed the siege and assault, on the 6th of February following, ordered the fortifications to be entirely demolished.

We have seen but a brief outline of the glorious achievements inscribed by the hand of victory on the page of Indian military history; we have followed the march of our illustrious countrymen, from Assaye's well-fought field to the complete success attending the operations before the almost impregnable fortress of Bhurtpore; we have now only to observe that the surviving few who participated in the first-named victory, did not receive the decoration until after a lapse of eight and forty years.

The siege and storm of Bhurtpore completes the list of distinguished services for which it pleased Her Most Gracious Majesty, under the general order dated 21st March, 1851, "to signify her assent to a measure pro"posed by the Honourable East India Company, for 'granting honorary distinctions to the surviving officers "and soldiers of the Crown, who were engaged in India.' The following is a list of battles, &c., for which medals with clasps have been granted :

Storm of Allighur, 4th September, 1803.
Battle of Delhi, 11th September, 1803.

Battle of Assaye, 23rd September, 1803.
Siege of Asseer Ghur, 21st October, 1803.
Battle of Laswarree, 1st November, 1803.
Battle of Argaum, 29th November, 1803.

Siege and Storm of Gawilghur, 15th December, 1803.
Defence of Delhi, October, 1804.

Battle of Deig, 13th November, 1804.

Capture of Deig, 23rd December, 1804.

War in Nepaul, in 1816.

Battle of Kirkee,

Battle and Capture of Poona, November, 1817.

Battle of Seetabuldee,

Nov. and Dec., 1817.

Battle and capture of Nagpoor,

Battle of Maheidpore, 21st December, 1817.

Defence of Corygaum, 1st January, 1818.

War in Ava, 1824 to 1826.

Siege and storm of Bhurtpore, January, 1826.

The obverse of the medal is the usual head of Victoria, with the legend "VICTORIA REGINA;" the reverse shows a figure of Victory seated, holding in her right hand a laurel branch; in her left a victor's wreath; at her feet is arranged a trophy of arms, behind which rises a palm tree; above the group are the words "TO THE ARMY OF INDIA;" Exergue, 1799-1826. The medal is worn with a pale blue ribbon.

Before proceeding to notice the medals which follow in order, it may be as well to introduce here the Honourable East India Company's medals, awarded to native troops, for the CAPTURE OF JAVA 1811-RODRIGUES, BOURBON AND ISLE OF FRANCE, 1809-10.-THE WAR IN NEPAUL, 1816and the CONQUEST OF BURMAH, 1826.

The medal given to the native troops, for their assistance in capturing the Island of Java from the Dutch,

represents a Sepoy regiment carrying Fort Cornelis by storm the fort is being blown up; on the flagstaff is seen the British flag over the Dutch; above is the word "CORNELIS." The reverse, which is inscribed in Persian, reads in English:-"This medal is presented in com"memoration of the valour and courage displayed by the Sepoys of the Honourable East India Company, in the conquest of Java, 1228 Mahommedan Era." The legend, which is in English, is-"JAVA CONQUERED, XXVI "AUGUST, MDCCCXI."

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Rodrigues, &c., (Silver).

Obv.-A Sepoy soldier, holding the Union Jack, and trampling upon a French Eagle. Behind the figure is a field-piece. Ships in the distance.

Rev. Persian inscription. Legend — RODRIGUES VI
BOURBON VIII JULY, & ISLE OF

JULY, MDCCCIX.

FRANCE III DEC. MDCCCX.

Nepaul, 1816 (Silver).

Obv.-Troops marching across a hilly country. A

fort in the distance. Field-piece to the left. Rev.-Persian inscription.

The medal for the first Burmese war, distributed only to the Company's troops, represents the white elephant of Ava, in an attitude of submission, crouching before the lion of England; behind the lion is the Union Jack unfurled; behind the elephant is the drooping flag of Burmah. On the reverse, the troops are advancing towards a pagoda, enclosed within a stockade, a steamer and force of boats have commenced the attack from the

B

river Irrawaddy, which flows past; in the foreground is the English general, directing operations. This medal is by WYON. Ribbon-crimson, blue edge.

GHUZNEE, 1839.

We now approach a period nearer our own times, when medals for distinguished services were granted almost immediately after the close of a successful campaign, or the gaining of an important victory. Thus, on the 30th August, 1839, about a month after the British army, under Sir J. Keane, had captured the fortress of Ghuznee, H.M. Shah Shoojah intimated his intention to confer medals on all the troops there employed, as a mark of the high estimation in which he held their gallantry. The decoration was soon after distributed to the soldiers of the Crown, when permission had been granted by Her Majesty for the same to be worn.

The medal, though rather small, is made of excellent silver, and presents, on the obverse, a view of the citadel, with the name "GHUZNEE" underneath; on the reverse, within a wreath of laurel, is a mural crown, with the date, "23RD JULY," above, and "1839" below. The recipient's name is generally engraven on the centre, which is left plain for that purpose. It is attached to the breast by a crimson and green ribbon.

JELLALABAD, 1842.

The medal for Jellalabad modestly records the glories of Sir Robert Sale and his invincible garrison. In this instance, "as in the brave days of old," the gallant defen

ders of the fortress received a mural crown. The GovenorGeneral, Lord Ellenborough, in recognition of the valuable services displayed by the garrison and their commander, ordered that silver medals should be presented to each. The medal has upon the obverse a mural crown, with the word "JELLALABAD" above: on the reverse is the date of the victory-" VII APRIL, 1842." The ribbon, which is of a rainbow pattern, was first introduced to be worn with this medal as the military ribbon of India.

The decoration known as the Second Jellalabad Medal was issued by our own Government. It was intended to be worn instead of that granted by the Honourable East India Company; but we may infer, from its great scarcity, that few availed themselves of the offer of exchange. represents a figure of Victory, flying over the fortress of Jellalabad, with the Union Jack in her left hand, her right hand holding laurel wreaths; above are the words "JELLALA"BAD, VII APRIL." Exergue-" MDCCCXLII;" obversehead of Victoria; legend-" VICTORIA VINDEX." It is worn with the military ribbon of India.

KELAT-I-GHILZIE, 1842.

To the defenders of the fortress of Kelat-i-Ghilzie Lord Ellenborough also awarded a silver medal. Upon the obverse of this medal is a mural crown, and shield inscribed with the words "KELAT-I-GHILZIE;" upon the reverse is a trophy of arms, with the word "INVICTA," and the date, "MDCCCXLII" underneath. Military ribbon of India.