MANDALAY, the capital of Independent Burmah, is situated about 2 miles from the left bank of the Irawadi river, in 21° 59' N. lat. and 96° 8' E. long. It was founded by the king of Burmah, who transferred to it the seat of government from Amarapura in 1860. The city proper is laid out in a square, each side of which is a little over a mile in length. It is enclosed by a crenel- ’ lated brick wall 26 feet high and 3 feet thick; the twelve .gates (three on each side) are surmounted with wooden watch-towers. A deep wet moat, 100 feet broad, with its escarp 60 feet from the walls, extends along all four sides; it is crossed by five bridges. The palace of the king occupies the central space of the city; the walls of its enclosure are laid symmetrically with those of the city, and each face is about 370 yards in length. The outer fence consists of a stockade of teak-wood posts 20 feet high, and within it are three successive enclosures, bounded by brick walls. The palace is built within the inner enclosure; and its front, which faces the east, contains the great hall of audience, 260 feet long, composed of teak timber, elaborately carved and gilded, erected on a terrace of brickwork 10 feet high. It is in the form of a colonnade, the central part running back, forming a nave with two side aisles. At the extremity of this nave is a space like a chancel (said to be the exact centre of the city) where stands the throne, over which rises a graceful gilded spire, visible from all parts of the city and surrounding country. Another feature of the complex palace buildings is the lofty campanile. Around the palace walls a wide space has been laid out as an esplanade, on the further margin of which are situated most of the houses of the princes, ministers of state, and court ...