WAR IN CEYLO N.

It was our intention to have given, in this volume, a complete account of the origin and progress of the war which has existed in Ceylon for upwards of two years; and likewise to have taken a view of the character of the Candian government, of the relative state of the contending powers, of the causes which produced dissention between them, and, of the principles and motives by which each has been actuated; so that our readers might be enabled to form an accurate judgment as to the justice, policy, and probable consequences of the measures pursued by the British government in that island. But a deficiency of authentic documents prevents us from fulfilling this intention, and has obliged us to confine the following narration to a mere summary of the principal circumstances which led to the contest, and of the events which have attended it, from the period of its origin to the close of 1804.

In our next volume we hope we may have it in our power to present our readers with an account of the termination of these disastrous hostilities; and we shall then enter, with freedom and impartiality, into an examination of the principles and policy on which they have been carried on.

In the year 1795, when intelligence reached India of the war between England and Holland, an armament was sent from Madras against the Dutch settlements in Ceylon; all of which, after a partial and feeble resistance, submitted to the British arms. These settlements were, in the first instance, held in trust for the Prince of Orange, to whose cause the majority of the Dutch were attached;

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and these possessions remained an appendage to the presidency of Madras, and under the immediate government of the commander in chief of the English troops, until 1799, when they were transferred to the crown of England, and formed into an establishment wholly unconnected with the East India company, and subject only to the control of his majesty's ministers. The Hon. Frederick North was then sent to Ceylon, as governor of our dominion in that island, and with full powers to carry into effect a system of government, which had been adopted for it. Of this system, it is not necessary in this place to give any detailed account; it is sufficient to state, that such arrangements took place at Columbo and the interior as were calculated to ensure the safety and prosperity of the colony.

With a view to these objects, Governor North, in the year 1800, determined on sending an embassy to the King of Candy, in order to establish a friendly intercourse with that monarch.

As it was intended to make this embassy as imposing as possible, the governor, previous to its leaving Columbo, sent his private secretary, Mr. Boyd, to the borders of our territory at Sittivacca, to communicate with the adigar and other officers of state to his Candian majesty.

This preliminary step was the more necessary, as the extreme jealousy of this people would, otherwise, have been alarmed at the introduction of a military force into their country, and might probably have counteracted all our plans.

At this interview, however, every necessary arrangement took place, and the embassy set forward.

General M'Dowal, commander in chief of the forces in Ceylon, was appointed to this mission, attended by an escort, consisting of the light company and four battalions of his majesty's 19th regiment of foot, five companies and two battalions 6th regiment of coast sepoys, five companies of the Malay regiment, a detachment of the Bengal artillery, with four 6-pounders and two howitzers, aud part of the Madras pioneer and Lascar corps.

On the 10th of March, 1800, the general, followed by this splendid retinue, and charged with magnificent presents to the king, took his departure from Columbo.

On the 18th, the detachment reached Sittavacca, famous for having been the theatre of war between the natives and former European

powers,

powers, as well as the spot generally chosen for their interviews with ambassadors. It divides the European from the Candian territory, by a branch of the Mallidary river, which runs in a serpentine stream along the banks.

The adigar was encamped on the opposite side, with several thousand Candians. On our arrival, the general sent to acquaint him with his intention to pass the river the next morning; and shortly after a message was returned, signifying the adigar's entire approbation.

On the 20th, the adigar came, in great state, by torch light, to pay a visit of ceremony to the general. The interview lasted a considerable time, and the conversation was carried on standing. The Candian minister promised to send 500 of his people to assist in conveying our baggage; an engagement he afterwards forgot to comply with.

The roads, or rather paths, during the whole of this journey, were extremely tiresome. The route which the British were permitted to take, was marked out by means of twigs, set up at proper distances, full of precipices and ravines, so difficult as almost to impede our march; and this was increased by constant rain, accompanied with thunder and lightning.

No intercourse was permitted, during the whole of the march, between the natives and our party; and such was the reserve even of the attendants on our camp, that not the least information could be obtained about the king, or his politics.

On the 10th April the general arrived at the place where his residence was to be fixed during his embassy.

It became now necessary to settle the ceremonies of introduction; and here a difficulty arose of such magnitude, as threatened to defeat the projected interview with his majesty.

The Dutch ambassadors had submitted to be introduced blindfold into the capital, and to prostrate themselves on entering the presence; and it having been intimated to the general, that his majesty would not receive him standing, he immediately answered, to the adigar, that his sovereign did not acknowledge the superiority of any potentate on earth; and that sooner than degrade his master, by prostration, he would return to Columbo without being presented.

The king, averse to any difference with the English government, consented at length to wave his prerogative; and, in order to reconcile to himself this derogation from his dignity, desired his adigar to inform the

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the general, that he would, on this occasion, dispense with the usual ceremonies required of ambassadors, as his brother, the King of England, was of a power and dignity far above the Dutch or the East India company.

This important object being adjusted, and the day being appointed for the audience, the adigar, with a numerous attendance, bearing a multitude of torches, received the general on the banks of the river, to conduct him to the presence.

The general was attended by his staff, the gentlemen appointed to the embassy, and a guard of honor, consisting of an officer and about fifty sepoys. The presents had previously been delivered over to the adigar. they consisted (among other valuable things) of a state coach, drawn by six horses; a betel dish, with ornaments of solid gold, which had belonged to the late Tippoo Sultaun, and was valued at 800 star pagodas; together with rose water, a variety of fine muslins, &c.

The road to the palace was up a steep hill, with narrow crooked paths. The capital was surrounded with thick hedges of thorn, and in some places with the addition of a rampart and breast-work, forming, however, a very trifling barrier to the approach of a regular army.

The crowd of natives who early gathered round the procession, together with the glare of the torches, made it impossible to take any accurate view of the city. The street through which they passed to the palace was long and broad; at the extremity of which stood the palace, surrounded by an high wall and gardens.

Having ascended a flight of stone steps, and passed through various anti-rooms and courts, filled with guards, they at length reached the audience-chamber, which they entered.

Here they found the king, seated on his throne, surrounded by his ministers and courtiers, some prostrate, and others sitting cross-legged. The general was conducted by the adigar to the top step of the platform leading to the throne, and with much ceremony presented.

The king is a young man, very black, with light beard. He was dressed in very fine white muslin, embroidered with gold, fitted close to the breast, with several folds drawn round the wrist, and flowing from thence on the carpet; his arms were bare from the elbow downwards. On his fingers he wore a number of very broad rings, set with

precious

precious stones of different sorts, and a number of gold chains were suspended round his neck, over a large ruff. On his head he wore a turban of muslin, spangled with gold, and surmounted by a crown of gold; a distinction peculiar to this potentate, as all other Asiatic princes are excluded, by their religion, from wearing this ornament. His waist was encircled with a rich sash, from which a short dagger was suspended, the handle richly ornamented, and the scabbard fillagree.

A tedious conversation took place by means of an interpreter; the questions of his majesty, and the replies of the general, passing through the medium of five different persons.

During the audience, rose-water was scattered about from curiouslywrought vessels of gold, and perfumes handed on salvers of gold; but the excessive heat of the room was almost insupportable.

At the second audience, the general introduced the business of his embassy; what these objects were have never transpired; but one circumstance is certain, which we will relate. It was a request from our government, that the king of Candy would permit a road to be opened through his territories, to give a free communication between Trincomalie and Columbo.

To this proposition the king would not, by any means, listen; but expressed his decided aversion to any intercourse, or connection, existing between his subjects and the Europeans.

At the next audience the general was to take leave, having previously had several private conferences with the Adigar on political subjects.

When the general took leave, the king placed a gold chain about his neck, and presented him with a sword, an embroidered belt and scabbard; he also gave him a ring, set with various precious stones, and an elephant. Slight presents were distributed among the officers; and on the second of May, after a residence of twenty-one days at Candy, the embassy took their departure for Columbo.

We cannot venture to pronounce an opinion on the result of this expensive and toilsome expedition, having nothing more than conjecture to act upon; but the effect, at least, enabled us to foresee, that a good understanding was not likely long to exist between the two governments.

The reigning monarch was placed upon the throne by the adigar, Pelimé

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