hostility, which the ministry of Candy has not scrupled to avow, on pretences wholly unfounded. Under these circumstances of aggravated injury and insult, we have determined to send our troops into the Candian territories, to enforce our just claims to full indemnification for the expense to which our government had been put by the iniquity of the court of Candy, and to exact sufficient security against the repetition of similar outrage. In this view we have submitted to his Candian majesty articles of accommodation, so moderate in their object, and so beneficial in their principles, that we trust he will immediately agree to them, as well for the security of his own person and dignity, as for the tranquillity and the happiness of his subjects. In the mean time we have given strict orders to observe the most exact discipline, by the British troops in the Candian territories; that the temples, priests, and religion of the inhabitants be respected; that all supplies which may be furnished may be regularly paid for; and that no disorders be suffered. And we exhort all those who inhabit the countries through which our armies may pass, to afford them every assistance, to remain peaceably in their houses, to continue their ordinary occupation without fear or apprehension, and to submit themselves quietly to the authority of our commanders, who have our express direction to protect them from injury and oppression. By his excellency's command, (Signed) ROBERT ARBUTHNOT, His excellency, governor North, having thus ineffectually attempted conciliatory measures, felt himself called upon to adopt such as appeared calculated to counteract the designs of the Candiaus. With this view preparations were immediately set on foot, for collecting a suitable force to march into the Candian territory. On the 31st of January, 1803, general Mc Dowal left Columbo with the following detachment under his command: 500 of the 51st regiment, two companies of 19th regiment, grenadier company of 55th regiment, col. Ramsay's native regiment, 100 malays, with a detachment of Bengal and Madras artillery, and a proportionate number of lascars and pioneers, forming in the whole an army of about 2000 men. On On the 2d of February col. Barbut marched from Trincomalée, according to a concerted plan of operations, having with him 500 picked men, of the 19th regiment, 600 of the malay regiment, a company of artillery and pioneers, with six ten-pounders, and two howitzers. After encountering various difficulties, and driving before them large bodies of the enemy, who attempted to oppose their progress, the two divisions of our army met, on the 20th of February, at Candy. This plan of operations was so well arranged, and so ably executed, that both parties arrived at their rendezvous within an hour of each other. About three o'clock on the preceding evening, as colonel Barbut's detachment approached the great Candian river, his march was opposed by a large body of the enemy's troops, collected on the opposite banks, the adjoining hills, and the villages of Wallapoola. They kept up a very brisk fire for some time on our party, but without effect; when, having brought two mortars and a six-pounder to bear upon them, in different directions, they retired, leaving the party at liberty to cross the river, which they did on the morning following, and took post in the village of Wallapoola. On the morning of the same day an advanced party from general McDowal's detachment, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Legars, of the 41st regiment, attacked and carried the two strong posts of Galle Gedorah, and Giriagumme. At the first no resistance was made, and the party found three very curious brass cannons, which the enemy, in the hurry of flight, had abandoned. At the latter post, however, the advanced party, composed of the grenadier company of the 19th, commanded by capt. Honner, were received by a heavy fire from the enemy, which was kept up without intermission, until the assailants entered the battery. Our loss, on this occasion, was one serjeant and one private of the 19th regiment severely wounded. The loss on the part of the enemy must have been trifling; although, such was the steepness of the paths, had the Candians maintained their position with any degree of firmness or courage, the assault must have cost us dear. As soon as the British approached the capital of Candy, the king fled, as did the first adigar, and the troops under his command dispersed in all directions. They had, previously, set fire to the palace and the temples, but our arrival in the city was so immediate, that our troops soon succeeded in extinguishing the flames. The The king had removed all his treasure, and the inhabitants had destroyed almost every thing of value, which they were unable to carry away with them. A few days after this event, the enemy appeared in very considerable force near Candy. They were, however, soon dispersed, with little loss on our side, but with a dreadful slaughter on the part of the Candians. Thus far, the most unlimited success seems to have crowned our operations; and dispatches having arrived at Columbo, detailing the events which had lately taken place, his excellency the governor was pleased to publish a general order, in which he congratulated gen. McDowal on the speedy and successful issue of the important mission committed to his charge, which his excellency attributes solely to the energy, activity, and judgment displayed by the general, and the excellent discipline and spirit maintained by his army. It concludes with his excellency's particular thanks to colonel Baillie, lieutenant-colonel Barbut, and all the officers under his command, and expressions of high approbation on the good conduct and discipline of the non-commissioned officers and privates on the occasion, The country round the city of Candy is described as being the most beautiful and fertile in nature; mountains cultivated to their summits, interspersed with villages, rivulets, and cattle; fruitful vallies, with groves of areka jacca, cocoa nuts, limes, oranges, plantain, and pumplemose trees, with fine villages and fields of paddy and other grain, the latter well watered by streams from the mountains; the whole combining to form a scene singularly picturesque. The palace is an immense pile of building. The town, about two miles in length, consisting only of one broad street, terminated by the palace; there are lesser streets branching from it, but of no great length. The houses are mostly of mud, and raised on steps about five feet above the level of the earth. The palace is built of a kind of cheenam, or cement, perfectly white, with stone gateways; it is a square of immense extent, one-fourth of which is not yet completed. In the centre is a small square enclosure, forming the cemetery of the kings of Candy, The palace contains a great number of rooms, the walls of which contain a multitude of inscriptions, and are painted with the most grotesque figures. Many of the walls are covered with immense pier glasses, In one room is a gigantic brass figure of Buddha, in a sitting posture, with two smaller ones at his feet. The river of Candy is a very noble one, swarming with fish, which the king never permitted to be disturbed. While the main army was engaged at the capital, incursions were made on different parts of our settlements by the enemy. Our troops, however, undismayed by numbers, constantly attacked them, and as constantly proved victorious. We shall select the following gallant exploit, as descriptive of the spirit which animated our little army in all the difficulties they had to contend with. On the 20th March, captain Beaver, of the 19th regiment, was ordered on detachment, with a party composed of serjeant Fairly and five privates of his majesty's 65th regiment, one howitzer, and eight sepoys. Having received information on his route of a very strong battery, called Rathmalgalle, at the village of Walgam Porte, in the three Corles, and the same being, as he gallantly expresses himself, "within a reasonable distance," he determined to attack it. The battery was of great perpendicular height, and the ascent, consequently, difficult in the extreme. The enemy, at the approach of our party, commenced a very brisk fire; but, such was the daring perseverance of this intrepid handful of men, they were in the battery in less than ten minutes. The enemy escaped into the wood. The work was constructed on the side of a woody mountain, about forty yards in length, commanding a ravine (the only approach to it). It had twelve embrasures. Having destroyed the fort, this brave party proceeded to their destination at Attegalle. After a residence of about a month at Columbo, the general, and several of his officers, were so severely attacked by the jungle fever, as to compel their return to Columbo. In the interim, however, the general, with a hope of restoring peace, succeeded in prevailing with the king to appoint an interview; but, when the time arrived, his majesty pleaded indisposition, and the meeting did not take place. It is probable that the court of Candy calculated on the climate soon ridding them of an enemy their united forces were unable to expel, and awaited the issue. When the general left Candy he took with him the 51st regiment, which was in a very sickly state, as also colonel Ramsey's native regi ment. 1 ment. The grenadier and light-companies of the 19th regiment were, at the same time, dispatched to Trincomalee with their sick. With the remaining troops, colonel Barbut was appointed commandant of the city. Previous to the departure of this force, the general had adopted various precautionary measures for the preservation of our new conquests. On the Trincomalee side, about fifteen miles from the capital, he caused a fort to be erected, named Fort Mc Dowal, and at Dambadinia, in the intermediate way between Candy and Columbo, another post was established. These works were of considerable strength from their position, garrisoned by Europeans and natives, and well calculated to secure a communication with our principal settlements. In the mean time his excellency governor North, so far from taking advantage of the successive victories achieved by our forces, appears to have used every practicable method to concert a permanent peace with the king of Candy. But his Ceylonese majesty was little disposed, at that time, to measures of conciliation. Two Candian princes had been some time at Columbo, whither they had flown to refuge under the British protection, both pleading pretensions to the crown. But, although the protection they sought was afforded them, and their situation meliorated by pecuniary aids from government, still the governor had never hitherto appeared to countenance their claims, or to interfere with the Candian politics. But at length, induced by the hostile disposition of the reigning monarch, and anxious to establish a treaty of peace and amity, his excellency adopted the policy of placing one of these princes on the vacant throne. A truce was also concluded with the former king. On the 1st of May following, the governor, attended by his suite and escort, went to Dambadinia, the chief of the newly-acquired provinces in the seven Corles. Spacious bungaloes were erected for his reception; and on his arrival, his excellency was waited upon by all the head men of the different districts, who, in very loyal addresses, declared their entire satisfaction at the change of government that had taken place, and promising fidelity and obedience to the crown of England. Two days after, Pelemé Talavae, the chief adigar of Candy, taking advantage of the truce subsisting between his master and our government, paid his respects to the governor, and held a long conference with him. |