PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
1
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
108
danger be apprehended—if great mischief is likely to occur--if any be prospective, or any threatened— the declaration of martial law and its continuance finds its apology in the circumstances of the times."* (Page 63.) (See Mr. De Sarem's opinion to the same effect.) (Page 60.)
The Fiscal of Kandy, Mr. Parsons, (page 96) in who whose charge the gaol and the prisoners were,. had been arrested after the actions with the troops, says they frequently told him that "all was not over yet ;" and
Mr. Sims, police magistrate of the district, says that had martial law not been continued the rebel- lion was likely to have broken out at any time, and any place, with renewed vigour and strength. (Page 185.)
The King was captured by Captain Watson on the 21st September, and eighteen days after martial law was recalled, and the interval was employed in the arrest of the influential chiefs whom the Pretender had implicated as his accomplices in the rebellion.
In that interval of eighteen days, no active mea- sures were taken or carried on-no courts martial were held, and of course no executions or punish- ments could have taken place.
In fact it is somewhat remarkable, that whilst fault has been found with the proclamation of mar- tial law by so many persons in Europe, no such complaints have been heard in Ceylon, either from the natives or Europeans.
On the contrary, all classes have addressed the Governor to express their approbation of the mea- sure and their gratitude for the successful results. There are about 176 planters and owners of estates in the districts (not in Government employment) some were absent, but upwards of 160 have ad-
dressed the Governor to express their gratitude for the protection they derived from martial law, and to intreat that in the event of any renewed disturb- ances it might be again resorted to.
The well-disposed natives in the undisturbed dis- tricts have recorded their opinion that the procla- mation of martial law was the means of protecting them from insurrection; and in numerous instance the natives in the proclaimed districts expressed
• This, if I recollect right, is a diction of Mr. Hallam.
109
their conviction that in the midst of rebellion they were indebted to martial law for the security of their property and the protection of their lives.
Mr. De Sarem, the police magistrate of Gam- bela, has stated that, "from his personal inter- course with the loyal natives, they appeared to him grateful for the protection which martial law had afforded them" protection, not “ only against rebellion, but against the robberies and violence incident to a state of rebellion; they even thanked his Excellency the Governor in an address for the security they enjoyed from rapine and plunder, under the salutary effects of martial law."- (Page 65.)
Mr. Caulfield, the Government Agent of the North Western Provinces, writing on the same subject, says "None of the well-disposed natives complained to me of hardships consequent on the execution of martial law; but, on the contrary, they frequently spoke of the security which they felt during its operation."—(Page 155.)
Mr. Morris, writing from Kornegalle, says—“ I have not met an individual, not even amongst the Kandyans, who has disapproved of martial law; and the Kandyans who were loyal, or pretended
to be so, freely admit that the speedy suppression of the rebellion was owing to its operation.”- (Page 161 and 187.)
And Mr. Sims, writing from Madewelle-teme, of which district he is police magistrate, says-— "The well-affected natives, of all classes, consider that without martial law there was no safety, either for themselves or their property; and that
it would have been imposible for the civil power
to have eradicated the rebellion.”—(Page 186.)
Mr. Staples, the district judge of Kandy, says—-— *The general wish of the Europeans and of the peaceable natives (on the discontinuance of martial ław) was, as far as I could judge, that it should have been mouth mad fhe a time longer.”—{Page 27.) There-in; however, ane escuption to the general display of matkahu
the present
clamaties
It will be chserve that against Lard Torrington
against the
chiefly from the prostors who practive Courts of Kandy and Colombo---the majority