PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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PLEC.O. 882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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rior, and for which we feel ourselves indebted to the prompt declaration of martial law, and the zealous and able exertions made by the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of Her Majesty's forces serving in the colony.
We fully participate in your Excellency's earnest desire for the speedy termination of martial law.
It then passes to the other topics of Lord Tor- rington's address,
Whether Mr. Wodehouse's participation in this address, considering the occasion on which it was written; that as a member of the Executive Council he had concurred, no matter for what reason, in the second proclamation; and that at the time of the address he filled the important office of Government Agent for the western provinces, and as such, was, out of the Executive Council, the principal official member of the Legislative Council, and was on that very account appointed, as a matter of course, a member and President of this Committee, is the question.
The case, so far as it relates to Mr. Wodehouse's evidence on martial law, might have ended here, if Sir E. Tennent had not taken great pains to contra dict Mr. Wodehouse on incidental matters. Sir E. Tennent's contradiction is unfortunately somewhat confused, but, so far as it is understood, it appears to be unsuccessful.
In 1849 Mr. Wodehouse was examined as to two distinct points. The one was, What information did Lord Torrington receive concerning the state of the country before the two proclamations of martial law, besides the information then laid before the Executive Council, and besides the information afterwards laid before the Ceylon Committee? The other, Whether the Executive Council were con- sulted as to the proceedings under martial law?
On the first point, Mr. Wodehouse answers, that Lord Torrington received some information of which he, Mr. Wodehouse, had no knowledge; that he, Mr. Wodehouse, concurred in the proclamation of Korne- galle-on the simple report that the town of Korne- galle had been attacked and the bazaar plundered ; and that he knows nothing of the grounds upon which martial law was proclaimed, beyond those furnished by the Governor.
On the other point, Mr. Wodehouse answers that the Executive Council were not consulted as to the proceedings under martial law.
Evidence, 1849.
5717, 4218.
5719.
4228, 4229, 4230, 5710.
5540.
Evidence, 1850.
May 2, 1850.
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Sir E. Tennent was examined as to the same points. On the 25th March, 1850, he is asked as to the meeting of Executive Council on the 31st July, at which the proclamation of martial law for Kornegalle was resolved upon-
2629. Had the members of the Executive Council full information of the state of the country at that time!- Certainly, they had all the documents which had reached the Governor.
April 11, as to the same occasion:
2714. Was full information laid before the Executive Council of the state of the country -All the documents which had been received since the last meeting of the Council were laid before them; the proceedings of that day had reference to Kornegalle, and full information was given.
Sir E. Tennent, in 3690, is referred to a letter of Lord Torrington to Mr. Buller, of the 29th July, 1848, saying:
"I am obliged by your express received at 8 this morn- ing. I wish this King may be taken;" and requested to state, what is the information that Lord Torrington re- ceived by express this morning, to which he there alludes? -It is obviously the report which I have just read to the Committee, dated the previous day, the 28th July, and that appears to have been accompanied by a private com- munication, in which Mr. Buller made reference to the appearance of the King, inasmuch as Lord Torrington's letter, to which you have drawn my attention, expresses ■ hope that the King may be taken,
3691. What private information do you mean; the let- ter of Mr. Buller was a public letter; was there any private letter-I see none; but Lord Torrington in his letter writes to Mr. Buller, and expresses a wish that the King may be taken, evidently inferring that the public despatch to which he directed his aide-de-camp to reply, was accom- panied by a private communication, intimating that a King had appeared.
3692. And that privats letter is not forwarded!-I do not see it here.
3693. Are we to understand that that is all the infor- mation which Lord Torrington had respecting the state of Kandy; after the contradictory reports which you admit existed up to the 28th of July, was there no other infor- mation sent from Kandy to Lord Torrington but that which this letter indicates -Very far from it.
3694. Can you direct our attention to any information beyond this! The proceedings of the Executive Council on the 5th of August contain a list of all the documenta that had been laid before the Governor up to that period, showing the commencement and progress of the insur- rection,
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As to the meeting of Council on the 29th July,
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