PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TTLE C.O. 882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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Sir H. Maddock. 3615.
The Supreme Court commenced its sittings at Kandy about the middle of August. Thirty-four prisoners were tried for offences of the most serious character, committed within a period of about aix weeks previous to the proclamation of martial law. Of these seventeen were acquitted, and seventeen wero convicted of high treason, and sentenced to death; a fact conclusively showing the disorganized and alarming state of the country. It cannot be sup- posed that offenders or offences would decrease in number or degree, immediately after the insurrection broke out, especially considering that the gaols at Lord Torrington's to Lord Grey;
and Kornegalle and Matelle had been broken open,
Parliamentary Papers, 1849. the prisoners let loose. The courts-martial also took cognisance of all offences whilst the civil power was in abeyance, or for a period of ten weeks.
Colonel Drought thus writes of the courts- martial :-
"I deem it only right to add, that every case which I felt justified in recommending to the favourable consideration of Lord Torrington, instantly met with his Lordship's clemency, by a total remission of the sentence.
"I have heard remarks made upon sentences of courts- martial, but I am quite certain that any serious notice of slanderous insinuations would be equally derogatory to myself and unjust to the sworn gentlemen who composed those courts.
"I will venture to say, that the number of trials that took place under martial law did not amount to one-sixth of the
average of civil trials during the same period of time in the present year.
"I have ascertained that the number of persons tried before the Supreme Court at the last sessions, for serious crimes committed within the districts which were placed under martial law in 1848, amounted to seventy-one; this being the gaol clearance for six months, would give an average of about twelve per month. And I think I am
safe in saying, that the average of trials in each of the four minor courts will be found to exceed seventy per month, or about 700 trials within a corresponding period, when, under martial law, only 196 pemqns wens tried.
“That I purgas a system of moral discipline in preferenos so a haraber line, is proved by the fact of my having had recourse to only two courts-martial on soldiers within my command during the last six months. The foros conurist- ing of the entire of Her Majesty's 15th Regiment, a detachment of Royal Artillery, and Ceylon Rißßen, tr ali
October 14, 1848.
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amounting to 1,047. This is to me so gratifying a circum- stance that I have pride and pleasure in introducing it in this statement.
Kandy, December 1849.
But this charge of unnecessary severity and blood- shed is inconsistent with the address of the Legislative Council, after martial law bad ceased, and especially with the fact that Mr. Wodehouse, who it now appears dissents from the policy of the Gevarner, himself drafted the address, thanking the Governor
for the "prompt declaration of martial law, the zealous and able exertions made by the officers,” It is inconsistent with the subsequent &c., &c. address of the Legislative Council, of September 18, 1849, a year aftar, wherein it is said that the tranquillity of the island is “mainly attributable to the energetic and prudent measures adopted,” &a. After this general statement, it will excite no sur- prise that the Committee closed its investigations by rejecting Mr. Huine's resolutions, which were as follows:
"1. That in the opinion of this Committee, the dis- turbances which took place in Ceylon in the year 1848, were confined to two small districts of the Kandyan pro- vinces, and did not extend to any other part of the island.
*9. That it is the opinion of this Commiston, that the
civil power, strengthened by the possenos of a military foree, ought to have been wafilcient for the restoration and maintenance of public tranquillity; and that whatever necessity may have appeared at the moment te seint-for the proclamation of martial law on the 29th of July, 1848, the continuance of that law to the 10th of Outsher following, the suorifice of lift, and the confleuation of pro- party, during its operation, necessary, and inginaći-
And adopting the following Report :
Your Committen damply regent that the House did not
non fit to noquisace in the mcommendation mbmitted to them at the aloss of last mansion, vix, that an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, penying that she will be graciously pleased to appoint a Commission to
• The following members of the Caminities voted against Mür. Hume's Bonplusing, Sie James Hagg, Mr. Hawes, Lord Hatham, Mr. Charles Villiers, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Mc Callagh," Major Blackali.
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