PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
41.1 C.O.885
·པ
:
J. COLBORNE,
22
Inclosure in No. 8.
PROVINCE OF Lower Canada.
By his Excellency Sir John Colborne, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order, Lieutenant-General Commanding Her Majesty's Forces in the Provinces of Lower Canada and Upper Canada, and Administrator of the Government of the said Province of Lower Canada.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS his Excellency the Right Honourable Archibald Earl of Gosford, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, did, by Royal Commission, dated at the Castle of St. Lewis, the 5th day of December, 1887, authorize and command me, as Lieutenant-General Commanding Her Majesty's forces in this province, to execute Martial Law in the district of Montreal, and to arrest and punish all persons acting, aiding, or in any manner assisting in the conspiracy and rebellion which then existed within the said district of Montreal, and which had broken out into the most daring and violent attacks upon Her Majesty's forces, according to Martial Law, either by death or otherwise, as to me should seem right and expedient, for the punishment and suppression of all rebels in the said district; and whereas his Excellency the Governor-in-chief hath not in anywise cancelled or recalled the orders and authority so by him to me given in that behalf; and whereas, although the said conspiracy and rebellion have been put down, and peace hath been apparently restored, yet the public safety requires that law martial should still be exercised in the same manner and to the same extent as his Excellency the Governor-in-chief bath authorized and commanded me to exercise the same; now, therefore, I have thought fit, by and with the advice and consent of Her Majesty's Executive Council of this province, to issue this Proclamation, to the end that it be made manifest, that I shall arrest and punish, and cause to be arrested and punished, all persons who have been anywise acting, aiding, and assisting in the said conspiracy and rebellion, or who may be anywise acting, aiding, or assisting in any other conspiracy and rebellion within the said district of Montreal, according to martial law, either by death or otherwise, as to me shall seem right and expedient for the punishment of all rebels in the said district,
Given under my hand and seal at arms, at the Government House, in the city of Montreal, in the province of Lower Canada, the 27th day of February, in the year
of our Lord 1838, and in the first year of Her Majesty's reign.
By his Excellency's command,
(Signed)
No. 4.
D. DALY, Secretary of the Province.
Cory of a DESPATCH from Lieutenant-General Sir Joux COLBORNE, G.C.B., to Lord GLENELG.
(No. 34.) MY LORD,
Government House, Montreal, April 27, 1838.
I HAVE the honour to acquaint you that, in consequence of the continued tranquil state of the province, I have this day issued, with the advice of the Executive Council, a proclamation revoking Martial Law in the district of Montreal.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. COLBORNE.
Lord Glenelg,
&c. &c.
&c.
23
Martial Law in Ceylon, 1848.
Martial Law was proclaimed on account of the rebellion in Kandy, on the 29th of July, 1848, and remained in force until the 10th of October-a period of about ten weeks.
Sir T. Maddock stated in evidence before the Commons Committee that the following were the punishments during that period by orders of Courts-Martial :-
Executed
Transported for life
for 14 years
11
for 10 years
10
for 7 years
Imprisoned with hard labour
Ditto, and corporal punishment Corporal punishment
18
L
17
1
9
42
30
28
146
The following are extracts made from the Parliamentary Papers on Affairs of Ceylon, February 1849.
No. 1.
In the name of Her Majesty Victoria, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith.
PROCLAMATION.
By his Excellency the Right Honourable Viscount Torrington, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Ernestine of Saxony, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the British Settlements and Territories in the Island of Ceylon, with the Depen- dencies thereof.
TORRINGTON.
WHEREAS information has been received that a body of disaffected Kandians, armed with guns, spears, and other offensive weapons, have entered the town of Matelle, and when the latest intelligence was received from that place, had commenced the demo- lition of the public buildings; and that they have proclaimed some person unknown_to us to be King of Kandy, calling upon the people to obey the orders of the said pretended King. And whereas it is necessary that the said rebellion should be promptly suppressed, and that the most energetic measures should be resorted to for the protection of Her Majesty's loyal subjects, and the restoration of the public peace. Now, therefore, by virtue of the powers and authority in us vested, we do hereby proclaim and declare the district of Kandy, within the Central Province, to be in a disturbed state, and that from and after the publication therein of this our Proclamation, Martial Law shall be in force within the said district until further orders. And we do hereby call upon all Her Majesty's loyal subjects to remain peaceably in their respective homes, and on no account to join themselves to the said rebels; but to aid and assist Her Majesty's armed force in the suppression of the said rebellion. And we do hereby further proclaim and make known to all the well-disposed inhabitants of this island, that we shall at all times be anxious to give the fullest consideration to any representations made by them to us in a quiet and orderly manner, for the redress of any real or supposed grievance, and to make known to Her Majesty the wishes and feelings of her loyal subjects in respect thereof.
Given at the Queen's House at Colombo, this 29th day of July, 1848.
By his Excellency's command,
(Signed) W. MORRIS,
Acting Assistant Colonial Secretary.
G
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