CO882-(1-2) — Page 102

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:-

C.O. 882

1

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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rienced and able officer, who for many years has filled the office of Deputy Adjutant-General in Ceylon. Mr. Layard says he knows he was not consulted.

Nothing can be more directly the reverse of the truth, as his official position on the General's staff rendered it next to impossible that he could be excluded, and the fact was, that he was consulted daily and hourly, and that no single arrangement or order could have taken place without his know- ledge.

The third is Colonel Fraser, who Mr. Layard says was not consulted, an omission to which the

errors deplored by Mr. Anstruther in proclaiming martial law must be directly imputed.

On the first intelligence of the outbreak reaching Colombo by express, Colonel Fraser was the first man consulted by Lord Torrington!

His official residence at Colombo as Quarter-

master-General is in the fort, and it happens to be

opposite the entrance to the Governor's house, and within 100 yards of Lord Torrington's office.

Lord Torrington on receiving the news of the outbreak sent at once for the Major-General and for Colonel Fraser, and the latter arrived first, as the General resides upwards of a mile from the fort. Colonel Fraser not only attended every consul- tation on the military arrangements, but from his vicinity and the great facility of advising with him, he was referred to by Lord Torrington, not only daily but incessantly. There was not a mili- tary movement that was not made with his ap- proval and concurrence, and the proclamation of martial law, which Mr. Anstruther describes as an error perpetrated in ignorance and panic, was the suggestion and deliberate advice of Colonel Fraser, whose opinion in such matters Major Skinner truly Bays la so sound and judicious, that "no man would venture to question it.”

I was absent from Colombo, when the, intelli- gence of the insurrection arrived, but on my arrival the first man I mw, on entening, in Lard Tor- rington's room, was Colonel Fraser in consultation with the Governor, and I∙well remoɛther tha, opi- nion that he then expressed to me; that in all its features the outbreak, then commencing was at least equally formidable with that of 1818, and that we were not to calculate on its suppression

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in a few days or even months, as such movements were not easily put down amongst Kandyans.

hold in my hand a note from Lord Torrington, written on seeing these assertions of Mr. Layard and Mr. Anstruther, and which I beg to read to the Committee.

(Private.)

Copy of Lord Torrington's Note.

My dear Tennent,

Queen's House, Colombo, November 23, 1849.

It is just as well that I should put on paper a remark in reference to a statement made before

the Committee of the House of Commons on Ceylon, to the effect that I never consulted Colonel Fraser Now, as every man knows, who is in any way capable of giving an opinion on military matters, the Major-General in command of the Forces was the proper person to consult with on any military operation to be conducted. But on the first news of the insurrection reaching me- the General's house being more than a mile- till he could arrive, I immediately sent over for Colonel Fraser. He was the first person I con- sulted; his views were entirely in accordance with the policy carried out, and I may say more, that his advice was greatly instrumental to my follow- ing the course that I then did. My opinion is, that Colonel Fraser looked at the matter in even a more serious light than I did, and told me that months would elapse before I could hope the country would be restored to peace and quietness.

It may be doubtful as to the propriety of my consulting Colonel Fraser, a junior officer, but that

I did so there is no doubt, and equally so that I followed his advice.

Yours very truly,

TORRINGTON.

Aad now, from the importance which has most properly and most justly been attached to the opinion of Colofał Fraser, it is important that the Committee should be put in possession of what Colonel Bruser's opinion was, as to the nature and exchant-call theʼrybelilan, and of the measures adopted by Lord Teringian faits suppremion.

In order to elicit ‹ this.. I nddressed a private latter to the Major-@eneral commanding. To this. I received on the 12th of December the following