CO882-(1-2) — Page 104

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

mimimmim PIEC.O. 882

1

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

no comment from me, further than that în addition and confirmation to what he has stated, I may be allowed to attach the following extract from ́a dispatch to Lord Fitárgy Somerset, on the first operations of the troops under 'my Commend Who were employed in suppressing the rebellion of 1848.

I have sent you with my official dispatch, a sketch of the 'country in which the rebellion has been carrying on, it appears very ably done by Coloriel Fraser, the 'Deputy 'Quartermaster-Gene- ral, to whom I am much indebted for the very valuable information he was able to afford, 'having been employed over the same ground during the rebellion of 1817 and ·1818,”

These documents will plainly show that both Lord Torrington and myself on the very Arst out- break, did send for, and consult Colonel Fraser, and naturally placed much weight on the informa- tion and advice which his great experience so will entitled him to give.

I remain, &c. (Signed)

`WM. SMELT,

Mujos¿General.

In reply to the amortion, that Lord Torrington had omitted to consult Colonel Fraser early and

frequently, Colonel Fraser says : .

The intell-

Celomal Fraser's reply to Major- General Smalt's letter.

“This was certainly-net the onse. gence of the outbreak had poti I Hellove, been an hour in Lord Torrington's'pemuension," when+ldu Lordship sent for me, and referring to why experi- ence on former occasions, maked-me-to-fiveur-kim with my sentiments and suggestions in regard to that event. All the letters which his Excellency had received from Kandy by the express of that morning were then pat into my hands; and in consequence of the vary alarming - skostenin they contained of the state of hintells, I suggested that Government should be prepared to pinco district under martial law, olen that mọt be lost in mending to Madras for the forcement of troops, and that a porta

latter should be brought over at s

at Trincomalee, to enable - neʻko

that station a large detachment ef-

troepi,

and move them direct luto Matella. · Some Alena

T

after this I waited on the Major-General command- ing the forces at his own office to receive his orders for concentrating the sæoops, and he then informed me that it had heena aaqertaimed, after I left Lord Tearingtop and bimealf at the Queen's House, that

the steamer #Lady Mary Woodward” was then at Galle, and shat do exprem was just starting for that phor with the Glozerner's despatches and his onym for the Authoritieų at Madras, to be forwarded

by the “Lendy apwy Wood,” the agents of that vassol having amuped them that,ake would not only be available for the eonveyance of the despatches, but,would afterwards retum : to Trincomalee with the first troops - thet zuight, bo in rondinem to ́am- bark. This vese on the 29th of Inly. I cannot nowwwqollaps the precise day upon which Sir L. E. Tennent rednemad teɑCalambo, but I know that for a.week, or more after, tho, rupouts had reached-na of a hortile Shaling haring betrayed itself in Ma talks, I was-murammened almost daily to the Queen's Homse, and that I frequently, if not always, met Sir I. E. Bennent there. The first proclamation of martial law: sans, however, published in the Casette of the 29th July, and I saw no Member of

•

the · Emoentive Cousell at the Queen's. House an that day damnapt.

r-General :Smelt), so that charo medo, in the presenos

patime meget Java

of the Mist July, outrage which had Komla and Magella alos „Bond, Je,

Lard Torring

that #