CO882-(1-2) — Page 107

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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buted to garrison Dambool and Anarajapoora, in the northern division of the Kandyan country.

To the westward, troops were quartered at Ambepusse and Kornegalle.

To the eastward at Meda-Maha-Neura and Bintenne.

On the urgent entreaty of the European resi- dents, a party of rifles were sent south to Ratna- poora in Saffragam, the garrisons were strengthened at Badulla and Neura Ellia, and, on a demand from the coffee planters, another party was dis- patched to Pusilawa, to prevent any rising in the valuable coffee districts which surround it. in order to protect those of Ambogammon and its vicinity, the company of road pioneers were armed, and placed under suitable command.

And

A further demand for troops was made for the people of Chilaw, to the westward of Kornegalle ; but it was not complied with, there being none disposable.

Thus, by one almost simultaneous movement, the whole of the Kandyan country was, within an incredibly short space of time, put in an attitude of defence; the capital garrisoned, the disturbed districts taken under military possession, and out- posta formed to give confidence and security to the peaceable and well-affected.

It may possibly strike the Committee, that if, as stated by Mr. Anstruther and Mr. Wodehouse, the insurrection was nothing more than "a riot," got up by a few robbers from the low country, the military authorities on the spot could scarcely have been so misled and alarmed by it as to adopt, with so much deliberation and decision, measures 80 complete and comprehensive for placing the whole Kandyan country from north to south in a position to be prepared for insurrection and revolt.

But then it is said that these were the acts of Lord Torrington-that he interfered improperly with the military arrangements-that he over- stopped his own province-that, as Commander-in- Chief, he usurped the functions of the Major- General commanding-and that he issued orders direct to the officers at out-stations, without con- sulting or transmitting them through the proper military authorities.

It is said that he in this way inned directions to Major Layard as to the proceedings against the rebels at Korngulle, and to Captain Watson as to

Major Layard. Military Papers, p.81.

Captain Watson. Ib. p. 85.

Tb. p. 76.

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the conduct of courts-martial and other proceedings at Matelle; and that he interfered unduly and injudiciously with the powers and arrangements of Major-General Smelt.

These repeated assertions are but further illus trations of the recklessness with which these charges have been got up against Lord Torrington; they either demonstrate the utter ignorance of the wit- nesses as to that of which they affected to speak, or they augur a line of conduct still less honourable and defensible.

And in proof of this I refer to the statements of the Commandants themselves, and that of Major- General Smelt.

Major Layard, on this assertion being brought under his notice, wrote to Lord Torrington to this

effect:-

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"They were devold of truth, and he had never since Lord Torrington has been in the island received an order from him, either verbally or in writing."

".

Captain Watson, in relation to the same report, that “he had received orders or lettern connected with his public duties direet from the Governor," wrote to the Military Secretary to give it a distinct contradiction, and to stats 4 that he received no orders or letters 'connected with his duties from his Excellency the Governor, or from any one except the Commandant of Kandy, Lieutenant- Colonel Drought.”

General Smelt felt himself called on to make a similar disckimer,' and `inelosed to Lord Tor- rington a copy of a letter which he had addressed to the honourable member of the committee, Mr. Hume, on the subject of these assestions, that “Lord Torrington had nammed direction of the military affairs without reference to him.?” ... zễn this lottar ths - General naturtis Me, Hume “that in: no one instance Mat his Exorflenny, the. Governor in the allest degree: "fallefeud with 'tha - military fnf - emelting him," (the

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