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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

سائلنا

Reference :-

C.O. 882

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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one of the witnesses even alluded to the taxes in relation to the insurrection.

3. The means taken to suppress the Rebellion by

1850. Tennent, 3906, 3912.

1850. General Smelt, and

Colonel Fraser, 2723.

1850. Sir E. Tennent's Evidence.

Lord Torrington, were approved by his Executive 1850. Tennent, 2741. Council, were sanctioned by the highest military authorities whom he consulted, and finally, after mar- tial law had been in force eight weeks, and whilst it was in operation, the Legislative Council, October 2, 1848, voted unanimously an address to the Governor 1850. Tennent, 3927. expressive of "satisfaction at the speedy and suc- cessful suppression of the Rebellion," for which they declared they were indebted "to the prompt declaration of martial law, and the zealous and able exertions made by the officere." &c. "of Her Ma- jesty's forces serving in the Colony." This address was drawn up by Mr. Wodehouse, and signed by him and the Queen's Advocate, Mr. Selby. A similar address was voted in the subsequent year (1849) in which, alluding to the tranquillity which then prevailed, they add "which they believe to be mainly attributable to the energetic and prudent measures adopted by your Excellency during and after the disturbances in 1848." This address was

signed also by the Queen's Advocate, Mr. Selby, among others. The measures of the Government generally were approved by nearly every witness unconnected with the Government examined upon the subject.

1849. Sir H. Maddock, 3921. 1850. Major Parke, 9075, 9080. 1850. Fraser, 7911. 1850. Captain Gallwey, 8289. 1850. Captain Jolly, 8334,

1850. Tennent, 2780.

4. The proclamation of martial law was sustained

1850. Drought, 2758. the civil and military authorities, by public 1850. Sir E. Tennent'a Evidence.} meetings, at which natives and Europeans atteuded, 1850. Tennent, 2849. and by the press, when danger was imminent. 1850. Tennent, 2853.

1850. Tennent from Extracts,

2855. There does not appear in the evidence one adverse opinion expressed at the time. All classes joined in applauding the promptitude and vigour of the Government under the circumstances.

See also Parliamentary Papers for 1848, pp. 193, 194, 206, 217

5. The measures adopted and thus sanctioned may be deemed sufficient to prove that the insur- rection was then considered formidable, and de- 1880. Braybrooke, 5693. manded the most energetic exertions of the Execu- tive to suppress it, and restore tranquillity. Colonel Braybrooke says, "We were under the impression, from what we heard of the whole country, that we were on the eve of a great rebellion."

Colonel Drought, 2759. 1850. Sir E. Tennent's Evidence.

General Smelt, 9179. 1850. Sir E. Tennent's Evidence. 1850. Tennent, 9196.

1850. Tennent, 3027.

1850. Selby, 1550, 1551.

1850. Selby, 1778.

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6. The continuance of martial law for ten weeks was thought necessary by the Major-General and Colonel Drought, commanding in Kandy, down to the latest period of its being in force. It does not appear that the question of its discontinuance was ever raised in the Executive Council earlier than the 25th of September, 1848, when, unani- mously with the exception of the Queen's Advo- cate, the Council left the proclamation in force.

On the 2nd October, the Legislative Council,

as already stated, unanimously approved of the proceedings of the Government,

And the witnesses examined, unconnected with the Government, now bear their testimony to the expediency of the policy adopted.

7. The proceedings of only two of the courts- martial were laid before the Committee, and there was no irregularity upon the face of them. They were selected by Mr. Hume. It does not appear that Colonel Drought or General Smelt considered the proceedings of the courts-martial irregular, or that any investigation was called for. The conduct of particular officers during the existence of martial law, not, however, arising out of the proceedings

of any court-martial, is now under the considera- tion of the military authorities in this country, to whom they have been referred by Lord Grey.

8. The conduct of Lord Torrington on the occasion referred to was the subject of much investigation. Mr. Selby asserts that his Lordship used the language he imputes to him. Lord Tor- rington has distinctly, in a formal despatch received since the breaking up of the Committee, denied it. The strength of Mr. Selby's evidence consists in his having repeated the words to several persons imme- On the other diately after their alleged utterance. hand, Colonel Drought, who was certainly present during a part of the interview, which Mr. Selby says only occupied three minutes, and was near during the whole time, has stated, in writing, that he heard no “unbecoming language whatever" used by Lord Torrington.

9. There was no evidence worthy of the least credit produced to prove that a wrong man" waS.

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the time, did the Committee appear to suppose it would be necessary. It was only with the greatest reluctance, upon having the alternative offered to me, of either depriving myself of the benefit of all allusion to it, or of producing it, that I was driven to produce it. I must say, in answer to the question, that I un- doubtedly considered it to apply to Sir Emerson Tennent."

According to Mr. Wodehouse's statement made on the 11th July, however, it appears that between

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the 27th of May, when the letters were first alluded 9171 to 9183. to, and the 30th May, when they were read, Mr. Wodehouse had shown the letters to the chairman of the Committee and to parties under whose advice he was acting, as well as to his own family. From this period the aspect of the inquiry was changed. The character and conduct of individuals in these transactions became a subject of investigation of deeper interest than the inquiry into the policy of the Governor of Ceylon and the support it had received from Her Majesty's Government. report of the Committee and its proceedings are appended.

The

The evidence bearing upon the parties thus implicated by the disclosure of this private corre- spondence, and the further confidential letters which were subsequently produced and read, form the subject of separate Papers which are annexed.