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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

minimalnim TTIC.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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Chamber of Commerce. Another is an address on behalf of the Roman Catholio bishop and the clergy of that per- suasion. And the fourth is a memorial, or a set of resolu- tions adopted at a general publią meeting of the inhabitants of Kandy and of those having interests at stake in that district presided over by Sir Herbert Maddook.

a. I would particularly invite your Lordship's attention to the 3rd and 4th of these documents, because they con- vey the expression of what I believe to be the real senti- ments of the largest and most influential body of the inhabitants.

(Inclosure 1.)

Ar à Public Meeting held this day in the Exchange

Room, Fort of Colombo, the following resolutions were

carried unanimously:

James Swan, Esq., in the Chair.

1st Resolution-

Proposed by J. Clowes, Esq.

Seconded by A. F. Gore, Faq.

"That this public meeting, consisting of the inhabitants of all classes resident in Colombo, do most cordially and heartily express their unanimous concurrence in the prompt and active measures of the Government to sup- press rebellion in the Kandyan districts.”

2nd Resolution-

Proposed by W. K. Lancaster, Esq. Seconded by W. Robertson, Esq.

"That a deputation of six gentlemen be selected to wait on his Excellency Viscount Torrington, to lay before his Lordship the loyalty and good feeling of this meeting, and to offer their ready service in any manner required for the support of order and constitutional government."

3rd Resolution-

Proposed by J, T. F. Bawker, Esq. Seconded by F. Templer, Esq.

"That the following gentlemen do wait upon his Excellency the Governor to lay before his Lordship the proceedings

of this meeting.

James Swan, Esq., Chairman.

J. B. Alston, Esq.

W. Robertson, Esq.

J. Clowes, Esq.

A. F. Gore, Esq.

How Stewart, Esq.

David Wilson, Esq.”

4th Resolution-

Proposed by J. Selby, Esq.

Seconded by Hew Stewart, Esq.

"That the thanks of this meeting be given to James Swan, Esq., for his able conduct in the chair.”

(Signed)

Colombo, August 5, 1848.

(Inclosure 2.)

JAMES SWAN,

Chairman.

Extract from the Minutes of a Special General Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held July 31, 1848. "Resolved, that Messrs. Ritchie, Smith, Swan and Dawson, do form a deputation to wait upon his Excellency

the Governor, to bring before him the great danger to be apprehended to the planting interest by the existing dis- affection in the interior, to express to his Excellency the hearty concurrence of the Chamber in the prompt mea- aures adopted by Government to suppress insurrection, with the assurance of the willing and active co-operation

of its members in case of need, and to pray that his Excel- lency may adopt such measures as may be best calculated

to avert the impending ruin which threatens the colony

by the departure of the Malabar Coolies from the island while under the influence of alarm.”

My Lord,

(Signed)

W. RITOHIN, Chairman of Meeting.

(Inclosure 3.)

Colombo, August 7, 18 8.

I am desirous at this period to offer to your Excel- lency, on the part of the Roman Catholic olergy of Ceylon, what must, I fear, convey but a feeble expression of our feelings with reference to late occurrences.

Deeply interested as we shall ever be in the peace and well-being of the entire people of this country, it was with the greatest sorrow and regret we heard that the efforts of the designing and evil-disposed were so far successful as temporarily to attract a portion of the poor and ignorant natives from their just allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain.

The dispensation of Divine Providence having, however, mercifully abated the evil which threatened the land, I have the pleasing duty to perform of respsotfally address- ing your Excellency, whose exertions have been instru- mental to this end, to express in behalf of those whom I represent, our warmest thanks and our heartfelt gratitude for the prompt, judicious, and efficacious masaaras adopted by your Lordship for the restoration of pasos and security and the preservation of order,

I avail myself of this opportunity to assure your Excel- lency that our exertions shall invariably be used to indûl- cata obedience and respect to the laws, and our influence' I