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the country of that perfect tranquillity which it has since enjoyed would have been impracticable.

In conclusion, I venture to assure your Lordship that I am profoundly convinced that less active measures than those which were adopted would have failed to restore peace and confidence among the people, and would have been anything but merciful in the end.

Downing Street, June 7, 1849.

I have received your Lordship's despatches, of the dates and numbers enumerated in the margin; but as the affairs of Ceylon are at present under the consideration of a Select Committee of the House of Commons, I must postpone the expression of any opinion on the several subjects to which they relate.

Lord Grey subsequently, in a despatch, dated August 15, 1850, addressed to Lord Torrington, announcing his recall, wrote as follows:-

I have also to express my sense of the success with which your Lordship has laboured to maintain the public peace since the suppression of the insurrection in the year 1848, and my conviction, which remains unshaken by all that has been alleged against you, that your measures upon that unfortunate occasion were dictated solely by your opinion, founded on the best information within your reach, and supported by the judgment of those whom it was your duty to consult, that the steps you then took were indispensable for the prompt suppression of the dis- turbances, and for the security of the lives and property of Her Majesty's loyal subjects in the districts where these disturbances had broken out.

On the proceedings of the Ceylon Committee being referred at their close to the Queen's Govern- ment, the only portion of the case respecting the conduct of the military during martial law, which appeared to Lord Grey to call for further notice, was that affecting Captain Watson.

Certain pro-

clamations were produced to the Committee, attri- buted to this officer. They were stated by him to

Earl Grey to Viscount Torrington. Committee Papers, 1849.

Proceedings of Committee with

Third Report, 1850.

Printed for the House, July 1850.

be forgeries, but were pronounced genuine docu- Committee Papers, 1850.

ments by Commissioners who were sent from Madras

to examine into the question, and whose report was received shortly after the Committee closed their proceedings. The Report is annexed.

It was determined that the case thus affecting Captain Watson should be decided by his being tried in Ceylon before a court-martial. No account of this trial having taken place has been as yet received.

Papers, 1851.

Paperu, 1851.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

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