Chap. III.] 



EFFECTS OF DUTCH POLICY. 



G9 



The dominion of the Netherlands in Ceylon was a.d. 

 nearly equal in duration with that of Portugal, about l*^^^- 

 one hundred and forty years ; but the poHcies of the 

 two countries have left a very different impress on 

 the character and institutions of the people amongst 

 whom they lived. The most important bequest left by 

 the utihtarian genius of Holland is the code of Eoman 

 Dutch law, which still prevails in the supreme courts 

 of justice, whilst the fanatical propagandism of the 

 Portuixuese has reared for itself a monument in tlie 

 abiding and expanding influence of the Poman Catholic 

 faitli. This flourishes in every hamlet and province 

 where it Avas implanted by the Franciscans, whilst the 

 doctrines of the reformed chm-ch of Holland, never 

 preached beyond the walls of the fortresses, are already 



coutrived the surrender of the island 

 to gratify his new allies. M. ThoMbe, 

 an oflicer who had seiTed in Batavia, 

 published in 1811 his Voyaye aux 

 Indcs OricidaJes, m the second vo- 

 lume of which he has inserted an 

 apolog}' for the capture of Colombo, 

 from data supplied to him by indi\'i- 

 duals at .lava, wlio had served during 

 tlie brief assault. He specifies vigo- 

 rous and earnest preparations for the 

 siege for months before it actually 

 took plac-e, which were ostensildy 

 continued up to the approach of the 

 English. But he rec-alls many sus- 

 picious acts of the GoAernor prior to 

 and during the advance of the British 

 (vol. ii. p. 180; &c.). At length on 

 tlieir approach to Colombo, and the 

 appearance of the English squadron in 

 the roads, tlie Governor's conduct be- 

 came unequivocal. lie held frequent 

 conferences with Major Apnew, an 

 English envoy, who landed from a 

 frigatf! in theofhng; and immediately 

 after his departure, the Swiss regi- 

 }nent of De Meurou announced their 

 intention to transfer their services to 

 the British. Van Angelbeck then 

 commenced to conceal his plate and 

 valuables; and awaited the enemy 

 with a composure that, coupled with 



a multitude of minor circiunstances, 

 awoke the gamson to conscious- 

 ness that they had been betrayed: 

 " Le 16 Fevrier toutes les troupes, 

 pensant avec raison qu'elles etaieut 

 trahies, voulurent se rdvolter et plu- 

 sieurs coups de fusils etaient diriges 

 siu" la nuiison du Gouverneur Van 

 Angelbeck." — Vt)l. ii. p. 214. Under 

 these circumstances the doomed for- 

 tress suiTcndered ; and such was the 

 indifiniatiou of the soldiers, that 

 nothing but the presence of the 

 English saved the Grovernor from 

 their vengeance. 



It is certainly a remarkable cir- 

 cumstance that Van Angelljeck 

 should have remained in Ceylon 

 after tlie capture of Colombo. He 

 lived there some years, and ac- 

 cording to M. TuoMBE, he even- 

 tually committed suicide under the 

 influence of remorse for his treason. 

 The English have made no mention 

 of the latter fact, but CoRnrxiui 

 describes his funeral by torchliglit 

 in September 17'.)',), v,\\on " the body 

 was deposited in the family vault by 

 the side of that of his wife, wliose 

 skeleton was seen tlirougli a glass in 

 tlie cover of the cothn." — Cordinek, 

 p. 30. 



F 3 



