CuAP. m.] 



REBELLION. 



73 



pily, under tlie iDclief that tlieir functions were but A.r>. 

 temporary, and tliat Ceylon would shortly be given l'^-^^- 

 back to the Dutch \ Mr. Andrews and his European 

 colleagues exerted no adequate influence to control the 

 excesses of these men, and the atrocities and cruel- 

 ties perpetrated by them were such as almost defy 

 belief.-^ The result may be anticipated ; the Singha- 

 lese population were exasperated beyond endurance, 

 their chiefs and headmen, insulted by the superces- 

 sion of their authoiity, and outraged by the rapacity 

 of low caste dubashes, encouraged the resistance of 

 the people ; the Dutch civilians inspu'ed them with 

 the assurance of assistance from the French ^ ; and 

 under these combined influences the population, in 

 1797, rose hi violent revolt, and occupied intrenched 

 positions on the line leading from the low country 

 towards the Kandyan hills. The moment was in every 

 respect critical ; three mihtary governors of Colombo 

 had died within the five months that the English had 

 been in possession of the island ^ ; a force of Sepoys 

 was sent against the rebels, se\ere conflicts ensued, but 

 it was not till after considerable loss on both sides that 

 the insurgents were subdued. In the meantime. Colonel 

 de Meuron ^ was despatched by Lord Hobart from Ma- 

 dras, and placed at the head of a commission directed 

 to inquire into the causes of discontent, and the means 

 of allaying it. 



This calamity in Ceylon had the instant effect of 

 deciding the pohcy of Mr. Pitt, and of the Government 

 at home, as to the future disposal of the island. It was 



' During- the ahortive negotiations 

 of the Earl of Mahnesbury "witli the 

 French Directory for peace in 1707, 

 the restoration of Ceylon to the 

 Batavian Republic was one of tlie 

 conditions required and refused. — 

 MALMEsnriiT's Diary, S,t., vol. iii. 



^ Facts regarding- the ]iroceedln<>:s 

 of the INIadras ofhcials will be found 

 in a passage in the Tnivvh of Lord 



Valentia, vol. i. ch. vi. p. (Jlo. The 

 stat(>nient bears intenifil evidence of 

 having been supplied by Mr. North. 



^ Minute of Lord Hobart, 15th 

 March, 1708. 



" Percival's Cci/Ion, ^-c, p. 1.^2; 

 Burnand's Meinoire, A.siaf. Journ., 

 vol. xi. p. 444. 



» See Note 2, p. G8. 



