Chap. III.] 



NEW SYSTEM. 



75 



a people long accustomed to poverty, and slothful sub- 

 mission to vexatious and undefined authority." ^ 



The Augean task of reforming such a state of fiscal 

 affairs was rendered infinitely more difficult by the 

 intrigues, inefficiency, and corruption of the Madi'as 

 civil servants, the majority of whom he was compelled 

 to get rid of by suspension, dismissal, and forced resigna- 

 tions.^ 



Another source of annoyance was the lapse of the 

 period allowed by the capitulation of Colombo for the 

 dm-ation of the Dutch tribunals, whilst there still re- 

 mained suits to be decided ; and although the island was 

 thus left without any legal courts, the Dutch officials, 

 who were still subjects of Holland, and looked forward 

 to an early restoration of her authority, firmly refused to 

 take the oath of allegiance, and accept judicial appoint- 

 ments under the British crown. This embarrassment 

 Mr. North met by obtaining legal assistance from Bengal, 

 and organising circuits round the island for the admini- 

 stration of justice.^ 



The attention of the governor was now attracted to 

 the strange occurrences wliich were passing at Kandy. 

 The king, Rajadhi Eaja Singha, was deposed, and died in 

 1798, two years after the arrival of the British \ and, 

 leaving no issue, the Adigar or prime minister, Pihimc 



A.D. 



17U8. 



* Mr. North to the Earl of Morx- 

 INGTON (afterwards Marquis of Wel- 

 LESLEY), NoA'. 1798. ( Welleslei/ MSS., 

 Brit. Miia., No. 13.865, p. 212.) 



'^ Mr. North writes to the Earl of 

 Momington, of " the infamous faction 

 of Madras civilians," and his letters 

 contain the details of tlie plunder of 

 the Government to the extent of 

 60,000 pagodas by one gentleman 

 who had charge of the Pearl Fishery ; 

 and of another, under Avhose corrupt 

 judicial uumagement in the Eastern 

 Province, '' more than 4000 inhabi- 

 tants fi'om the single district of the 

 Wanny had been driven away since 

 our occupation of the island." — Wel- 

 lesley 3£tiS., No. 13,866, p. 173 ; No. 



13,867, p, 28. See also Mr. North's 

 Letter to the Secret Committee, 5th 

 October, 1799 {Ihid, p. 35). 



* Mr. North to tlie Earl of Morn- 

 INGTOX, 27th October, 1798 (Wel- 

 leshji MSS:, No. 13,866, p. 52 ; 3rd 

 November). Ibid., p. 161 ; 30th Oc- 

 tober, 1799, No. 13,867, p. 60. The 

 first head of the judicial establish- 

 ment was Sir Ednuuid Carrington, 

 a friend and fellow-student t)f Sir 

 William Jones. 



^ TuRKOFR, in his Upifomc, gives 

 no particulars of his fate ; but Mr. 

 North, writing to Lord Morning-ton 

 the same year in which ho died, 

 1798, says " the deposition of tlie late 

 king, and the elevation of the boy 



