396 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON), 



[Vol. X. 



system of the Eepublic of the Seven Provinces, with the States 

 General and the Hereditary Stadtholder at the head, as guaranteed in 

 the year 1787 ; and that we still acknowledge the English as our close 

 and intimate allies. 



Our principal forts are, thank God, well provided with everything 

 that is necessary for a vigorous defence ; and therefore we are not so 

 much in want of the supply which has been offered. But nevertheless 

 it will be agreeable to us, if the Government of Madras will now return 

 the friendship which we showed it last year, with an equal quantity 

 of eight hundred Europeans, of which three hundred ought 

 to be placed in the fort of Ostenburg, three hundred near Colombo 

 in the forts of Negombo and Kalutara, and two hundred near Galle in 

 the fort of Matara. But thereby we ought to inform you, that we are 

 destitute of money, and therefore unable to pay those troops, and 

 thus we beg that your Government will charge itself with the pay- 

 ment, to be indemnified hereafter by our superiors. 



With this supply we trust that we will be sufficiently able to repel 

 the enemies which may attack us, and frustrate their designs, and this 

 our confidence is grounded on the strength of the forts, the quantity 

 of the garrisons, the stock of all that is required for a vigorous defence, 

 and the firm resolution with which all our officers and troops are 

 animated to hazard their lives and property for the defence of the 

 establishments which have been committed to our care. 



The recommendation of his Serene Highness our Hereditary Stadt- 

 holder and Chief Governor-General to give every possible help in our 

 harbours to his Britannic Majesty's ships, shall be obeyed according to 

 our power. But respecting the proposition of Lord Hobart to put 

 our settlements under the protection of his Britannic Majesty, I am 

 obliged to answer that we are in duty and by oath bound to keep 

 them for our superiors, and not to resign the least part of them. I 

 trust that this declaration will be approved of by you, as the letter of 

 his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange on which his Lordship 

 grounds his proposition does not make the least mention thereof, as 

 you will see by the copy which joins this. 



This is also not required to attain the purpose, as we are, thank God, 

 able to defend the establishments which have been committed to our 

 care, especially if the English Government pleases to supply us with 

 the aforesaid troops, and that his Majesty's ships please to co-operate 

 for the defence of our coasts and harbours. 



As I do not doubt but that this my just declaration will be accepted,, 

 the Major and Commandant Fornbauer is ordered by me to take in 

 three hundred Europeans, and to station them in the fort of Ostenburg, 

 and to deliberate with you about the measures which ought to be 

 pursued for that garrison, and to deliver to the Commandant of the 

 fort, cannon, stores, and other goods according to an exact inventory, 

 for which purpose, according to Lord Hobart's proposition, the junior 



