52 



JOURNAL, R.A,S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVh 



Lettee D. 



Extract from a letter written from Colombo by a Principal Officer under 

 date April 6, 1765, to as above. 

 After the death of His Excellency (namely, the Governor) a letter 

 was at once written to Candia, that Mr. Rein should come away and 

 manage affairs here, and that in his place the Colonel Feber should 

 take up the administration and command there, and for that purpose 

 that the Hussars, lately arrived from the Coast, should be sent up- 

 country. But because the Colonel had already reached Wisenawe, and 

 had withdrawn the posts between Candia and that place just before 

 he had received the above-mentioned letter, so he continued his march 

 hither, and is due to reach this before noon. Mr. Rein is left in the 

 lurch in Candia (since now there is no longer any chance of his rescue 

 except with great danger), and the administration falls to the 

 members of the Political Council who are here, for it is not to be 

 supposed that the infirm and aged Commandant Mooyaart will come 

 here, though he has been requested to do so. 



What I shall write you of the affairs of war, my sentiments and 

 weak judgment about matters, which are directed by a higher hand 

 and power, very seldom do I willingly commit to paper. But what 

 concerns the present circumstances, so far as I have learnt in the two 

 days, has been made public for the first time. I have the honour to 

 report that at some posts, principally at Gonevnle, sickness is raging 

 severely among the men. God forbid that it should continue any 

 longer, or grow worse ! The Sinhalese are still making some stir, and 

 people are still living somewhat quietly ; but if the death of our 

 Governor will not make them somewhat bolder, at least more arrogant, 

 •I should not willingly encounter them. May God grant only that 

 there * at Mature everything may continue in rest and peace, &c. 



Letter E. 



Extract from a letter dated April 14, 1765, written from Colombo by a 



Principal Member of Council to f 



We have at last attained our object,J at least partly. We have 

 become masters of Candia, in spite of jungles and steep mountains, 

 which, according to the unanimous saying of all the officers, would have 

 made the execution of the undertaking impossible, if we had not to 

 deal with the most cowardly nation under the sky. When our army 

 had come within three leagues from Candia, the king sent a request to 



* To wit, at Mature. — Marginal note, 

 j Lacuna in manuscript. — A. E. B. 



j What else should one remark here than that good success frequently 

 depends od the want of judgment, whereby the judgment is often least 

 hindered from undertaking matters, which thoughtlessness makes success- 

 ful. But of what avail are good results when no advantage is derived 

 from knowledge, as appears from what follows. — Marginal note. 



