306 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (^CBYLON). [VOL. XVII. 



great risk of being repelled and driven back — which is the 

 less desirable, as our strength is by no means considerable — 

 a storming and taking of the said fortress being altogether 

 out of the question. 



MS. page 59. 



Also that, supposing the said fortress be captured and, 

 in accordance with their Worships' orders, dismantled and 

 altogether razed, yet we shall not be able to maintain 

 ourselves as masters of the surrounding country, and there- 

 fore can never lay claim to any jurisdiction in those parts — 

 the less so, as the enemy can easily throw up another fastness, 

 which the Cingalese will be unable to prevent on account 

 of the strong power which, as aforesaid, the enemy has now 

 brought together ; it being also to be feared that the enemy, 

 seeing his fortress lost, will most probably attempt to 

 indemnify himself for the damage suffered, to rally his 

 forces and give us battle, be it in the open field or when we 

 shall be re-embarking our forces, which battle might easily 

 fall out disastrously for us, forasmuch as the landing, 

 storming, and capturing of the fortress cannot fail to be 

 attended with loss, disabling and weakening of men on our 

 part ; 



Furthermore, that this matter may easily be explained to 

 the King of Candy, without injury to the Company's credit 

 and reputation, if we tell him that we had counted on his 

 coming down to us with his army, which he up to this time 

 having failed to do, 



MS. page 60. 



the right time for undertaking anything of moment has 

 gone by, and other reasons of the like nature ; 



It has been approved of and resolved by majority of votes 

 not to undertake any landing or any attempt against the 

 enemy, as we are of opinion that under the present circum- 

 stances and for reasons above detailed no advantage would 

 accrue to the Company from an attack on the enemy and on 



