NO. 53.— 1902.] GALLE DUTCH RECORDS. 309 



And as the said king therein recommends and urges us to 

 land our forces south of Columbo at a place called Paneture 1 

 (where, according to him, there was perfect safety, and where 

 we could in complete security prepare whatever was neces- 

 sary for warlike purposes) and combine our forces with 

 those of his Dessaves encamped there with a part of his 

 army, 



Hoping and promising to join us personally with the 

 rest of his army in seven or eight days, in order then to 

 make a joint attempt against Columbo ; 



Therefore the Lord President has convened by customary 

 signal a full Council of all the ships and yachts present, has 

 submitted to the Council the aforesaid letter containing the 

 king's 



MS. page 67. 



proposal and suggestion, and asked them what in their 

 opinion were best to be done for the advantage of the 

 Honourable East India Company, and in order to give satis- 

 faction to the aforesaid king ; 



And has accordingly submitted to their consideration the 

 question whether it would be advisable to act up to the 

 afore-mentioned king's suggestion, or whether it would be 

 more expedient to abide by our resolution of the 22nd of 

 this month ; 



All which having been fully and diligently considered 

 by the Councillors and friends assembled, and the reasons 

 and motives contained in the said resolution having once 

 more been maturely pondered and deliberated on, 



It having furthermore been considered not only that the 

 most fitting time for undertaking anything had already 

 almost gone by, and that the king, if he had really intended 

 to promote our plans, would long before this have come 

 down with his army, forasmuch he had been in time 

 informed of the appearance of the fleet before this coast ; 



Panadure. 



