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CEYLON. 
of the natives were studiously cultivated by a just and mild admi- 
nistration, by effectual protection to life and property, and by a 
due respect to their customs and religious prejudices, it cannot be 
doubted that they would view with satisfaction the authority of 
Great Britain extended over the whole country. 
For the purpose of reducing the island, we certainly possess much 
greater facilities than either of its former European settlers. Its 
vicinity to our possessions on the continent of India, would admit 
of the conveyance of a number of troops, fully adequate to the 
immediate extinction of all resistance. The plan should be to 
march directly to the capital, and drive the enemy from post to 
post, without intermission, till he should be compelled to a sur- 
render. The well-disciplined sepoys of the Company should be 
employed in this service, who would be little liable to suffer from 
the fevers so fatal to Europeans. The business might probably be 
effected in a single campaign, and a few well-chosen fortified posts 
would secure the conquest. The seat of government should be 
transferred to Columbo ; but the natives might be gratified by the 
exterior marks of authority, conferred upon one of their ancient 
line of princes, who might keep a kind of court under British super- 
intendance. Such a change would be so really beneficial to the Cin- 
galese, by putting an end to civil contests, and competitions for 
the crown, and introducing the blessings of civilized government, 
that, after the provocations given, no moral objections, I conceive, 
would lie against it. Farther, the massacre at Candy has rendered 
peace more difficult, since a retribution must be demanded, to 
which the perpetrators of the crime will scarcely be brought to 
accede. I need not add the great advantage that would result 
