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COLUMBO. 
it to their own use. The Modeliars themselves were conciliated, 
by obliging the European officers to treat them with respect in 
their several districts, and by an uniform attention to their vanity 
and prejudices. 
■Such was the general spirit of Mr. North's government ; and it 
may be affirmed, that few men ever entered the British dominions 
in the East with purer intentions, or more enlightened views, or 
left them with a higher character for honour and benevolence. 
The society of Golumbo is sufficiently large for every purpose 
of comfort and amusement. The Judges are paid higher than is even 
necessary, and the other efficient departments are filled by gentle- 
men whose allowances are sufficient for every purpose of comfort. 
At the head of the judicial department is Sir Edmund Carrington, 
a very able man, and a pupil of the late Sir William Jones in Asiatic 
researches. Mr. Jonville, a Frenchman, is possessed of considerable 
talents, and very great knowledge in several branches of natural 
history. To his exertions as superintendant of the cinnamon 
garden, may be attributed the flourishing state of the trade in that 
article ; he has likewise collected the most important information 
relative to the pearl fishery. Mr. Tolfrey, who occupies several 
posts, is a master of the Cingalese language, and is at present engaged 
in composing a grammar of it. Any intelligence contained in the 
books of that people may therefore be expected shortly to be brought 
before the public. He was so obliging as to favour me with a very 
interesting account of the Cingalese casts, extracted from their own 
books, which I have given in the Appendix. 
If to these gentlemen are added the military, with their amiable 
and respectable Commander in Chief, General Macdowal, the society 
