150 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [Sept. 1, 1903. 
only noting that Capt. Stewart's first visit was 
in March, 1826, in company with Sir Edward 
Barnes, in the Government; Steamer " Ann " 
which had a diving bell attached for Europeans 
to descend to the bottom of the sea. For well- 
nigh 3it years did Capt. Steuart look after the 
Pearl Banks with a care and shrewd observation 
that could not be exceeded in those days ; and 
yet it is hard to think that cruel, thoughtless 
treatment to this old and meritorious public 
servant by Sir Henry Ward; of all Governors, in 
1855, led at last to his retirement. He called three 
times after his return from a successful Fishery 
and each time was refused admittance to the 
Governor. He then wrote to the Private Secretary 
to say he was about to retire, and he wished 
to know when H.B. would make it agreeable to 
see him. The reply was an invitation to dinner, 
and the chapter ends: — "And so I dined at the 
Governors table on Saturday, and left Colombo 
for ever on the following Monday — conscious that 
I had done my duty, although my services are 
not appreciated. Appreciated did I say ? As their 
nature was misunderstood, so were their merits 
unknown, and therefore they could not be appre- 
ciated by those who withheld their very small, 
but just reward." [It was as I'ommissioner for the 
Loan Board that Capt. Steuart got most of his 
pension, his other services counting for little or 
nothing.] 
In a later chapter Capt. Steuart refers to a 
trip home in 1844 or so, and his return with 
"an invalid wife," [Mrs. Steuart must have died 
some time after, and her remains were interred 
in. Galle Face Cemetery, where we trust the grave 
is looked after ; if there is no head stone, one 
ought to be erected.] 
Later chapters are devoted to administrati.ve 
questions, and then comes an interesting account 
of the total wreck of the ship "Colombo" with 
a full cargo, in a gale of wind, in Colombo 
roadstead in April, 18.31, which reads strange in 
the light of the present protected harbour and 
modern conveniences. The volume has next a 
description of the Port of Colombo,, accompanied 
by a carefully-prepared Chart, also water-colour 
sketches of the Port and coast as far as Mount 
Lavinia, and various letters and essays close this 
most interesting and valuable manuscript volume. 
Capt. James ISteuart was a strong opponent of 
Government giving private banks in Ceylon the 
right of issuing paper money — which he rightly 
described as the equivalent of a loan of the 
amount in circulation without interest. His pen 
was never idle till the day he died. His only 
printed book— a thin octavo of 180 pages published 
in 1862, entitled : — "Notes on Ceylon and its affairs 
during a period of 38 years ending in 1855 " is 
marked Part I, so that it was evidently intended 
to be followed by another volume.* The "Notes ' 
were printed for private circulation. We have 
long been admirers of much in the little book 
and have sat as students at the feet of one who 
thought out the colonial problems he tackled 
and was ever honest towards himself and all 
men. We cannot do better in closing our notice 
of Capt. James Steuaet than apply to him 
two out of a quartette of verses recently penned 
lor an Anglo-Indian of much the same type : — 
• We have since heard from Mr. IleginalJ John that 
there ia a Part II. printed, also printed books by the 
eame aatbor on " Nearohus on British Seamen," Yols, 
I ftod 2, aud " The Church apd tbe Pqox" 
' ' Brave old warrior now laid low, 
But not till the light was won, 
Thy soul wings forth in the afterglow 
Of a life that was nobly done. 
" We bid thee farewell, staunch old friend, 
God grant we be strong like you, 
Through cloud and storm to a splendid end 
God help us to follow too." 
GEORGE STEUART, 
Navigator and Meechant, 1837-1866. 
Of Capt. or Mr. George Steuart we have little 
to say. We first hear of him in command of the 
ship " Valleyfield." Next, through his brother's 
influence, he got a place under the Ceylon Govern- 
ment as Commander of the Steamer " Seaforth " 
built for Pearl Fisheries' inspections ; but which, 
after the Fisheries closed, was, in 1839, utilised to 
carry the mails between Bombay and Colombo. 
From this post George was removed by his 
brother to give his name to the firm that took 
over the business built up from April, 1835, by 
James Steuart in conjunction with Messrs. 
Arbuthnott & Co., of Madras. 1813 is the year 
usually given for the starting of Geo. Steuaet 
& Co. ; but we have reason to believe that George 
must have left the sea and been in training 
under his brother from 1839 onwards. George 
had little of the culture of his brother, but a 
good deal of shrewd ability. He had been a 
rough diamond as a "skipper," and continued 
so for sometime ashore ; but he came under the 
influence of the first Bishop of Colombo, according 
to the story, and turned over a new leaf, 
especially in his attention to the clergy ; and in some 
of his habits — at meals, for instance, always saying 
grace. This was something new to his old appu 
who had been with him in his unregenerate 
days, and so one day appu forgot when there 
was a specially clerical dinner party and whisked 
off the cover of the souptureun as scon as all 
had sat down, to be met by the hasty objur- 
gation : — "D it man appu, why don't you wait 
for grace ! ' ' George continued steadily at the 
helm of his firm with competent partners (Mr. 
John Lewis Gordon being among the best) and 
assistants, imtil he retired in 1863. He saw his 
house grow to become almost the biggest Estate 
Agency Firm in Colombo. Many stories are told of 
his trips upcountry during which he rode a favourite 
old mule. When he retired, he took his 
favourite Sinhalese manservant to England with 
him, and settled down at Blackheath (with 
occasional visits to Dover) for 20 years, known 
for his charities and eccentricities. "The Sinhalese 
married an Englishwoman, and their family did 
well, Mr. Steuart helping them. When the 
subject of our notice died, he did not forget 
various Ceylon charities, and no one could say 
he made a bad use of his wealth. Living to 
be over fourscore, death came at last to the old 
Navigator and Colombo Merchant as a happy 
release : — 
O, Death and Time, they chime and chime 
Like bells at sunset falling ! — 
They end the song, they right the wrong, 
They set the old echoes calling : 
For Death and Time bring on the prime 
Of God's own chosen weather, 
And we lie in the peace of the Great Release, 
As once in the grass together, 
