50 
History of Ceylon 
power of the Dutdi in Ceylon. The vigorous enterprise of 
the ErjglLsIi had already procured them a great ascendancy in 
India; and they were at tliis time pursuing their conquests 
on tlie Coromandel coast. The station of the Dutch at Ceyiaii 
proved a principal obstacle to tlieir enterprises, as their enemies 
there found a secure shelter to tlieir fleets at all seasons of 
the year, and could readily transport from thence men and 
military stores to any part of the continent. A fleet under 
the command of Sir Edward Hughes, having on board a de- 
tacliinent of land forces, commanded by Sir Hector Munro, 
was therefore dispatched towards the commencement of the 
year 1782, to attempt the reduction of this island. On the 
second of January they sailed from Ncgapatiiam, a Dutch 
settlement on the Coromandel coast, which they had previously 
reduced, and on the fourth they arrived in the bay of Trin- 
comalee. Next day the troops landed without opposition ; and 
oil the following night, vdiile the Governor of the town was 
considering of terms of capitulation, a company of English 
marines suddenly made their way through one of the gates, 
and rendered themselves masters O'f the place without resist- 
ance. Fort Ostenburg, a strong fort in the neighbourhood, 
situated on the top of a hill, and commanding the harbour, 
still continued to hold out. In a few days, however, it was 
taken by assault ; the garrison, consisting of four hundred 
Europeans, after a feeble resistance, threv/ down their arms 
and were made prisoners of v;ai\ 
Such a prosperous commencement of the enterprise gave 
the happiest prospect of speedily reducing the whole island; 
and Lord Macartney, tlien governor of Madras, determined 
to lose no time to secure and improve this valuable acquisi- 
