373 
Former and Present State of Ceylon. 
Many material improvements have been made in both the 
military and civil department since the arrival of Governor 
North on the island, and it is not to be doubted that by a 
perseverance in the same plans of [policy, it will soon, without 
any additional burthen to the Biatish government, be^ placed 
in such a posture of defence as to set any attempts of an 
enemy at defiance. No motive can be wanting to stimulate 
our government to place the military establishment there on 
a respectable footing, while the examples of the Portuguese 
and Dutch are immediately before our eyes, and while it is 
evident that the successive expulsion of these nations, and the 
consequent ruin of their empire in that quarter of the world, 
was owing to the insufficiency of their forces, and the neglect 
of military discipline. 
After the security of the island has been provided for by 
an adequate military establishment, its tranquillity and prospe- 
rity must in a great measure depend upon the arrangement 
of the civil department, and the proper administration of jus- 
tice. While Ceylon remained in the hands of the Dutch its 
governor was absolute with regard to the affairs of the island, 
but subordinate to the governor of Batavia, who was consider- 
ed as governor-general of all the Dutch settlements in India. 
The governor of Ceylon was assisted by a council, composed 
of the most respectable Dutch gentlemen residing at Columbo. 
The members of this council were nominated by the governor, 
and confirmed in their appointments by the government of 
Holland. 
For the administration of justice, there was a high court- 
established at Columbo, to whom the ultimate decision in all 
capital cases belonged. At Trincomalee, Jafnapatam, and Point 
