THE ISLAND OF CEYLON, 
29 
operations against their colonies in the East. A body of 
troops was in 1795 detached for the conquest of Ceylon; and 
this enterprise was crowned with success, after a course of 
military operations, which I shall detail when I come to 
describe the several places where they were carried on. 
Such is the history of Ceylon previous to its falling into 
our possession. The mismanagement of the Portuguese and 
Dutch, and their impolitic conduct towards the natives, pre- 
vented them from at all reaping from this valuable colony 
the advantages which it was calculated by nature to afford. 
Superstition and the love of tyranny continually stirred up 
internal enemies to the Portuguese, while luxury and the 
relaxation of military discipline, made them foil a prey to 
the first foreign invader. The prudent and persevering efforts 
by which the Dutch obtained possession, seemed to promise 
greater stability and longer duration to their power. That 
thirst of gain, however, which had given vigour to their ope- 
rations for the reduction of the island, counteracted the national 
advantages which might have been derived from the acquisi- 
tion ; for being as strong in each individual as in the nation 
at large, every one was solicitous only for his own private 
•emolument ; and provided this was attained, he gave himself 
little trouble to promote public objects. Rapacious exactions, 
the want of any regular plan of policy, and a total neglect 
of military defence were the consequences of this spirit. That 
fire of patriotism which had once animated the Dutch in Europe 
was completely extinguished in this colony. During the Ame- 
