04 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
Personal safety, an object scarcely ever attended to by our 
troops either by sea or land, seemed in them to overpower 
every sense of duty or honour. A few of them went to 
accompany the Malay troops on the expedition I have 
already mentioned ; but scarcely had they reached the gates of 
the Black Town when tlieir courage evaporated, and they left 
the Malays to their fate. Not above one or two European 
officers met us in that action besides the brave Colonel 
Raymond, who was ashamed of being connected with such 
poltroons, and would have brought their conduct to public 
censure had not his life fallen a noble sacrifice to his sense 
of honour. 
This state of total insubordination, the violence of the 
jacobin party, and the fear of an internal massacre, induced 
the Governor to enter into a private treaty for surrender 
with the English as soon as they appeared before the place. 
He let his troops, however, know that such a measure was 
in agitation ; but this produced no effect on their disorders, 
and he at length signed the capitulation without their know- 
ledge, and I believe without their consent. Our troops were sud- 
denly introduced into the fort, and had nearly entered before 
the Dutch were aware of it. They were found by us in a 
state of the most infamous disorder and drunkenness ; no 
discipline, no obedience, no spirit. They now began to vent 
the most bitter reproaches against the Governor, accusing 
him as the author of that disgrace which their own conduct 
had brought upon them; and seemed in a tumultuous crowd 
