TO THE COURT OF CANDY. 
40p 
or to betray any symptom of anxiety for their being brought 
to a conclusion. I am convinced that their adherence to 
this principle on the present occasion cost them no small 
share of uneasiness ; as their suspicions of us were too 
violent to allow their minds to enjoy any rest while we 
continued in their country. 
At the second audience the General introduced the busi- 
ness of the embassy, and made those demands which he 
was authorised to do on behalf of Great Britain. Con- 
cerning the nature of those demands, and the answers re- 
turned to them, I do not consider myself at liberty to 
give any statement, as they were matters of private nego- 
ciation. One circumstance however was publicly talked of as 
having been laid before his Candian Majesty by the General 
on this occasion. It was a request made on the part of our 
government, that that prince would allow a road to be 
made and a communication to be opened from Trincomalee 
to Col umbo, through his territories, a little to the north 
of Candy. This would have been a matter of vast con- 
venience and importance to our government, as hitherto 
the tapals or letter-bags had to be conveyed by a circui- 
tous route along the sea-coast by Manaar and Jafnapatam, 
and double the distance of that proposed through the Can- 
dian territories. The King however would on no account 
accede to this proposal ; but expressed his decided aversion 
to any intercourse or connexion existing between his sub- 
3 G 
