to patch up matters by his proposing to make, and by making an apology to lieutenant Rodney before the said officers of the navy and army, instead of first calling on that officer to atone for having so insulted and disgraced him, thereby rendering his character as an officer contemptible.

3d. For having given in to the officers of the regiment, who called him. to account for his conduct as above stated, a partial, and incorrect statement thereof.

(Signed) H. Q. BROWNRIGG,
Dep. adj.-gen.

Dep. adj.-gen.'s office,
Columbo, Dec. 20, 1808.

SENTENCE.

The court, having fully and maturely considered and weighed all the evidence brought forward by the prosecutor in support of the first charge (as stated above), as well as what the prisoner has adduced in his defence, is of opinion, (though it can by no means approve of the proceedings stated to have taken place on the 19th November,) that he is not guilty of behaviour infamous and scandalous, such as is unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman, as is set forth in the charge. It, therefore, does fully acquit him of the same.

With regard to the second charge, (as above stated) the court is of opinion that he is not guilty of behaviour infamous and scandalous, such as is unbecoming the character of an officer and gentleman in this instance, and does honourably acquit him thereof.

With regard to the third charge, (as above stated) the court is of opinion that he is not guilty of behaviour infamous and scandalous, such as is unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman in this instance, and does acquit him thereof.

The court, having thus given its opinion on the charges exhibited against captain Steel, feels itself called upon to notice a circumstance which arose pending the trial, as extremely rregular towards a witness, which, without imputing to the prosecutor motives of defeating the ends of jussice, appeared to the court to have had

Lieutenant-general Maitland has read, with much pain, the proceedings of the above general court-martial, and completely concurs in the opinion of the court, as specified on the first charge, that proceedings of the nature of those stated to have taken place on the 19th of November, are, in all instances, not to be approved of, and are extremely improper; but he wishes particularly to allude to a paper signed by the officers at the head-quarters of the second Ceylon regiment, which he feels it his duty unequivocally to state, in his opinion, to be in principle most er roneous, in language most improper, and in its application and consequences most subversive of military discipline and justice. For the younger officers, who signed it, some apology may be drawn from their youth and inexpe rience, and the example of their seniors; but the captains are deprived of the first of these pleas, and the commanding officer, lieutenant-colonel Kerr, can plead neither. The lieutenant-general must, therefore, state, that it appears to him, the conduct of that officer, whether in the instance of the point so judiciously and very moderately stated at the end of the sentence itself, or in the instance above alluded to, is extremely reprehensible; and he trusts that no suppositions, or mistaken ideas of humanity, or no momentary impulse of feeling, will again induce lieutenant-colonel Kerr, or any other officer, to deviate from the direct and obvions line of military duty; or to violate the observance and respect eminently due to the court, be fore which he was a prosecutor.

Orders by Major-general Baillie.

COLOMBO, JAN. 22d, 1809. Major-general Baillie, previous to his quitting the island, begs to return his sincere thanks to the officers in command of corps, and to the officers and troops in general, whom he has had the honor immediately to command, during a period of above eight years, for the uniform attention, good conduct and discipline they have observed and maintained.

The zeal they have always displayed, the cordiality amongst the corps which has constantly existed, and the readiness they have ever manifested to meet his wishes, at the first moment, have equally contributed to their own honor, to the good of his majesty's service, and to the comfort and happiness of the major-general.

He begs leave to add, that the sentiments he has now stated will remain indelibly impressed on his mind.

throughout the different districts on Ceylon, during 180s, amounting to 26,207, which exceeds the proportion of any former year, and when added to 76,823, the number previously vaccinated, makes a total of 103,035 persons, who have been officially reported to me, as having regularly passed through the vaccine disease, since its first introduction into this island in 1802.

The dreadful ravages which the small pox usually committed on Ceylon, previous to the introduction of vaccination, must be in the recollection of every one; and it affords me infinite pleasure to observe, that, agreeable to the most certain information I have been enabled to procure, that destructive malady has not existed in any part of the British possessions on this island, during the year 1808, except in the district of Galle, into which it was brought on the 31st of January, by a Maldivian boat, last from Bengal.

A large proportion of the crew of this boat died, and the disease was communicated by a fisherman who visited it, on its first arrival, to two or three inhabitants in the neighbourhood of Galle, but spread no further, which must be atributed chiefly to the favourable influence of vaccination, which has been so extensively diffused in that, and the other districts of the island. I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,
THOS. CHRISTIE,
Med.-supt.-gen.

Colombo, 10th Feb. 1809.

General orders. HD-QRS. MOUNT LAVINIA, 28th FEB.

Lieutenant-general Maitland, having just received private information that the detachment of his Majesty's 3d Ceylon regiment, now serving on the coast, have in an attack, the first in which they were ever engaged, conducted themselves in the usual manner which all his Majesty's regiments have ever done when called upon to serve their king and their country, directs that the part of that regiment on this island do receive an extra allowance of arrack, as a testimony at once of his

approbation of the conduct of the detachment on the coast, and his conviction that, whenever the rest of the regiment is called into action, it will behave with similar zeal, and similar advantage to the public service.

FEB. 15.-On Tuesday, at 3 P. M. his Majesty's ship, Belliqueux, with the H. C. ships, Lady Jane Dundas, Jane, Duchess of Gordon, and William Pitt, under convoy, sailed from these roads, to join the remainder of the fleet, consisting of the H. C. ships, Hugh Inglis, Sovereign, Calcutta, Bengal, Bensley, Harriet, Euphrates, Indus, Northumberland, Earl St. Vincent, Lord Eldon, and Huddard, under convoy of H. E. Vice Admiral Sir E. Pellew, Bt. in the Culloden, and H.M. ship, Terpsichore, which had left Point de Galle on the same day.

His excellency lieut.-gen. Macdowall, during the short stay he made at Colombo, resided with the governor, and was received amongst his old friends at Ceylon with every mark of affection and respect; and the usual honors, due to his rank, were fired on his landing, and re-embarkation.

In addition to the passengers, proceeding to England in the above fleet from the several presidencies of India, the following embarked from this island.

The hon. Alexander Johnston, esq. paisne justice of the supreme court of judicature, on the Island of Ceylon.

Mrs. Johnston and family, Miss Mary Twisleton, Major General Charles Baillie, the reverend Wm. H. Heywood, Renelm Chandler, esq.

The honourable Alexander Johnston, esq. pisne justice of the supreme court of judicature on the Island of Ceylon, and second member of council, being on the eve of his departure for Europe, on his Majesty's service, the most respectable Dutch inhabitants and burghers of Colombo, and the native headmen, the president and members of the Dutch consistory of Colombo, the priests and members of the Roman catholic religion, and the officers of the supreme court of judicature, waited upon him severally with

addresses, expressive of their high admiration of his character, and their earnest wishes for his prosperity and happiness.

The unanimous address of his Majesty's civil servants, on the Island of Ceylon,

To major-general Charles Baillie, colonel of H. M. 3d Ceylon regiment, and late commandant of Colombo. SIR,

After having had the gratification of living with you for many years, on terms of the most cordial intercourse and good will, you cannot be surprised if, on the occasion of your return to Europe, we unite to express our regret at your departure, our respect for your character, and our attachment to your person.

In you, Sir, we lose one of the greatest ornaments, and one of the best supports, of our society. By your unbounded hospitality, it has been earnestly promoted; by your cheerfulness, constantly enlivened; and by your ge nuine worth, and engaging manners, eminently improved. But the diminu tion of our social enjoyments is by no means the whole extent of our loss;— while we have felt the influence of your private virtues, we have also partaken of the benefit of your public conduct. To your unremitted attention, we consider ourselves greatly indebied for the strict order and discipline of the troops under your command, which has rendered the residence of a military station as quiet and regular as that of the best constituted civil government.

Under the impulse of these feelings, we beg leave to express our anxious solicitude for your future welfare, and for the perfect re-establishment of your health, and to request your acceptance of a piece of plate, with an inscription that may perpetuate the sincere sentiments of our lasting esteem and regard.

That you may long live to devote to your country those talents and services, by which your active and useful life has been so honourably distinguished, is our concluding and ardent wish.

ourselves, that your successor will follow up your example in the laborious duties of that very high office, which you have fulfilled, with the most strict zeal, precision, and unshaken perseverance; nevertheless, our having so long experienced the great advantage, derived from your equal and most impartial administration of justice, we cannot see you depart from this, without expressing the deepest and most heart-felt regret, and, as a tribute due to your uncommon merit, and in token of our sincere gratitude- we have to beg your acceptance of our warmest thanks, for the indefatigable and unremitted vigilance you have so strictly manifested in our behalf; and we sincerely wish that your voyage to Europe may be prosperous, and nothing can ever afford us more infinite pleasure than to hear, from time to time, of your future welfare in life;-and have the satisfaction to subscribe ourselves.

Colombo, March 6, 1809.

To which the honourable chief justice

answered as follows:

Gentlemen,-Allow me to assure you that the expression of your esteem, and good wishes, upon my approaching departure, is not the less gratifying to myself, because, till yesterday even ing, it was altogether unknown, and unexpected, by me. You will allow me, also, to add, that it is the more gratifying from the honourable motives from which aloue it can arise.

If my endeavour to administer justice, according to those pure principles which form the common basis of law, in all the countrics of Europe, have procured me your esteem, it can be owing only to your disinterested regard for those principles. The good opinion which so many respectable gentlemen have done me the honour to express, flowing from a source so truly honourable to themselves, must ever be remembered by me with the highest

satisfaction.

Colombo, March 15, 1809.

CEYLON Occurrences for April.

General Orders.

Head-quarters, Mount Lavinia.—April 8, 1809.

Lieutenant-general Maitland takes the earliest opportunity, after his return to the seat of government, to express to lieutenant-colonel Morrice, and the officers and men of the detachment of the 3d Ceylon regiment,/ lately returned to this island, his marked approbation of their conduct when detached on service.

He naturally did expect, where a regiment had been formed under the immediate eye, and under the happy auspices, of major-genera! Baillie and lieutenant-colonel Morrice, that any part of it would conduct itself, under any circumstances, with equal propriety and gallantry. In this expectation he has not been deceived, and he directs, that part of the regiment, returned from the coast, be struck off all duty for the three ensuing days, and do receive double rations of every

kind.

In regard to those who may have suffered during their late service, his excellency the governor requests, that lieutenant-colonel Morrice will submit to him a list, upon the occasion, of such men as he deems deserving such indulgence, as it is his excellency's intention, that they shall be discharged, conditionally, from the re giment, and receive an allotment of land, and a provision for life, each.

The respective officers of the ordnance department will assemble, immediately, for the purpose of submiting, to the lieutenant-general, their opinion upon the most eligible mode of constructing permanent sheds, both at Colombo and Trincomalee, for the field train, &c. at each of those places, and to frame such instructions, as they may deem fitting, for the clerk of the cheque at Trincomalee, and the senior clerk of stores, of the field train, about to proceed there, for their guidance, in conformity to the concluding para