means of reporting to Government the necessity, in his mind, for having acted in the manner described. This original act of insubordination was followed by others equally strong. The fortress was immediately taken possession of by the European troops and the Native corps in the neighbourhood, and means prepared for defence. Communications, it must be understood, were constantly kept up at this time between the garrison and other great stations of the army, through the instrumentality of committees, regularly organised, and empowered to act for the whole. Colonel J. Malcolm, at this juncture, was sent, on a special mission, from the Government, to endeavour to produce submission in this branch of the army; but he was for some time denied admission into the garrison, and was at length obliged to return to Madras, without effecting the object he had in charge. The regiments in possession of Masulipatam refused to submit but on the condition of a general amnesty, which Colonel Malcolm was not authorised to grant. The only terms possessed by him were, that none of the members of the garrison should be punished but by the sentence of a court-martial. As this

would have left all the officers at the mercy of Government, at the moment when it was most offended, it is not strange that the proposal should have been rejected, as it offered nothing but what each of them. would have been entitled to, even under the last and most unfavourable circumstances. After the dismissal of Colonel Malcolm, the regiments within the garrison meditated on a removal from Masulipatam to join the corps at Hydrabad. But they were persuaded to change these intentions, as it is said, by a communication from the officers of the last-mentioned station, or more probably by an order issued by Major General Pater, commanding the Northern division of the army.

vernment.

Whilst these matters were passing at Masulipatam, the conduct of the officers of the subsidiary force at Hydrabad, was not less marked with offence towards the GoThis was not anticipated by the civil authorities, inasmuch as the officers on this station had refused, as the Government supposed, to join the other officers of the army in the intended memorial to the Governor General of India, which gave occasion, as I have before explained to you, to

the publication of the long order of Lord Minto, and on account of such supposed refusal, the Governor of Madras had thought fit to thank this part of the

army in public orders. On the 15th of June, however, the officers of the subsidiary force, disdaining the compliment paid to them at the expense of their brother officers, forwarded an address to Sir G. Barlow, stating, that they participated in the general sentiments expressed by the officers of the army, in respect to the late transactions. It concluded with recommending an abrogation of the orders of the 1st of May. But a more positive act of disobedience was manifested on the 8th of July, in an absolute refusal of these officers to permit a battalion to be moved from the subsidiary force, though directly ordered by the Government. On the 21st of the same month, a further address was communicated to the Governor, through the officer commanding, repeating the former requisition, and moreover insisting on an indemnity to the officers of the garrison of Masulipatam. In this disposition of things, a test was framed by the Government, which was tendered to the officers generally of the Hon. Company's

service. This was accompanied by a circular letter, which gave great offence to the feelings of the army, who were required to subscribe the test, and was aggravated still further by the means which attended the subscription of the paper. In many instances, when officers were sent for to head-quarters to subscribe the test, their return to their corps was cut off by troops, drawn up with a view, to intercept them. In others, the head-quarters were surrounded by a military force; and in one place particularly, at Trichinopoly, the officers who were desired to subscribe the test were not only hemmed in by the troops, but were afterwards marched to the main guard by an escort of Europeans; and, after remaining in confinement for the night, they were marched down in actual custody to Tanjore, whence they were suffered to proceed at liberty to some part of the coast between Sadras and Negapatam. The feelings of the officers, on these degrading acts, may be collected from the inclosed paper,* which is subscribed by the officers of all the corps, and is to be presented to Lord Minto, on his

* Appendix Q.

them, might abandon themselves to the sway of their personal feelings, and become totally indifferent to sentiments of public duty, and to consequences of the greatest general import.

That Sir G. Barlow, and his minions, were fully conscious of the impropriety of their conduct, with respect to Major Boles, is evident from various expedients to which they resorted from time to time, but chiefly from the overtures that were made to Major Boles through the channels of a member of council, and General Gowdie; the expedients which those characters adopted of declaring, that they were not instructed to make the proposal, is too shallow to deceive the most ignorant or inexperienced; it, in effect, produced a consequence, quite different from that which was intended; it was one of those awkward frauds which carry their own antidote along with them; and may very aptly be compared to the finesse adopted by a certain great character, now high in office, who, having occasion to discuss the subject of an interference on his part, which was highly improper, and highly criminal, commenced his explanation with, By the sacred God, Sir, I never got a rupee by it."