lated to produce. For the palpable error, in the premises which he lays down, renders perfectly inapplicable to the present case all able and elaborate argument which

the very

he has introduced. This error is considered to be purely unintentional; for, although Colonel Leith got an addition to his income of 350 pagodas per month, about this period, it never has, nor can it ever be insinuated, that he had any view towards such a reward, while discharging a duty, for which he already received a liberal monthly salary. To impute to every man every crime that it is possible for him to commit, may, in Colonel Leith's opinion, be a good general principle; but the public must become better versed in the law, than they are at present, before they cease to consider it as a most diabolical one.

The subject of the charges against Lieutenant Colonel Munro, at this period, excited an uncommon degree of interest among the officers of the establishment. The Commander in Chief declared his opinion, that a court martial appeared to him to be the best mode of bringing it to issue, and even recommended to Lieutenant Colonel Munro, that he should not avoid it;

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particularly as the officers of H. M. service, the engineers, and the artillery, who were all free from any personal interest in the contract, were sufficiently numerous for the purpose. However, Lieutenant Colonel Munro did avoid a court martial; and it was generally believed, that he did so under a perfect assurance, that, upon the departure of General Macdowall for Europe, the Government would, in a most decided manner, evince their marked displeasure against all who had adopted the unfavourable impressions that prevailed respecting Lieutenant Colonel Munro. That number was evidently very extensive, for the Quarter Master General was now universally shunned. It also was generally believed, that the Judge Advocate General had recommended an immediate attack on Lieutenant Colonels Sentleger, Martin, and Rumley, and had offered to guarantee their dismissal from the service, if they were brought to trial upon charges that he would prefer, and if he were to conduct the trial. These reports did not appear as the vague productions of idlers: they were circulated by those who wished to intimidate the officers, that had sent in the charges; and, though subsequent

transactions authorize the belief, that there was foundation for them, whether correct, or not, they produced the effect of uniting in one interest all who imputed blame to Lieutenant Colonel Munro, and this description comprised the whole army, with very few exceptions. The union was every day strengthened by a variety of circumstances. The conduct of government towards the Commander in Chief hurt the feelings of all military men, already in a state of irritation from a sense of mutual danger. Prudence and self-preservation oblige even the most moderate men to make common cause, when they have reason to apprehend persecution. The heads of all the departments, except the Quarter Master General's, became cyphers, and the military patronage was thrown into a channel, through which few could hope to benefit, unless at the expense of every feeling of pride and of honor.

Lieutenant Colonel Martin, who had, a few months before, procured permission to proceed to Europe, came to Madras in December. No particular notice was taken of him by the Government, and he accordingly took his passage on board the ship Lady Jane Dundas, with the intention

of embarking on the 29th of January, as the ship was expected to sail on that day. But in the night, between the 28th and 29th of January, he received a letter from the Secretary of Government, withdrawing his leave, and prohibiting him from embarking. For this extraordinary measure no reason was assigned; neither did Colonel Martin, or his friends, suppose that any existed, except the fulfilment of the report that had formerly been circulated, namely, that the absence of General Macdowall, who was to sail on the 29th of January, would now leave Colonel Martin, &c. at the disposal of the Judge Advocate General, and that Colonel Martin was detained to become the first victim to the general cause. This opinion seems to be fully justified by circumstances; but be that as it may, it was circulated through the army with astonishing rapidity, and produced a very strong sensation, as the danger, which awaited Colonel Martin, was, before he came to the Presidency, considered to be common to all, and his detention was viewed as the signal for commencing the punishment of those, who had presumed to differ from Colonel Munro. The line

was already completely drawn. Colonel Munro, supported by the Judge Advocate General and the government on one side, resolved to overcome the odium that attached to the character of an individual, and to enforce their resolution by the exemplary punishment of those officers, who, from public motives, had stood forward to check, by constitutional means, what to all appeared to be a great arrogance and presumption. On the other side, the whole of the army, with few exceptions, determined to give every support in their power to those officers, which the circumstances of their situation would admit of. The nearer approach of danger operated to strengthen those bonds of union that had been formed throughout the army; and from a report, which at this time obtained general currency, and belief, namely, that Colonel Munro's party had expressed their confidence of being able to follow up the most rigorous measures towards the officers of the Company's army,

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consequence of a jealousy which had for some time been judiciously promoted between them and the officers of H. M. service. No incident, during the unhappy ferment, had occasioned more irritation than