fallacious calm of a few days was, about the middle of March, interrupted by an act of the Governor, bearing the same complexion with those that have been already noticed; and therefore occasioning a general irritation, the more violent as it had been for a time restrained. At this time, Sir G. Barlow signified his intention of immediately removing from the Presidency Major Macdowall, the Deputy Adjutant General of the Army, Lieutenant Stock, Deputy Secretary of the Military Board, and several civilians. Proscriptions had now become so common, that the term Convict was familiarly applied to those who were found too honest to remain in the immediate precincts of the seat of Government. The civil Convicts, on the present occasion, consisted chiefly of gentlemen who had unfortunately been selected as jurors on the famous trials of Mr. Batley and Reddy Row, or who had been so imprudent as to avow, on that subject, and the military question, opinions suggested by the nature of the case. The cause of Major Macdowall's removal was not at first so apparent; this officer had ever been distinguished for his prudence, and the propriety of his conduct, in every situation that he had hitherto

filled; he had been particularly selected by General Gowdie, to fill the situation vacated by the dismissal of Major Boles; and the nomination had been highly approved by the Governor, at a period only one month prior to that now under discussion; in short, considering Major Macdowall's character, and the circumstances of his present situation, it was supposed that he was one of those least likely to suffer in the general havoc which had been denounced, and was expected to fall upon the officers of the army. However, being informed of the intentions of the Government towards him, he, on the 24th March, addressed a letter to the Honourable Sir G. Barlow, in which he states, that, during the time he had held the situation, he had endeavoured, with unwearied assiduity, to afford satisfaction : that General Gowdie had expressed his entire approbation of every part of his conduct, but that he feared some misapprehension existed which gave rise to the intention of removing him; he therefore requests he may be informed of the cause, in order that enquiry may be instituted, and explanation afforded. To this appeal, Major Macdowall did not receive any answer; for, according

to the phraseology, which had been recently adopted, it was not deemed expedient that any reason should be assigned for the measures of Government. It would have been fortunate if reason had been consulted in forming their measures; then would explanations not have been required, neither would complaints have been necessary.

Major Macdowall also addressed a letter on the same subject to General Gowdie, to which he received the following reply:

"MY DEAR SIR,

I have received your letter of the 24th, and can, with the greatest truth, declare, that your conduct, while Deputy Adjutant General under me, has given me the utmost satisfaction; and I must sincerely regret that existing circumstances, of which I am not competent to judge, has deprived me of the services of a man of such sterling ability, for whom I have the strongest personal esteem and regard.

"I am, my dear Sir,

"Your stedfast friend,

(Signed)

"F. GOWDIE.

"Madras, 25th March, 1809.

"Capt. J. Macdowall."

The foregoing letter is not introduced for the purpose of making any remark on the style, or the orthographical merits which it possesses, but because it affords sufficient proof of the relative situation of a Commander in Chief at Madras, at this time; when a person, holding that high situation, declares himself to be incompetent to judge of the circumstances which had deprived him of the services of an officer whose abilities he considered respectable, and for whom he entertained strong personal esteem and regard. It must be inferred either that he was kept in totalignorance of those circumstances, or that, if communicated to him, he was required to suspend his judgment altogether, even in matters most important to the discharge of the trust reposed in him. The situation of Deputy Adjutant General has always been one of considerable importance; for although, in the presence of his principal, the Deputy bore no immediate responsibility, it frequently occurred that the absence of the principal vested the Deputy with the full and exclusive charge of the office. This was particularly the case with Major M. The Adjutant General, Colonel Capper, and the former Deputy, Major Boles, had been removed; Lieutenant

Colonel Cappage, it is true, had been nominated to the office, but he was in Travancore, far distant from the Presidency; no accounts had been received from him, and, indeed, there was much reason to suppose, that he would not readily accept, nay, that he would altogether decline, to hold a situation which must be disgraceful, and disreputable, if Colonel Munro, the Quarter Master General, was allowed to continue to meddle with, and derange every department of the office. Thus Major Macdowall was the only person to whom General Gowdie, himself a stranger to detail, could refer on all points relative to recruiting, discipline, courts martial, or clothing of the army, and all other matters belonging to the department of Adjutant General; yet he was deprived of the services of such a man, at such a time, for reasons that he was either altogether ignorant of, or that he was not competent to judge of. It, however, appeared from some expressions which the General used, when discussing this matter, that the true reason of Major Macdowall's removal, was his refusal to hold any communication with Colonel Munro, except on subjects connected with public duty. He had been induced to form this resolution