The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-18 00:00:00

CE YLON.

We have received by the overland mail Ceylon
papers to the 16th October. At that period the
island was quite tranquil, the rebellion had been com-
pletely suppressed, the pretended King captured, and
several of the rebels had been tried and executed.
The Colonibo Observer of the 23d September gives
the follovringfaccount of the capture of the pretender :
"Kandy, Sept. 22, Eight o'clock, P.N.
" The pretender was taken up yesterday, and we are
all on the pi vivo to see him. Ho was taken up at Ma-
tells by six of Captain Watson's Riflemen—one of whom
he knocked down. A Kandian gave the information.
The ' King' has made, I understanel, a free and candid
confession of the whole affair.

" The ' King' is said to have been formerly gardener
to Alwis Modliar—and we hear that he implicates all the
Kandian Headmen savejsix."
The Legislative Council was opened on the 2d of
October by the following speech from the Governor,
Lord Torrington :
Gentlemen of the Legislative, Council,—
Since the close of the last s(''; ,; Al of the Legislative
Council, important events have occurred in this colony,
to which I desire briefly to call your attention.
Yea are always aware that in certain portions of the
Kandian districts, the evil designs of ambitious indivi-
duals taking advantage of the casual as well as traditional
influence of their position over an ignorant population,
have induced them to array themselve:, in open hostility
to the Government; actual encounters have taken place
Pie with her Majesty's forces, which have terminated,
as might be expected, in the entire defeat and dispersion
of ther insurgents, and must have convinced them of the
that the individuria
.. hopelessness of armed resistance to her Majesty's
authority,
,
the Pretended -Kin who
It le slitidacio
to me to be able to announce to you,
not only have yang' on this occasion was set up as
bas now now been captured, and that
already brought tO ° ulls partizans and followers been
-mea'enwittakent, but important disclo-
sures have been
pletely to establish the guille" Will I hope suffice com-
Deration of martial-
conspiracy. of the originators of the late
whicht:ch have been
have every
It is my earnestdesire that the
law shall be terminated without dell
confidence that the energetic measures;
already successfully adopted, will suffice
renewal of the late treasonable attempts. prevent any
To the rapid and vigorous movements of her Mai_ sty a
troops so ably conducted by the officers entrustedewith
their command, and to the prompt declaration of mar-
tial law in the disturbed districts, must it be attributed,
that the actual insurrection was confined within very
narrow limits.

That future doubts and difficulties may be avoided, a
Bill of Indemnity will be laid before you, for all hens
fide acts done by the constituted authorities during the
existence of martial law. Papers connected with this
subject will be presented to you.
The slight and passing excitement which has been
raised in some other parts of the colony, arising from a
variety of causes and misapprehensions, will not I trust
be again renewed. I am persuaded that the feelings of
the mass of the people will continue to be at all times
peaceable and loyal.
I am happy to inform you, that of the twenty-four
ordinances which were passed. during the last session,
nineteen have already received her Majesty's confirms-

tion. I shall have occasion to submit for your considera-
tion, a few slight amendments in the details of some of
these ordinances, which will I hope be calculated to im-
prove and facilitate the operation of them.
At a period of general commercial difficulty through-
out the world. Ceylon could scarcely escape the effects
of an universal crisis. But it is gratifying to me to be
able to state to you, that the net revenue of the year
ending 31st December, 1847, exceeded that of 1846 by
the sum of about 24,0001., which was in a great measure
due to an increase in the receipts from customs. On
the other hand the comparative expenditure for the
same period was in reality somewhat less in 1847 than
in the previous year.
But notwithstanding the improved state of our finances
for the past year as compared with that of 1846, the
fact cannot be withheld from you, that the revenue of
the year 1847 fell short of the expenditure within the
same period by the sum of about 58,0001., although
every effort has been made since my assumption of the
Government, to restrict the expenditure within the
narrowest possible limits. The surplus revenue accumu-
lated in more prosperous periods has at length become
exhausted.

It is however consolatory to find, as will appear from a
statement which will be laid before you, that the revenue
for the first six months of rho cumnt year has exceeded
the expenditure for the same period by the sum of
14,5941. 12s 9d. But heavy expenses will have been in-
curred on account of the military operations since that
period; ane it will be obvious to you that means must
be found, by a rigid curtailment of outlay on the one
band, and by the most cautious efforts to improve our
revenue on the other, so as to adju.t our finances that
the proper equilibrium may be constantly maintcd be-
tween the income and the expenditure of the colony.
Upon this subject communications will shortly be sub-
mitted to you; and I am haopy to be able to announce
to you that it is the direction of her Majesty's Govern-
ment, that the entire expenditure of the Colony, fixed
as well as contingent, shall be brought under the review
of the Legislative Council. _

The de-pression under which the Colony is at present
suffering in common with other parts of the world, will I
trust gradually give place to more cheering prospects.
/ can perceive no ground for despondency.
The abolition o the export duties will afford some
relief to the Agricultural and Commercial interests,
although at a sacrifice to the public revenue ;
and I feel confident that when the temporary depres-
sion shall have passed away, the prospects of the plant-
ing interests generally will revive, and that new sources
of industry and advancement will be developed.
I trust that no efforts wili be wanting to secure the
hating peace and tranquillity of the country, so essen-
tial to the welfare and prosperity of the, people.
I confidently rely upon your loyalty, and your
anxious desire to co-operate with me at all times in the
adoption of such sound and wholesome measures as will
be calculated, under the blessing of Providence, to se-
cure the happiness and contentment of all classes of the
inhabitants. ~.:

The address of the Council in, answer was a mere
echo of the speech, --
A Bill of Indemnity for the Governor, and all act-
ing unper his authority, for certain acts done during
the existence of martial-law, was read a first time,
and there was no doubt but that it would be carried.
Martial-law ceased on the 10th October.

The financial statemenr of the colony for 1848
showed ;an excess of revenue over expenditure of
14,5941. 12s. 9icl.
There were great complaints fur the want of la-
bourers.