The Sun.
London, England, 1804-04-20 00:00:00

WAR IN CEYLON.

(Continued from. our Paper of Yerteri.g..)

REMONSTRANCE.

The Governor of the British Settlements on the.
Island of Ceylon, feels himself obliged to call the
particular attention of the Court of Candy to the
accompanying accot,:nt of most unjustifiable proceed-
cnik on the part of some of the erincipal Agents of
thiit towards certain merchants, splijetts
Lis Government, l"ately employed in the carrying'
on trade in the Candian Country.
It appears by the declarations on oath of these
men, that they having purchased, at a fair and open
market, and according ço long establi,died custom, a
ctinsid6-able quantity of Arr-ka nut, for the purpose
of conveying it into the British Territories, were
desPOiled of that. article by a violeti), and arbitrary
ad Of the Officers of the Caridian Government.
S ) fLigrunt a violation' of 'the common rules of
j..istice and good neighbourhopd; would have war-
ranted:thegtivernor in immediately adopting mea-
sures of reprisal, which the relative situation of
the two.entearies would have rendered pecnliajly
disadvantageous-to Candy*; hut Fie still cannot help
entertaining hopes that the Court of Candy may be
indUced, by a due consideration of the dangerotrs
tendency of the line of conduCl hithertb pursued by
it in respect to the .British Governnient, to adopt •
one more conformable to its own security, aricho
the amicable intentions of 'Great Britain.

The Governor therefore defers taking any steps
in regard to the Court of Candy and its sutjetts,
inccinsistent with those intentions, till he shall
learn, by 'their answer to this lemons t ranee, whether
it is the .wish of the Court to grant a fair and full
itpardtion for the injuries sustained by tile 5. Libitiai
of t'is Govunwent, or, by. a denial of justice in
this instance,- to confirm him, in the suspicions
tl,hich.:ateir condud has so frequently given occa-
sion to.

The Governor- will eltpeet to this Declaration
the'rno,st prompt and explicit answer, as the nature
of the case will not permit him to delay fur any
length or time, or on any unsatisfaaory grounds,
Die,adoption `such measures for the pr.,te4.iion of
the people coinmitted to his care, as the circtri-
Otances.of his Gyvernine-nt have placed in his handS.
iSigncti) RuBSECT ARBUTHNOT.-
.

To the First Adiga4r King,of Candy.
I am :direded.by His Excellency the Governor of
the. Btitish Territories in the Island of Ceylon, to'.
transmit to .you the Papers which accomoany
Letter, containing an acc:unt ot.a trans Lci4;alwhich
took place in the-Months.of March .and April, at. a
plaCe caned Kakkanacully, in the Territory of his'.
Caa&han Majesty. Many'respecitabie merchants and
SUbjeOs of our Most'Gracious Sovereign the King
of Great:Britain,. travelling for the purpose of car-
rying ,).n. a fair and legal commerce, which has been
always allowed and -.aothorized- bttween the two
Cotintriea, have been stopped upon their return to
•Putelang, of which they are inhabitants, and the
iffercliandizc., whiCh they had fairly pPrchased,
taken from them.
It appears that the person by whose orders this
outrage was committed, is an Officer of high rank
or dignity under the Candian GOvernment.
Alt the persons who were sufferers by this azil of
violence, haVe been examined several times in the
stritiest. manner ; their depositions have been con_
firmed by their solemn oath, and the steadiness with
which they have adhered to their first declaration,
as well as to the unit rmity and consistency of their
testimony, makeit impossible to doubt of the truth
of their assertion.

It is unnecessary to take up your time by ex-
patiatiog upori the injustice of such proceedings,
nor to demonstrate how contrary they are,. not only
to gencr;tl good faith, and the laws of nations, but'
to the amity and friendship which subsist between
the King of Candy and the British Government on
Ceylon. From the justice and wisdom of the King,
His Excellency the Governor has no doubt, that
when his Majesty is properly informed by you of
the nature of this transaCtion, he will, without de-
lay, give orders for the must fell and atriple-satis-
fattion being made, both to the individuals who
have .been aggrieved, and to the dignity and honour
of His Excellency's Government.

The whole tenor of His Excellency's conduel has
proved his earnest deSire of living upon terms of
friendship and harmony with the Candians, and his
particular wish to secure the safety of the King's
person, and the independence of his crown ; but if
any delay or evasion is • attempted to be made, in
granting the satisfaction required, the duty His
Excellency owes to his own dignity, as .well as to
the welfare.of the people committed to his charge,
will oblige him, although with reluctance, to adopt
a different- line of behaviour, which hii situation
reridersir so easy for him to do.
It will, however, be much more agreeable to His
Excelfeney.'s feelings, if all rigorous measurevare
rendered unnecessary, by compensation being made
for the injury which has been sustained, and it will
aff Id the Governor the sincerest pleasure, if this
incident should open the eyes of the King of Candy,
and of his Nobles and Counsellors, to their true
interest, and become the occasion of uniting the
two nations more closely by a treaty which will at
once add to the dignity and security of his Candian
Majesty, and increase .the prosperity and happiness
of his
,people.
(Signed) ROBERT ARBUTHNOT,
Chief Sec. to Government.

Columba, Sept. y, 1202.
[To be continued.]