Star.
London, England, 1820-08-24 00:00:00

CEYLON:

At a grand fete given at Columbo, on the occasion
of departure of the Governor, Lieutenant-General
Baownitruo, and his L:tdy, from that Colony, the
health of the Governor having been drank with three
times three, and with the utmost enthusiasm, amidst
the discharge of nineteen pieces of cannon, as soon
as the tumult bad subsided hii Excellency rose and
addressed the compari'y as follows :
" GU-SLUM—The cordial kindness of the manner in which
you have drank my health, tlls me with the warmest emotions j
of gratitude. The distinguied honour that you have done me
in this splendid entertainment, is a most flattering proof of your
attachment and esteem : the recollection of it will ever be de-
lightful to my best feelings, and a source of the most pleasing
reflection, during the remainder of my life.
" Throughout an arduous and eventful government of almost
eight years, I have had the support of a great majority of the
first talents in the Civil Service, as well as of the gallantry and
zeal of all my Military friends, and it is this strenuous co-opera-
tion that, under OMNI PaOVIDINC/4 has crowned my measures
with success. My ardent wish has ever been to advance the
best interests of this valuable and beautiful Colony, by the pro-
pagation of Christianity asnong the native inhabitants, and by
the moral improvement of society at large. My humble en-
deavours have been also devoted to encourage Agriculture and
Commerce, and to conciliate the good opinion of all ranks.
" I cannot refrain from noticing the occupation of the Kan-
dyan Country, and subsequent overthrow of the Rebellion, be-
cause they afford me the fairest opportunity of expressing my
lively gratitude to those Gentlemen of the Civil and Military
service, who gave me the full aid of their abilities and unparal-
leled zeal. But I should be wanting in just discrimination—l
should be wanting in common feelings of sympathy for the glory
of my own profession, if I did not pour out the full measure of
Any grateful acknowledgments to those gallant Officers whose
skill and intrepidity overcame every obstacle, whose noble ex-
ample Inspired the brave troops under their command with a
persevering endurance of sufferings, hardships, and privations,
as severe as ever tried the fortitude of a soldier in any part
of the world.

" The beneficial effects arising from the Kandyan Territories,
have already proved their importance, and justified the sacri-
fices which were necessarily made is retain their possession. I
will venture to assert, that a vigilant and enlightened Govern-
ment, such as I have reason to anticipate, will rapidly develope
their resources, and amply prove a position which I hive always
maintained, that without the command of the interior, Ceylon
can never be as a Colony valuable or safe.
" Pardon me, Gentlemen, for giving way to a proud feeling
that I cannot suppress—l found this Government with a savage
monarchy domineering in the very heart of the Island.—
Treachery and fraud had inflicted a cruel disgrace upon our
armi. Our soldiers had been murdered in their sick beds—our
native merchants were barbarously mutilated, and sent with
their mangled limbs tied about their necks, to outrage our feel-
ings and insult our pride. I leave it one united whole, the sole,
undisputed possession of the British Crown.
" It wss only yesterday evening that intelligence was brought
of a disturbance in the Kandyan country. I will tell you what
is the extent, and I will give you my opinion what will be the
result. The Vedahs have appeared in arms with their bows
and arrows, in two or three villages in Bintenne. -The Pretender
has been, as you know, lurking about under their protection.
Out of all the Chiefs that were in arms against us, only two,
and they did not act a conspicuous part in the late insurrection,
escaped the vigilance of our troops and our Kandyan friends.
They are, it is to be presumed, now got together. There never
was an instance of a rebellion quelled, where all the materials of
Insurrection were more completely exhausted. These wretched
Veciahs will be joined by none ; they are united only by the last
effort of a few desperate individuals, whose capture or destruc-
tion will be the speedy consequence. Dispatch is the soul of
enterprise, and prompt measures have been taken to disperse this
rabble. It is of importance to accelerate that end, and to get
possession, as I am convinced we shall, of the Pretender, whose
name, and it is little more than a name, is only wanting among
our captives to complete our success, and establish perfect tran-
quillity and peace.
" But I most not any longer dwell upon this subject—l
must advert to the mtlavelsoly scenes that have lately passed, li
when a cruel succession of diseases visited this island—l hope
these sorrows are nearly at an end—we have suffered in com-
mon with the great continent of India; and I hope the last
visitation which has been a grievous affliction, more confined to
Ceylon, is now, by the goodness of l'aovlntzcz, yielding to the
skilful care of the Medical Officers, who have been indefatigable
In their exertions to oppose its progress. Gentlemen, it is with
the deepest and liveliest regret that I am abot,t to bid you adieu.
The feebleness of my limbs, from which, in this climate, I ant
not likely to recover, incapacitates me from performing the ac-
tive part of my duties, makes it no longer honourable for me to
continue, and forces upon me the pai..ful necessity of taking my
leave. But my concern is alleviated by the confidence I feel,
that under the government of Sir Edward Barnes, my distin-
guished successor, you will experience all that talent, energy,
and the best qualities of the human mind can cnsure•—that you
may all be prosperous and happy will be my unceasing prayer.
Gentlemen, I ought to apologize for detaining you so long; but
this is the most interesting moment of my existence, my warmest
and most anxious wishes are excited, to inspire me with the
power of doing justice to those sentiments of respect and regard,
which I feel so sensibly towards you. Accept them, I entreat
you, as the sincere effusions of a heart full of affectionate anxiety
for your welfare and happiness. Allow me to propose The
Health of Sir Edward Barnes—and Prosperity to the Island of
Ceylon!' "

Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the East
India-house, when JOSIAS Du Paz ALICCASDER, Esq.
took the usual oaths and his seat as a Director, in
the room of Sir DAVID SCOTT, Bart. who had disqua-
lified.—Captain WILLIAM MITCHELL was sworn into
the command of the ship Bridgewater, consigned to
China direct.

The last elegant and superb yacht built for the
KING, report says, is intended by his MAJESTY as a
present to the Emperor of RUSSIA.
At Mr. THURLOW'S annual sale of Southdown
sheep, in Gosfield Park, in Suffolk, on Monday last,
unshorn wether lambs sold at from twenty shillings
and sit-pence to twenty-seven shillings ; ewe lambs
from nineteen shillings and six-pence to twenty-five
shillings and six-pence; stock ewes from twenty-six
to thirty-eight shillings ; yearling wethers from thirty-
four shillings and six-pence to forty-three shillings.
A few days ago a child, about six years old, was
found buried under a hill of sand at the west end of
Glenluce. The little innocent had been playing at
this spot alone, otherwise, perhaps, its fate might
have been averted. At the same village, an old
woman, who had been left in a house by herself,
rose out of bed, and falling, it is supposed, into a fit,
unfortunately came in contact with the fire,-by which
accident she was literally burnt to death.
It is said, that such of the Italian witnesses as may
be trusted at large, are accompanied every evening,
by persons from the Home Office, to the several
places of amusement in the Metropolis..
Within the recollection of many Gentlemen now
at the Bar, the following circumstance occurred in
the Court at Carlisle :—A Highlander was (under'
the form of oath as administered in the English
Courts) giving such evidence, in a particular cause, as
convinced every one who heard hint that he was giving
,false testimony. It was suggested by the opponent
Counsel, that be should be sworn after the custom of
the Highlanders, viz. that he should hold up his right
hand, and imprecate curses upon himself and all his
connexions, if what he was stating was not true.—
After this was done, the wily witness declined giving
a word of the same evidence, shrewdly observing,
" that there was a hantle of difference between blow-
ing on a buke (book) and d—.-ning a man's ain sad."