Summary:  the throne, still cherished his designs of royalty; and CHAPTER the dangerous intrigues and exasperated passions of the 1815. court and Malabar chiefs, determined the Governor of x III, Ceylon to withdraw the British forces which occupied 334, Kandy, to the coast. The new Stovereign had, in the mean time, given proofs of talent and energy highly favouir @ able to his authority and success, and hence to the exer- cised influence of the British couns, and an amicable ar- rangement was concluded between him and the Governor of Ceylon, by which his attachment to, and friendly rela- tions with, the British Government were placed upon a basis alike honourable and advantageous to both parties. T'he maturity and firmness of the young King ere long subserved his own interests. The Satkorals or Chiefs of the Council were removed at different periods from the administration, and in 1819, the Adi- gar, the head minister, and supposed to be connected with the deferred intrigues of the late King, was put to death, Shortly after, the Chief of Umalai, in Malabar, having escaped with impunity after a charge of high treason, the Ki:- ing issued orders for his apprehension and execution, ser- ving similar mandates against some of the Council employed in the former intrigues. The latter were however re- spited ; but the Chief of Umalai, with scven or eight of his principal adherents, fell a victim to the new monareh's policy of embracing the first opportunity to show the na- tives of Coylon that there existed a power on the island, which, by supporting the Sovereign, was adequate to enforce order and check disorder. ❤ Another beneficial change was introduced by the Go- Ternor of Ceylon into the Internal Administration of the province. The lands in that part of the island had long been farmed to speculating inhabitants—Commonly foreigners from the South of India. Hopeless of finding revenue or protection among the native Chiefs, who were generally destitute of the means of enforcing the laws against the rich and influential, the land-holders had preferred to place their tenure in the hands of individuals who, from their resources and character, had it in their power to extort large rents, and to render the condition of their tenants helpless, precarious, and oppressive. Under these circumstances, many of the -rent engagements had from various causes been violated, . and the claims of the landlords had been prosecuted in the Courts of Europe, or under the decree of the S'tyat Ge SELECTED LETTERS AND DISPATCHES. Note to be written after expanding.