Captain Lachlan Macquarie
to
Colonel James Stuart.
26 February 1796.

Point de Galle Fort,
26th. Feby.
1796.

Sir,

Conformably to my Instructions
I have now the honor of transmitting
to you, the two enclosed Returns;
vizt.;
one containing the Names, Ranks,
Situation &c. of the Prisoners of War
taken at Galle, specifying those
who from age, infirmity, or Family
Connexion, are desirous to remain in it;
the other contains the List of Public
Buildings in the Fort belonging to
the Dutch Company; all of which
I have visited and examined, and
find them to correspond with the
Return now transmitted herewith.

With regard to the state, extent,
and strength of the Fort, the following
is what I have drawn out from
the assistance of Lieut. Quayle,
a Dutch Plan of the Fort, and
my own observations in frequently
walking round the Fort Works.

Point de Galle is a large,
extensive, irregular Fortification,
with Ten Bastions of different
Figures. The distance from
the Saliant angle of the Moon
Bastion on the North, to the Flag
Staff on the South Face, which
appears the longest part,
is 816 Yards. The Breadth from
Neptune's Bastion on the West,
to Akmersloot's Bastion on the
East Face, is 600 Yards; and
the circumference (within the
Works) of the Fort is 2688 Yards.

There are 164 Guns from 24
to One Pounders, 6 Mortars, and
2 Howitzers mounted on the Works;
the best were sent to Columbo,
and many of those on the Works
are so old that they would require
being proved.

The principal Magazine,
on the Sea Face, is only Tiled,
and contains 250 Barrels of
Powder. Three Hundred
Barrels more, are made up
in Cartridges; in the Expence
Magazines Loaded Shells,
Fire Balls, Rockets &c., are in
so many Store Houses that it will
take some time to collect and
arrange the different articles.
There are several spare
Gun Carriages, and a good
Supply of Ordnance Stores.

All the Works are in very
good state and condition;
there is a wet Ditch and
Palisadoes on the Land or
North Face of the Fort; the
Sea washes and Surrounds
the other Sides.

In respect to the number
of Troops necessary to garrison
this Fortress, I cannot say that
I am competent to judge;
but as I am directed to give
an opinion, I think it would
require One Company of Artillery
with a sufficient proportion of
Lascars, 500 Europeans, and 1500 Sepoys,
to defend it against a determined
Enemy. In time of Peace few
Troops will be necessary, as the
Inhabitants appear to be a quiet,
peaceable set of People, and
agree remarkably well with
the Soldiery.

Mr. Fretz the Dutch Commandeur
has, with other Public Papers,
several Plans and Surveys
of the Town and Fortress of Galle,
which I shall have the honor
of transmitting to you if
you require them.

Lieut. Quayle, with
two other officers, as a Committee,
are busily employed examining
and taking an Inventory of
all the Guns, Arms, Ordnance,
and Military Stores; and it
will take them some few days
more to execute and get through
that Duty, before I can get
the Papers necessary to be
transmitted to Head Quarters.

I do myself the honor of
enclosing you herewith, for your
information, a Letter I received
last Night from Lieut. O'Reilly
Commanding at Matura.

I have the satisfaction
to inform you that the officers and
men of my Detachment are all
in good health, and conduct
themselves with strict order and
propriety.

I have the honor to be,
Sir, Your most obedt. and
faithful Hble Servt.

L. Macquarie.

Capt.
77th. Regt.
Comg. at Galle.

Source:
Lachlan Macquarie to Colonel James Stuart: 26 February 1796.
Letterbook copy held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Reference: A788 pp.194-197; microfilm copy available CY Reel 304 frames #432-435.

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