Point de Galle Fort,
Tuesday 23^d.
Feb^y. 1796.
6 O'Clock P.M.

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the
21^st. Instant
received this morning at 7 o'clock
when on my march to this Place
from Gendere (four miles from hence)
where I halted with my Detachment
all last Night, in consequence
of their being much fatigued from
the length of the marches for these
four days past from Colombo.

I have now the honor to report
to you that I took possession and received
charge of the Town and Fortress of Galle
from M^r. Fretz the Dutch Commandeur
this morning at Nine OClock; having
previously made the necessary arrangements
with him for disarming the Dutch
Garrison and receiving the British Troops
into the Fort; which was done accordingly
in all due form at the hour I have already
mentioned.

In justice to M^r. Fretz
I must beg leave to say, in my report
to you, Sir, that, the Place was delivered
up and surrendered to us in the most
orderly, regular, and polite manner
possible. The Dutch Garrison
Paraded, Presented their Arms, and
Piled them afterwards with the utmost
regularity and order, on the Grand
Parade within the Fort, fronting the
British Detachment which was formed
on the same Parade opposite to them.

I afterwards introduced the Officers
of the Detachment to M^r. Fretz,
who politely invited them all to
a very handsome Entertainment
at his own House at 2,O'Clock, and
when assembled received them with
the utmost politeness and hospitality.

On receipt of your Letter I issued
orders immediately to Lieutenant
O'Reilly to march with the Detachment
you directed for Matura at 2, O'Clock
this afternoon, and he set out
accordingly that hour.

I have agreeably to your orders
given Lieu^t. O'Reilly similar
Instructions to those I had the honor
of receiving from you for my own
guidance.

This is a very large
Town and a very extensive
Fortification. I cannot therefore
attempt to give you any exact state
or account of it for some days to come;
but you may rely upon it, Sir, that
I shall transmit to you all the
necessary information respecting it
with the least possible delay in
conformity with the tenor of my
Instructions.

I have been very busy
every moment since my arrival here
this morning, Posting the necessary
Guards and Sentinels on the different
Magazines, Arsenals, and Stores
within the Fort, which are very
numerous.

I have the honor to be with
great respect,

Sir,
Your most obed^t.
Hble. Serv^t.,

Lachlan Macquarie.

Cap^t.
77^th. Reg^t.
Com^g. at Galle

Provenance
Letter from Captain Lachlan Macquarie to Colonel James Stuart dated 23 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.

Description
Letter addressed to:

Colonel James Stuart,
H.M. 72^d. Reg^t.
Com^g. the Forces on the
Island of Ceylon, &^c.
&^c. &^c.
Columbo.

Manuscript Transcripts
Transcript prepared by Robin Walsh
Macquarie University Library, Sydney, Australia. © 2009

Copyright © Macquarie University 2011