ABSTRACT
VISCOUNT TORRINGTON, Governor of Ceylon from1847 to 1850, had had no experience in colonial adminis-tration. His principal qualifications appear to have been that he was a Lord of the Bedchamber, a Whig peer, and a relation of the Prime Minister, Lord John Russell. For many years, however, Ceylon had had an uneventful history, and Lord Torrington might safely be expected to deal adequately ,vith such matters of routine as road construction and balancing the budget. Moreover, he would be guided by a brilliant Colonial Secretary, Sir Emerson Tennent. Under ordinary conditions the selection would probably have been justified by results; but the situation in Ceylon was already far from normal, and in the next two years it became distinctly worse. To a considerable extent Lord Torrington's failure was due to difficulties which he inherited; but his personal qualities went far to aggravate what must have been a critical period for even the most experienced and tactful of Governors. Lord Torrington seems to have been tactless, arrogant, and hot-tempered, and he soon alienated the Europeans and burghers by the scarcely veiled contempt with which he treated their opposition. It appears equally evident that his opponents were frequently unreasonable in their demands and intemperate in their criticisms. Long before the revolt broke out in 1848 the relations between Torrington and a large part of the European and burgher community had hardened into contemptuous dislike on the one hand and deep hostility on the other.
