of wisdom and propriety, and most unhappy in its effects. General McDowall felt it so keenly that he addressed the Commander-in-Chief in Bengal, desiring to relinquish the command at Madras, for the purpose of returning to Europe; but being referred to the Governor and Council of the presidency to which he belonged, as the proper channel for his application, he addressed a letter to Sir George Barlow, in which he expressed his determination that his name should not be branded with the reproach of having been the first general officer who retained a situation after all hope of a restoration to its former distinction had expired. The Government acceded to his wish to resign, and took measures to supply his place.
At this moment of irritation, General McDowall received numerous letters of complaint from the officers commanding native corps, who were naturally galled at the abolition of the "Tent Contract," but who did not ground their grievances so much on the pecuniary loss as the imputation cast upon their honour by Colonel Monro's report; which hinted, they said, that officers in command of corps had consulted their own profit at the expense of the public service, and had appropriated the tent allowance without keeping up an adequate tent establishment. They, therefore, demanded that Colonel Monro should be brought to a court-martial for aspersions on their characters as officers and gentlemen; and McDowall so far sided with the complainants that he placed Colonel Monro in arrest.
Colonel Monro applied to the Governor in Council for support and protection, and for the defence of his public character. The Government called upon the Judge-Advocate-General for his opinion on the case: this officer declared that no legal matter of charge existed against Colonel Monro. The Government then demanded his release from arrest; McDowall declined compliance with this demand, stating that, as the question was strictly military, he could not avoid bringing it to issue before a court-martial without committing the honour of the
