whole Madras army. Hereupon the Civil Government liberated the military prisoner by its own authority.
On the 28th of January, 1809, General McDowall embarked for England, having previously forwarded to the Governor in Council an address to the Court of Directors from sundry officers of the Madras army, who complained of several grievances, especially of the exclusion of their Commander-in-Chief from a seat in Council. McDowall also left behind him a general order, in which the conduct of the Quartermaster-General was strongly condemned. The Deputy-Adjutant-General, Major Boles, in the absence of his senior, complied with the injunction of the departed Commander-in-Chief, who, though he had embarked, had not, however, tendered his formal resignation, and the general order was issued.
The Madras Government upon this promulgated a violent order of their own, accusing McDowall of violent and inflammatory proceedings, and removing him from his post as Commander-in-Chief. They also suspended Major Boles, a measure which irritated the passions of the army more than anything that had yet occurred; and, as if this was not enough, they also suspended Colonel Capper, the Adjutant-General, for saying that General McDowall's order would have been issued under his signature if he had not been engaged in accompanying the Commander-in-Chief on board ship.
Addresses to Major Boles now poured in from all the divisions of the army, approving of his conduct, denouncing his suspension as cruel and undeserved, and proposing to raise by subscription an income equal to that of which the Government had deprived him. They also prepared and circulated for signatures a memorial to the Governor-General, Lord Minto, repeating their grievances, and condemning the treatment which their Commander-in-Chief had received from the civil power.
This being looked upon by the Madras Government as downright mutiny, a general order was issued on the 1st of May, which announced a sweeping list of removals,
