Par. 20. "In justice to the purser of the Piedmontese, I must here observe, that his mistake, in not delivering the letter sooner, was of no other consequence but that of delaying the mutiny a few hours, it being regularly organized, and resolved upon for some time past, and my being arrested, that I might not impede their seditious plans against Government, so actively carried on; _sorry I am to add, with too much success_. Understanding that General Pater will not reach this place before the 15th July, I forward this letter in a private and secret manner, that Government may be in possession of the fullest information on the 3d July, in case I may be put to death by the mutineers before or after the arrival of Major General Pater, commanding officer of this division. (A true copy.) (Signed) "J. INNES, Lieut. Col. Commanding Masulipatam, in charge N. D. of the Army." _Private Note from Lieutenant-Colonel_ INNES _to Lieutenant-Colonel_ MALCOLM, _dated Masulipatam, 20th July, 1809_. MY DEAR SIR, I am favoured with your note of this day's date. In reply to which I have to state, that I had no communications with the officers of the Madras European regiment on the subject of reducing the corps. But when Lieutenant Spankie waited upon me, to receive the Commander-in-Chief's letter, I intimated to him, on his refusing to accept of the quarter-mastership, proffered to him by General Gowdie, that if he did so, it was the General's intention to bring him to a general court martial. I at the same time conjured him to accept of the situation offered to him, as on the conduct of the officers of the regiment much depended, on this occasion; for if they persisted in the unwarrantable conduct they were now pursuing, the regiment would be reduced, and all those not on the staff put upon the half-pay of their rank. I then told Lieutenant S., that other plans, of a much more pleasant nature, were in contemplation for the regiment, which the officers seemed determined to put a stop to. I therefore begged and entreated that he and his friends would maturely and deliberately consider of existing circumstances, and study their own interest, and that of the public, by acceding to the General's wishes; which nothing upon earth could have induced me to make known to Lieutenant S. but the extreme desire I had to preserve order and tranquillity, in order to promote the benefit of the regiment and the public service. My letter from the General was a _private_ one; but, I conceived, couched in such terms, as to authorize my making use of the information it contained, to check the irritation that existed in the corps. Yours sincerely, (Signed) J. INNES. _Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel_ INNES _to Lieutenant-Colonel_ MALCOLM. MY DEAR SIR,