The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-31 00:00:00

GREAT BRITAIN AND THE: NETHERLANDS.

BRUSSELS, MAY 28.—The following is the
note of the Plenipotentiaries of his Majesty the
king of the Netherlands in reply to that of the
Plenipotentiaries of his Britannic Majesty, con-
cerning. the treaty of London concluded on the
17th of' March :

" The undersigned Plenipotentiares of his Majesty the King
of the Netherlands have found in the note which has just been
presented to them by their Excellencies the British Plenipoten-
tiaries, a faithful recapitulation of the communicationswhich
had taken place at the time when circumstances, independent
of the will of the negotiators, led to a suspension of their con-
ferences.

" Being called upon to resume tbeit labours, the completion
of which has always been desired by both parties with equal
sincerity, the undersigned speedily recognized in their fellow-
negotiators, that spirit of equality and conciliation which facili-
tates the adjustment of the most complicated questions, and to
do justice to which they can find no fitter occasion than the
moment which is going to sanction, by the signature of a formal
treaty, the arrangements adopted after mature consideration, as
eminently calculated to maintain a good understanding even
between inferior agents of the contracting parties.

" This essential object, this principal tendency of the treaty,
are manifest to all persons who read with attention.the several

articles.

" The express stipulations whichitcontains appear sufficient
to remove, by common consentiany uncertainty which may oc-
cur iri the sequel. However, as the British Plenipotentiaries
have thought it proper to enter into some farther details, the
nndersigned, who on their side feel the importance of leaving
nothing to chance in so interesting an affair, make no difficulty
of following them in these details, and of completing, by a suc-
duct
development of their way of thinking, the answer which
they owe to the note of their Excellencies.
" The 7th article contains an exception to the generalprin-
Ciple or the liberty trf.commerce. The necessity of- this excel),
tion, which was already admitted by -_,Engiand .in . the -con-
ferences in 1820, is founded on the existence of the system rela-
eive to .the exclusive trade in spices-If the deliberations of
the Government of the NetherlartilS lead to the abandonment of
this system, the freedom of commerce resumes its rights, and
the whole of this Archipelago, which is very justly described
as comprehended between Celebes, Timor, and New Guinea;
is open to all lawful speculations* on the footing to be este-
blisheesy local ordinances ; and with respect to the subjects of
his Britanitic Majesty •in particular, conformably to the-bases
laid down by the treaty for all the Asiatic nosseSsions- of the
two contracting-Powers. On the other hank so- long as the
exception in question remains in force, the vessels Which tra-
verse the Moluccas are to abstaihfrom•putteng into any other
-ports than those the list of which-was officially commnicated to
the Maritime Powers some years ago, excepting. in cases of
distress, in which it is superfluous le add that they will find at
ail places where the standard of- he Netherlands is displayed,
-the services and assistance due-to sufferinn.,. humanity. if the
-Government of Great Britain; in disengaging itself, according
to the principles established by the present treaty,from the con-
nections which its agems• formed four or five years ago in the
kitigdom of ACheenethink anyveal advantage will accrue to it
from securing hysome new stipulation the hospitable reception of
the -ves'eels Ohl-subjects of Great Britain in the ports of that
kingdom;' the- undersigned do not hesitate to believe that on
their side they see no inconvenience in it. And they believe
that they can, at the same time, give the assurance, that their
Government will proceed without delay to regulate its rela-
tieees -with Acheen, in such a manner, that that state, without
leL,,ing any thing of its independence, may offer to the navigator
to the merchant that constant security which it seems can-
net be established there but by the moderate exercise of the
ntiuence of some European Power. In -.addition. to -the- infor-
mation contained in the last note of the sritish Plenipoten.
tieries on the subject of Beneoelen, their Excellencies have
communicated to the undersigned the two conventions, signed
respectively, the 23d o 1 fay and the 4th of July,' 1818, on the
en?, part by the 'Governor. of 'that settlement, and on the
other by the chiefs of come neighbouring tribes; th:y have
also had communication of a dispatch of the Governor-Ge-
neral in Coancil,: dated from Fort William, the 9th of May,
1",23, try -which- the' -British Administration has abslished at
Fort-6lerlborough the monopoly of pepper, encouraged the
cultivation of rice, and placed on a stable and uniform foun-
dation- the relations of the different classes of the natives,
•at well:, With ea:11 other as with their chiefs. " Now, unless,
-4-1:e, undersigned are deceived in supposing 'that the ob-
ject 'of this arrangement was to ensure the . prosperity of
agriculture, and to prevent the misunderstaridings which often
result from the immediate contact -Of .the native populatibn
with the snhaltern authorities- of g 'foreign Government, they
feel great satisfaction in saying, that, far from having to fear
any retroactive measures; the individuals interested in the pre,-
sent order of things-may, on the contrary, entertain the hope
that the new Govienment will have regard to their acquired
rights, and to their welfare, which the undersigned especially
take isleasure in warranting : it will cause the articles of the
conventions already mentioned to he strictly observed ' • on the
faith of which, the inhabitants of Pasuenrnah, Hanna,
anti other tribes, have recognized the authority, or accepted
the protection of the British East India Company ; reserving,
however, the faculty to substitute for them, with the full con-
-sent of the parties interested, other analegousecohclitions if cir-
evmstances should render an alteration-necessary.
_ _

" With respect to the equitable and benevolent dispositions of
the British Government towards the inhabitants of Malacca,
and the other Dutch settlements ceded by this treaty, the Ple-
ripotentiariN of his Majesty thelcing.of the "Netherlands ac-
cept the assurance of them with unlimited confidence; and the
saute sentiment induces them not to insist-that the instructions
and•the orders which shall be sent to the j:Englisli authorioties
in India, relative to the delivering up of Fort Marlborough and
its dependencies; shall be conceived in terms so clear, precise,
mid positive, that no ground for uncertainty, no pretext for
iiniav may be found in them ; for they arc persuaded that the
British Plenipotentiaries, after having shewn so much tnodera-
tion and fair dealing in the fulfilment of tbir task, will take
care that the result of "their .joint labours shall not he endan-
ered by a regard to subordinate r• interests and secondary con
-
tderations. This result is painted bY'thesittitish .Plenipoten-
tiaries themselves in theitlastnote, and it remains for the Un-
tlisigned only to congratulate themselves on having-concurred
in it, and to unite their wishes with those of theit'Exeellen-
cies, that 'the agents of the respective ,parties in the Asiatic
possessions may always show themselves' deeply impressed by
a,sense of the duties which two friendly-nations, animated by
truly liberal views, have to fulfil: as well towards each other,
as towards the natives whom the .course of events or treaties
have placed under their influence. .

" The UnaersTgneTgi '''''''''''''ce ''this opportunity to re.
new to their Excellencies the British Plenipotentiaries tie as.
Nurance of their most distinguished consideration.
(Signed) " F. FAGEL.
..4‘ London, March 17, 1824. - " A.. 11. FALCK."