The Sun.
London, England, 1833-12-16 00:00:00

EA STERN ARCHIPELAGO.

It appears by an article in the Singapore Chronicle,
that the Dutch are now turning their attention to Sumatra,
and extending to it the rigid system of monopoly which
they have generally introduced into that quarter. It is
of great importance, therefore, that measures should be
taken to prevent, if possible, any unreasonable encroach-
ment on their part, it being of vital importance to the
commercial interests of this country, the consumption of
whose manufactures is always most ma'erially checked by
the heavy exactions and restrictions of the Dutch, where-
ever their power is established.
Whether it is the mines of gold, reported to be so rich
and abundant in the kingdom of Menangkabau, or any
other motive, is the cause, it is not known; but from
recent accounts from Sumatra, it appears very evident
that the Dutch are endeavouring, by all the means in
their power, to obtain possession and to form a settle.
ment at Siack, the richest and most populous part of the
island, centrally situated, possessing a sovereign authority
over others, and having a noble river navigable for vessels
of any size.
The Dutch Government, notwithstanding its know-
ledge that the King of Slack entered into a treaty with
Colonel Farquhar, in the year ISIS, on the part of the
British Government, has, partly by agreement and partly
by intimidation, persuaded the King of that country to
make a treaty with them, the object of which (the exclu-
sion of the British) is manifest from their anxiety to esta-
blish a factory. The correspondence of the King of
Siack, and another principal chief in the country, and the
general tenor of their communications to the agent of
our Government, justify, however, the opinion that they
do not willingly consent to the Dutch settling themselves
at Slack, and that they are under much apprehension lest
they should be too weak to resist their doing so by force.
The chiefs claim and solicit the protection of the British
Government, and evidently give a decided preference to it,
and it is only just to remark, that until lately they have
faithfully fulfilled their engagements with the British. The
chief aim of this Government at Penang has always
been to secure a fair and equitable participation in tke
trade of the surrounding countries, while no attempt has
ever been made to prevent the Dutch from enjoying the
same privileges ; but as they have now gone to the
fountain head of our commerce with Sumatra, for the
whole coast is more or less under the authority of
Siack, it is high time that the interests of the merchants
should be taken into consideration, and the most effec-
tual means put in force to prevent the impending blow,
and for putting the trade of the east coast of Sumatra
upon a firm footing.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Hampshire Telegraph.)

PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 14.—Extract of a letter from an
officer of his Majesty's ship /Etna, surveying-vessel,
Commander G. W. Skyring, dated Madeira, Novem-
ber 24 We arrived here with our tender, the Raven
cutter, Lieut. Arlett, this morning, and we sail to-morrow
for our station, the coast of Africa. The Vestal, 26,
Captain Jones, arrived here on the Ist November, on her
way to the West Indies, for which destination she sailed
on the 4th. The Challenger, 28, Captain M. Seymour,
put in here also on the 3d November, and sailed on the
following day for South America. The Rapid, 10, Lieut.
F. Patten, arrived on the 4th November, and she likewise
Ilas left for South America. The Goldfinch left this
port yesterday (23d), with tie mails for the Brazils."
Either from the magnitude of the contemplated expe-
dition from Toulon to the north coast of Africa, or from
a strong suspicion that it is intended by the Russians to
send their Black Sea squadron into the Mediterranean, the
British Governs ent have considered it expedient to make
some preparations for augmenting our active naval force.
The G inges, 84, Bellerophon, 80, and President, 52, at
this port; the Calcutta, 84, Minden, 74, and Portland,
52, at Plymouth ; the Blenheim, 74, and Worcester, 52,
at the Eastward, are ordered to he rigged and filled with

_ .
their ground tiers of water, by the crews of the flag-ships
at their respective stations. The three ships in this har-
bour have been brought down from their stations in ordi-
nary to moorings off the dock-yard.
The Racehorse, 18, Commander Cotton, sailed from
Falmouth on Thursday, having on board three tons and
a half of silver coin, to the value of 20,0001., which is
to be forwarded from thence to Barbadoes. The Race-
horse thence goes to Plymouth to be paid off.
The Romney troop ship, which has been lying at S'.
Helen's for the last seven or eight days, windbound, pro-
ceeded yesterday for Cork, with the depot companies of
the 51st and 94th Regiments on board.
?le Favourite, 18, Commander G. R. Mundy, which
ship was' obliged to put into Portland-roads, owing to
adverse wint?s, got under weigh on Tuesday, and proceeded
to Gibraltar, Cadiz, and Malta.
The Flamer steamer arrived at Gibraltar on the 13th
of Novetn;_vr, from Falmouth, and it is understood that in
proceeding with her mails to Malta, she ran a brig down
off Cape de Gat, and was obliged to return to Gibraltar,
to repair her own damage.
The Harrier, 18, Commander Vessel', was at Singa-
pore on the 2d of July.
The wind having yesderday very much moderated,
and containing a few points of northing in it, the follow-
ing valuable merchantmen put to sea :—The Upton
Castle, for Bombay; the Samuel Robertson, and the
Canada, for New York ; the George, and the Marsden,
for Demerara ; the Sesostri,, for the Cape and Madras ;
the Sir James Cockburn, for the South Seas ; the Adriana
for Berbice ; the James Laing, for Van Diemen's Land;
the Newton, for Tobago; the St. Leonard, for Liverpool ;
the Ti iutoph, for Bombay.
This morning arrived the Sovereign, for New York,
and sailed again ; as well also as the James Pattison, with
Governor Sir James Stirling on board, for Swan River.
Arrived to-day the Horatio, and the City of Edinburgh,
for Madras.
At Spithead.—Lynx, and Mary transport.
In Harbour.— Victory, Royal George, Excellent, Edin-
burgh, Blonde, Belvidera, Spariowhawk, Charybdis,
Jupiter, Seuflower and Emerald cutters, and Sylvia
transport.
(From the Devonport Telegragh•)
Dec. 14.—1 t is understood that, previous to their
leaving for foreign station., the Canopus 84, and Thun-
derer 84, now fitting out fur sea, will try their respective
merits in the Channel.
The Flamer, Government steamer, was very near lost
in. the gale, off the Casket Lights, on Saturday. She '

LONDON,
MONDAY EVENING, DECENIBER 16, 1833.

The Paris papers of Saturday, which arrived

this morning, state that letters have been re-
ceived from Valladolid announcing the dissolu-
tion of the band of MERINO. His body-guard
are said to have thrown themselves on the
mercy of General QUESADA, and surrendered
500 muskets and a quantity of other arms.
Among those who submitted were 20 officers.
General QUESADA, from whose despatch, dated
Valladolid, 26th ult., the writer of the letter

just mentioned copies this account, goes on to
state that " not a single insurgent remained in
arms throughout Castile, from Penafiel to the
Sierra de la Demanda," and that " in numerous

instances the peasantry of the country rose
spontaneously in aid of the QEEEN'S troops !"

The suite of the Duke SAN FERNANDO has
arrived in the capital, and his Excellency was
expected on the same evening.

These papers contain accounts from Con-
stantinople of the 19th tilt, at which date that
capital remained tranquil, but it was believed

that the SULTAN would find it extremely difficult
to survive the storms gathering around him.
He had agreed to receive an envoy from Greece,
but who would not, nevertheless, be allowed to
enter Constantinople ; nor was any vessel having

the Greek flag to be suffered to pass the Dar.
danelles.

The domestic news in these papers is not of
great importance. The Moniteur contains a
royal ordinance, which grants to the Minister of
War two supplementary credits, one of 56,000 f.,
and the other of 11,075,000 f., to provide for
expenses " not anticipated by the budget." A
considerable portion of the columns of the Paris
papers is devoted to the proceedings of the trial
of the persons accused of having formed a con-
spiracy against the Government in July last.
Nothing very interesting has yet been elicited at
this trial, which is likely to occupy the Court of
Assizes several days more.

The Council of Commerce of Paris, at its
sitting on Thursday last, resolved to recommend
several modifications of the existing import du-
ties on British and other Foreign produce and
commodities ; amongst which we find a recom-
mendation that a reduction of 25 per cent. be
made on the general duty upon British iron—a
concession which, although not amounting to all
that we had reason to look for, may be regarded
as a favourable symptom of an approach to the
principle of free trade. The Congress at
Vienna, to be holden on the 2d of January, was
beginning to excite interest in Paris. The Mi-
nisters already named to assist at the Conference
are M. ANCILLON for Prussia, Baron de
GIESE for Bavaria, M. de LINDEMANN for
Saxony, Baron OMPTEDA for Hanover, Count
de BEROLDINGEN for Wirtemberg.
Field-
Marshal WREDE is, it is stated, to be also present.
The French Funds are still on the rise. On
Saturday the Three per Cents,
_closed at
75f. sc.

We have this morning received Frankfort
papers to the 10th inst : extracts from them will
be found in another column. An article from
Trieste states that a steam-vessel from Tripoli
arrived there on the 29th ult., bringing accounts
of the continuance of tranquillity in Greece.

We have for the last six months repeatedly
called the attention of the public to the am-
bitious views of the Emperor of RUSSIA, and
having, from sources on which we could place
the most perfect reliance, obtained information
respecting them which made it imperative on us
to recommend vigilance on the part of our Ali-
, nistry, we did not hesitate to perform that duty,
and never allowed the apparent indifference with
which our suggestions were received, to induce
us, on a point of such public importance, to dis-
continue our advice or withhold the facts upon
which it was founded. We are glad to
find that the eyes of Ministers have at length
been opened, and that what was already evident
to every person out of the Cabinet who had
given himself the trouble of inquiring into the
proceedings of Russia, is now acknowledged by
Lhe Government. Better late than never is an old
and on the whole a good adage ; but we may be
permitted to observe, that in the affairs of

states as well as of individuals another adage
quite as familiar to our readers about the neces-
sity of foresight, is of much greater importance.
A well•timed remonstrance often prevents the
necessity of recurrence to blows, and nothing is
so fatal to Government as a blind, or even an

affected security.
A German Paper gives, under the head o:

- -
Berlin, the following paragraph :

" Letters were received yesterday from St. Petershurgh
by express, which announce that the business which the
Foreign Department is transacting with the Turkish
Ambassador is proceeding with great activity, and that in
consequence several couriers have been despatched to the
Black Sea,with orders for thefitting out of several large
men of war and transports. At the date of these letters
two military officers of high rank, one of whom is to have
the title of Ambassador, were preparing to set out for
Germany."
If the readers of The Sun will take the
trouble of referring to our file they will find that
these orders for fitting out men of war in the
ports of the Black Sea are not of so recent a
date as the article from Berlin would imply.
More than six months ago we stated the fact,
and advised our Government to be on its guard ;
that advice was not then followed,—but it would
appear by the following extract from the Hamp.
shire Telegraph, that precautions are now
taking to prevent the intended encroachments
of the Russian Government. Our provincial

contemporary says—
" Either from the magnitude of the contemplated ex-
pedition from Toulon to the North coast of Africa, or
from a strong suspicion that it is intended by the Rug.
clans to send their Black Sea squadron into the Mediter-
ranean, the British Government have considered it expe-
dient to make some preparations for augmenting our
active naval force. The Ganges, 84, Bellerophon, 80,
and President, 52, at this port; the Calcutta, 84, Min.
den, 74, and Portland, 52, at Plymouth ; the Blenheim,
74, and Worcester, 52, at the Eastward, are ordered to
be rigged, and tilled with their ground tiers of water, by
the crews of the flagAips at their respective stations.
The three ships i❑ this harbour have been brought down
from their stations in ordinary to moorings off the dock
yard."

It is ridiculous to suppose that these prepara

- - -
ions have been caused by the projected - expedi-

tion of the French against Constantine. The
efforts of the French Government to place their
army and navy on a good footing ought to excite
no uneasiness in this country, neither could the
extension of their power in the north of Africa
be productive of injury to this country. So
long as the two nations remain united in
principle—so long as France and England have
a common interest in thwarting the ambitious
designs of Russia and in opposing the progress
of despotism, the increase of power in France
must be a source of satisfaction to this country.
France and England can never contend against
each other, except for their common injury.
they will consolidate their own inde-
pendence,and promote the cause of freedom
United,
throughout Europe. It is against Russia
and her Allies that the vigilance of the
British Government must be directed.
LAFAYETTE has well observed that there are
two categories in Europe, which must soon be
brought to a solutionn. On one side are England
Governments of
and France—we
chose change, but of the
coui
countries
esckh n omt a ofy the
people who know that they have the same mo-
tives for resisting despotism ; on the other are
,he absolute rulers of the Continent, who have,
or think they have, which is the same thin,

, an