Star.
London, England, 1819-01-13 00:00:00

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SUMATRA.

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The following is the PacrrseT of Sir T 1104.9
Sreetroeti RAFFLES, Lieutenant-Governor of Fort
Marlborough, against the aggressions of the Dutch
in the Indian Seas :
PROTEST.
The honour and interests of the British Govern-
ment rendering it indispensable that a public and
formal Protest should be made against the proceed-
ings of the Dutch Authorities in the Malayan Archi-
pelago, I do hereby, as the nearest British Authority,
solemnly and publicly Protest against the following
proceedings of the Representatives of the Nether-
lands Government :
When the Agentrof the British Government trans-
ferred the Government of Java to their Excellencies
the Commissioners of his Netherlands lqajesty, they
called upon the Commissioners-General to fulfil the
engagements which the British Government had
contracted with the Native Princes during its admi-
nistration of Java. The British Authonties consi-
dered themselves bound and entitled to insist on
their doing so, that having accepted the benefit of
those Acts which were favourable to them, they
could not reject the burden of those which they
deemed otherwise. No provision was made in the
engagements with the Native Princes, for the con•
ungency of the Colony returning to Holland.—
Hollend, indeed, did not then exist as a nation, aed
the Authorities who administered Java would have
been fully warranted in resigning the whole country
to the Native Princes. The language which was in
consequence held out to the Natives, eves that of a
Government competent to make agieemeats in per-
petuity.' Without such a language, the British could
rever have done what was done for the Eastern
Islands. Those leading measures, of which theNo-
therlanis Government are new deriving all the bene-
fit, could never have been effected had not the Natives
relied on the British GovernMent being able to se-
cure them in a perpetuity of those rights which they
had recognized.
Tie Commissioners-General of his Netherlands
Majesty. hoWever, refused to guarantee those Trea-
ties, and the eoasequence vas 4 formal Protest on the
part of the British Authorities, who, on account of
this and'
other measures a the Netherlands Govern-
trnt, were compelled to leave Batavia; under a de-
chiral ion, that there was an evident disinclination to
concede any thing to the r.ame and character of the
British Nation in the. Eastern Seas; and that, judging
by the general policy evinced, there seemed reason
to believe it to be the wish of the Netherlands Go,
verinnent to erase the recollection of the British Ad •
' reinirtration, and studiously to prevent the Netive•
• hitless and Chiefs perceiving any influence of the Bri-
tishTiovereneen in the arrangement of that transfer.
Stith were the early impreseous of the British
Audienelee, aid the subsequent proceedings of the
Nethcrianda Gayer:uncut will show how far they are
Correct.
The British Governtnent considered the Native'
Princes as independent sovereigns, sad treated with
them accordinay. The Deitch refused to guarantee
or respect our Treaties. and weeld appear to have
einsiseered-those faithful Allies of the British Nation,
as conditionally subjected to their disposal.
If this be unjust with reg and to the settlements ac-
tually subjected to European conttoul what must be
thought of it with regard to those States seltich have
risen into importance, and maintained their con-
ueeion with Britain in opposition to the restrictive
policy of the Dutch? The representatives of his
Netherlands Majesty Would seem to aim at an abso.
lute des potion over the whole Archipelago, with .1
view of excluding other European nations. The
• British had encouraged sentiments of freedom, as far
as was compatible with tnuiquiliity, and had led the
natives to rely upon them for the continued enjoy-
ment of them.
But whatever may be the arrangements or argu-
Ineuts. of tele Netherlands Government with regard
. to the Archipelago generally, it is not necessary to
go beyond the confines of Sumatra for evidence of
the system which they seemed determined to pursue,
• and against which it is the main object of this Paper
• to protest. The circumstances are as follow i—
lly the 2d Article of the Convention of 13th Aug.
1814 e the British Government ceded the island of
Bence to the King of the Netherlands.
This island, valuable on account.* its tin mines,
had, in the year 1812, been previously ceded to Great
' Britain by his Highness Sultan Najunurilin, of Pa-
lembang. on the express condition that all former
cortracts and agreements should be annulled, and
that the Sultan ihould be maintained and supported
in his dignity by the British Government, without
the further intelference of the European Government
in the affairs of Palembang. So important was this
stipulation considered by the Sultan, that on the Ist
Aegust, 1813, it was an express Article of an explae
setory Treaty, that the former clause which stipu-
lated that his Highness should do homage, or consi.
der himself always dependant on the Government of
Java, was " null and void," as being unnecessary
under existing circumatar.ces.
Whet the British were about to withdraw from
Java, and arrangements were made for the transfer
of Brace, it was necessary to withdraw the small Bri-
t: ,b &tee which had provisionally remained at Palem-
bang for the protection of the Sultan. • On that ot-
taloa the sultan appealed to the British Government
it. the A-or.ge,st terms. The following extract from
one of his Ibghness's Letters to the Hon. Mr. Findall,
may be sufficient for the present purpose :
" I hasten to send back my Ambassadors to Batavia
to wait upon my friend the Lieutenant-Governor, Of
whom I earnestly entreat that he will confirm and
settle all the arrangements regarding me and the
centery of Palembaug, as heretc Isre existing—and
that those relations may remain uninterrupted, not-
withstanding the establishment of the Dutch Govern-
ment on theisland of Java. I cannot on any consi-
deration separate myself from the friendship existing
between me and the British Government, and I place
my reliance on the British Government, that their
protection may not be withdrawn, &c. &e. I cannot
understand any other Power upon which I can place
my dependence than the English Government, &c."
In the same manner as the Biitish Authorities had
called upon the Commissioners-General to guarantee
the Treaties with other Princes, they called upon
them to respect that with the Sultan of Palembang ;
but the Commissioners refused a compliance with.

this request ; a solemn Retest was accordingly made
on the part of the British Government, and the ques-
tion referred to the Authorities in Europe. •
The grounds on which the British Authorities felt
themselves warranted in requiring, in a particular
manner, that the existing Treaty with the Sultan of
Palembang should be respected, were obvious. That
Treaty had been fully recognised, as well by his Bri-
tannic Majesty as by his Majesty of the Netherlands;
it was no longer a connexion dependant on the local
Government of Java. The Island of Banca was not
considered to revert to the Dutch as a matter of
course, under the general provisions of the Conven-
tion of 1814, it required that an express article should
be inserted in the Convention, and his Majesty the
King of the Netherlands having received the Island
of Banca under that express article, must be bound
to respect the Treaty by which it was originally
ceded to the English. The very act by which the
Netherlands Government took possession of Banca,
confirmed the independence of Palembang, and ren-
dered it incumbent on the British Government to
maintain the independence unimpaired. While the
British Government availed itself of the benefit which
they derived by the Treaty with_ Palembang, they
were surely bound to fulfil that part of it which was
beneficial to the Sultan. Having transferred Banca
to a foreign Power, the British Government became
bound in honour and good faith. to fulfil the express
condition on which they first obtained it.
Bound, therefore, as the British Government was,
to maintain the rights and dignity of the Sultan, as
the price for which Banca may be considered to have
been purchased, and deeply interested as it was in
protecting the independence of the port of Palerm
bang, it was with surprise that I received, on the 17th
of June. a letter from the Sultan, of which the for
is an extract
44 At this present time there is much trouble and
anxiety, owing to the confusion and alarm spread by
the arrival of a great Dutchman, called Edelier Mau.
tinghe, who wishes to enter the country of Palem-
bang. and says he was sent 'over by the Dutch Com-
missioners-General, for the purpose of communicating
with me. At present he is at Minto, and it is uncer-
tain when he may come to Palembang. The object
of his mission I do not know, but he has ordered a
ship of war to precede him up the ricer, &c. &c.
"I hope that my friend will afford me whatever
assistance he possibly can, and also give me instruc-
tions in order to prevent the Dutch from at all, or
in any way affecting my present state and situation,
by introducing disturbance and confusion in the coun-
try, and by.co-operatir.g with those who wish to de-
stroy my respect and authority :tor •I most fully rely
on being, through the kindness and assistanee of my
• friend, becurOv and firmly established in the rile of
the countiy, ts.C. &c. I tecuest my friend %s ill send
me an early reply, and that my friend will, at the
sante time, 'send me something to hold to, for I ani
still in a state of very great anxiety and alarm."
Oa receipt of this intimation, Captain S.tlmond
was directed to pm:eel to Palembang, as agent of
the British Government, under instructions, of which
the follewiug is a copy, via.—
" To CAPTAIN S:-LMONI).

" Z.re hereby appinted to proceed on a
special tuissi%)a to Palonnbang, the object of which is
to afford the Sultan tha pr(,:ection of the British
Goverment.

2. I .ans unacquair.ted with the mnsureq which
may have been' pursued by the Dutch Gove:ll:nzas
with respect to Palembang ; but whatever they may
have been, they can in no way ihteifere wi.ii the
duty of the British Governme.tt. to support the pre-
sent Sidtan, Itatoo Achmed Isliijumudin, on the
Throne, tu.which he was raised by their authorit7.
This, indced, was the express condition on which he
ceded the island of Bauca.
t‘ 3. The Dutch Government have no claim what-
ever to afmting at Palembang, by virtue of the re- '
cent Convection, .and therefore, it depends upon the
Sult..n, as an independent P. ince, whether he chooses
to admit them or not. Ir. hi; recent communications
to me, he expr,:sses himse:f to be in the utmost dis-
tress all,l anxiety, in conse pence of the disorder and
confusion into which the country hag been thrown
by the eipected arrival of a Ditch Cc.mraissioner,
and in tae full hope that I will give him proofs of
my assistance and friendship, upon me to
know what I can do for him, as his wia reliance is
upon. the British Government, who raised him to the
Throne.

" 4. From this it would appear, that the Sultan
has not yet entered into any formal arrangement with
the Dutch Government ; but as they may have taken
'measures fot: forming an LAablislinteut ih defiance
of the Protest of the British Governmeat, and of the
rights of the Sultan, no time should be lost in call-
ing upon the Sultan to make his election • and if he
is desirous of excluding the Dutch, and of rem tilling
under the British protection, an explanatory Treaty
should be negociated.
" 5. At all events, it will be your duty to con-
vince the Sultan that he is not abandoned by the Bri-
tish Government; and should he place himself une-
quivocally under its protection, to afford him that
protection to the extent of your means, and to require,
that the Dutch withdraw all pretensions, and in no
way further interfere with the affairs of Palembang.
" 6. It- is, perhaps, unnecessary for me to suggest
the propriety of all your communications with the
Dutch Authorities at Banca or elsewhere, being 'as
guarded as possible, but at the same time in the spirit
of harmony and good understanding which exists
between the two Governments.
" 7. I enclose the translation of the accompanying''
letter to the Sultan of Palembang, which you will
be pleased t4o deliver to his Highness immediately on
your arrival.
" Relying on your judgment and discretion in the
execution of the duty reposed in you, I am, &c.
(Signed) " T. S. RAFFLE&
" Fort Marlbro', 20th June, tale."
The following is the Letter to the Sultan, alluded
to in the above Instructions:
" TO HIS HIGHNESS RATOO ACHWED HAJUMUDIN,

SULTAN OF PALSMSANCN
(After Compliments.)
" I have received your Highness's letter, sent by
your Uturans as well as the letters fssuri the mem-
bers of your Highness's family. Your Highness calls
upon me for assistance, in order that you max be
maintained on the throne of Palembang ; I therefore
lose no time in sending to your Highness's Court
Captain Salmond, a Gentleman in whom I place

every confidence, and who will be my representative
in inquiring into the grievances contplained of by
your Highness and your family. This Gentleman
has also full authority from me to adopt all arrange-
ments that muy tend to your Highness's security.

- _ "
I have to request to bespeak your Highness's
kind offices to Captain Salmond, and the Gentlemen
in his'suite. I have nothing to send my friend but
the British flag.
" Written at Maribro', the !Ist June, 1818."

Subsequently to the departure of Captain Salmond,
a further letter was received from the Sultan, of
which the following are extracts
I further acquaint my friend, that on the 29th
of Rajab 1233, the great man, called Warren Her-
man Muntinghe,entercd Palembang with apparently
hostile accompaniments, consisting of one ship and
one brig of war, a gun-boat; and upwards of twenty
small prows. There wvre also with him Rajah Ahib.
a native of Siak, and Pangeran Shiriff Mahomed,
together with'many other persons of different de;crip-
lions. He also brought me letters from the Com-
missioners-General and the Governor-General of Ra-
'tavia. These letters, which I received, inform me
'that they send Mr. Muntinghc as a Commissioner to
make inquiries respecting Banca and Palembang,
and request me to pay him due honour and respect
as their representative. On a subsequent day he
waited upon me, and said he brought orders to me
from the Commissioners-Geacial at Batavia, requir.
ing me to make a division rf the villages, &c. in or-1
der that one half might be given to the former Sul-
tan, Mahorned Budrulaii, and the ocher rema;n with.
me. lie at the same time wished to oiv o me one thou-
-sand Spanish dollars a month, and told me I must
conform to thee orders ; that if I did not, an act
similar to that of Major Robinson's would certainly
take place—namely, that of dethroning inc. His
vessels of war were anchored directly opposite the
gate cf my fort, as if he intended to have recourse
to compulsive moo-Aires, without further discussion.

Be it known to my friend, that whenever I men-
tioned the name of my friend the British Govtrn-
ment, his anger increased; and if I am, not now at
once assisted by my friend, my destruction—perhaps
my death—is inevitable. Ler the orders and a:sist-
ance of my friend, whatever they May be, come
quickly to Palembang. •
" Further I have been found fault with for receiv-
ing my friend's letter, and have been• told by him
Muntinghe) not to send any more people to
Bencoolen. ' I replied,.., how can I not receive the
letters of my friend, having been raised to the Throne
by the British Government ; I certainly must.remem-
her its kindwss- and attachment, and never can for-
get the same, or separate myself from it,' &c. &c.
He also desired me to dispatch persons without de-
lay, to overtake those I before sent with the letter to
my friend, and get back the same from them: and it
is owing to this circumstance, that I am now enabled
to forward the-present letter to my friend ; and le:
him not take offence at' the unsuitable manner in
which it, is done.. But my friend knows too well,
how unhappily I ant at. present situated to do this,
&c. &c. I have nothing to send my friend but tears,
which r.ever cease to-km."
. The following alditional instructions were in con-
sequence forwarded to cApfain SWunand, on the 24th
of Jute