Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-11
FROM BATAVIA.

we are indebted To Mr.. Topliir for the loan
OF thG bdtdsidn CoWdnt Of July IL, contain-
ng a long official account of the capture of
falcmbang, by Major General Kock, the
commander of the expedition. The Dutch
naval force consisted of two frigates. two cor
vets, three briggs, several seh0oners. and :,
large number OF transport shins and gun
Doats Ihey attacked on the 2olh of June
the enemy's batteries on the banks of the RI
yer, ana the Island OF Gambora, on which
were mounted l26 guns, aud lost on that day
AZ men Killed and 81 wounded On The oIfh
they renewed the attack. and carried all the
batteries, with the loss OF 90 men killed and
l4o wounded On the Goth. the feet procec,,-
ed up The rivera took position opposite the
Town "f Palembang, and on the FOLLOWING dav
| an oilicer OF the Sultan came on board the
AdmiTafs snip TO propose terms of capi,ula-
uon' ihe recovery of this place by the
over The kingdom of Palembang. which has
been able for several years TO Oppose an cfIsc-
| luai resistance 10 their whole force in the
East indies, is an event of some importance
10 give our readers some idea of the war
which has been carried on in this quarter. we
translate the following paragraph from the
Annuaire Historique for 1913.
"The Dutch had exercised for more than =
century the righr of sovereignty ever the sui
tan of Paiembang they had kept up a garrison
and this prince paid them an annual tribute ac
cordns To the treaty ofI3I4. All The establish
ments held by the Dutch in 1903, were to be
restored TO The King of the Netherlands and
the island OF Banca was yielded TO him in fin
Souerelgnty as an equivalent for the establish
ineni ot Cochln.-Ihus the Dutch acquired a
dOuoie right to take up again the authority
over Palembang which they enoyed in 1908.
bat during the occupation of the English in
1919, the governor of Java acknowledged by
treaty, the Independence of the Sultan in re-
urn Tor some advantages granted to the
English commerce. When Banca was rivan
up tne English commissary insisted that ii
should be done only upon condition, that tbt.
treaties and the Independence Of the Sultan
should not be acknowledged, which the Dutch
refused to do by virtue of their rights of so
'ereIgnty. Consequently, Mr. Mutinghe the
oihcer commissioned to retake possessions be-
gan by putting an end To a civil war. which
was dividing the kingdom of Palcmbang by
inc CLAIMS of two brothers to the throne re-
duced the power of the Sultan, abolished the
Save trade and overturned the system of lp-
Sislation, introduced by the English into the
country.
On hearing of these events, Sir Thomas
Stamford Railles, the governor of Bencoolen.
the island OF Sumatra) sent deputies into the
kingdom of Palembang, who hoistcd the
British flag upon the Sultan's palace. Ii was
taken down by the Dutch officer who received
seasonable remforcements, and took measures
10 oppose the entrance ofan army OF Cipayes
ana Malays, who were marching by the order
oil Governor Rallies TO Palembang. II was
feared, that upon the arrival of this nc,cs in
Europe, it would give rise to some serious
difficulties between the cabinets of London
ana The Hague But the conduct of the En-
glish government has been disapproyed, the
literal execution Of the treaty maintained, and
the sovereignty of the Dutch over Paembang
secured"
The yearafter The transactions above related
the Dutch found themselves involved in a war
with the Sultan, whom they had themselves
supported in opposition TO The English candi-
date, and in July 1919 they were attacked in
the port Of the residency, Ivy an army Of Ma
iays, who had thirty pieces of cannon. and
were compelled TO evacuate the plnce. They
escaped to the island of Banca, after having
suffered severe loss. In October they made
a vigorous effort TO recover possession or fin,
place. They fitted out from Batavia n feet
with 1900 men on board, and repaired to the
river Palembang. But they were repuIscd in
an attack upon the batteries in the river. and
4 were obliged TO retire with the loss of $50 men
From that time TO the date oftbe transaction,
related above, they have been unable to rcgair
possession Of their ancient port.
Boston Daiiy .qdU.
Ttyfr0cf ,C n feijor c.o.,, ., o.e..fy..-... G.,