gages "that no treaty hereafter made by either, with any native power in the Eastern seas, shall contain any article tending, either expressly, or by the imposition of unequal duties, to exclude the trade of the other party from the ports of such native power: and that if, in any treaty now existing on either part, any article to that effect has been admitted, such article shall be abrogated upon the conclusion of the present treaty.' This condition cannot, indeed, be so cleverly or plausibly evaded as the other two, but still its difficulties may be dexterously got over also. For example, at all the ports of Sumatra, Borneo, and Celebes, where Dutch controul is operative, the same imposts are levied on the staple manufactures of Great Britain as at Batavia. According to the spirit and letter of the treaty, the duties at all these places ought, in our opinion, to be reduced to the same level as under the native governments when trade was flourishing; and that they should not be unequal as contemplated in the treaty, they should be made exactly the same to Dutch and English. This article can refer only to such places as Palembang, Sambas, Pontianak, &c. where Dutch military posts are established, and for this good reason, that where Dutch treaties with the native states are not backed by this species of ratification, they are to all intents and purposes a dead letter, and of no more efficacy than if they had never been framed; a matter which is corroborated by the best of all proofs, that in every one situation where Dutch influence is not paramount, British manufactures and commodities are introduced with all the freedom that could be desired, while the market for them continues every year to be extended.

"The manner in which the treaty may be evaded where Dutch treaties are operative, will be as follows:-The places in question will be declared to be Dutch Settlements, albeit a treaty exists with an acknowledged sovereign-albeit this sove reign be present in person and administers native law through his own officers, and albeit neither the Dutch civil or military establishments be of sufficient strength and efficiency to preserve the country from insurrection for six months together, or to secure respect beyond the range of their cannon. We shall give one example of the effects of this system, which it is impossible to contemplate without pain and regret. In the year 1812, Pontianak, then an independent port, consumed British and Indian goods imported in British shipping to the value of 311,275 dollars, upon which the duties were little more than Spanish dollars 9,000. This was exclusive of the trade with Java and other islands, and the trade with China, As soon as the place received a Dutch garrison, many

of the articles in question were prohibited altogether on some the duty was raised to 12 per cent., and on others to 35, by which means the trade of course became extinct, so that for the last two years Pontianak has only been visited by two vessels under the British flag, and one of them met with such a reception that the experiment is not very likely to be re-' peated.

"In making these observations, we are far from objecting to the extension of Dutch authority within the Archipelago. On the contrary, we deem all extension of European influence to be a benefit, and when legitimately exercised, equivalent to the extension of security and protection, and the augmentation of commerce, prosperity, and comfort. On the other hand, when exercised on narrow and erroneous views of national advantage, however laudable the motive or patriotic the intention, we are clear in thinking that nothing can be expected to result but disappointment to one party and injury to every other.

"No European settlement or colony can ever be expected to flourish within this Archipelago without a large share of commercial freedom and commercial equality. We may be quite sure that there are no other sources of real prosperity, and that all the advantages of favourable situation, safe harbours, rich mines, and valuable products, can come to no good, except when fostered by their protection. By the last accounts from Batavia, there was not one British or American ship in the roads, a circumstance which had not been known for eight years before; and it is impossible not to connect this calamity with the system of prohibitions and restraints which has been recently established. There is another hint which we will venture to throw out at the risk of being considered national, and it is this; that no commercial settlement in the Indies can be expected, in the existing circumstances of the world, to flourish, that shall be denied the free access of British capital and enterprize. India is full of proofs of this truth. British capital and enterprize raised Calcutta in the short space of half a century to be the wealthiest and finest city the East ever saw. They raised Madras amidst the sands of the Carnatic in the same period to the second rank. They converted the barren island of Bombay into the second commercial city in Asia. They have rendered Canton superior in wealth and population to the imperial city. In six years they collected 12,000 industrious inhabitants in the hitherto desert and barren island of Singapore, who, instead of committing depredations upon trade, like its quondam inhabitants, export and import jointly to the value of more than fourteen millions of dollars annually. The same British capital and enterprize, let it be

added,

added, regenerated Batavia itself-a -are still its main supports, and converted five millions of Javanese, strangers for two centuries to the productions of European industry, extensive consumers of British manufactures. It is clear to us, that the agency which is capable of producing such effects, may be safely recommended to the respect and consideration of every prudent and enlightened government.

SUMATRA.

Bencoolen.-The following letter from this settlement, dated May 11, appears in the India Gazette:

This settlement and all its dependencies were formally ceded to the Netherlands authorities on the 6th April, so that we have been living under Dutch sway for more than a month. Great unanimity has apparently prevailed between the agents of the two governments, which is a fortunate circumstance for us Anglo-Dutchmen, who must have been the sufferers by any contests between the parties. Indeed the terms of the treaty are so explicit, that no delicate points were left for discussion or litigation. The Dutch continue to hold out the prospect that no material alteration will take place in the administration of the ceded countries-for the present at least; and they are desirous of giving every assurance to this effect to the natives. The several chieftains in and about Marlborough say little of their new rulers, and maintain a sullen but expressive reserve. How long things will continue to wear their present fair and tranquil appearance, it is impossible to say; for an occurrence took place the other day, which, as far as an uninterested observer can judge, is rather ominous of the future acts of the present government. The case is as follows: The licence for the retail vend of

opium is farmed out here by the year, for which the farmer pays government a monthly rent. A Chinese became the purchaser for the year which expired on the 30th of April last. The terms of the licence ensure to the farmer the retail vend of opium in the town and suburbs of Marlborough, and in certain of the out-stations. The steps it became necessary for government to pursue, in consequence of the transfer of the settlement, required the Company's agents and establishments at those stations to be withdrawn on the 1st of March, having two months of the seven, for which the farm was purchased, unexpired. After the stations were withdrawn, government could not of course any longer ensure to the farmer the sole retail vend of opium in the districts, according to the terms of the farmer's engagements, which were mutually binding. The farmer naturally petitioned government on the subAsiatic Journ. VOL. XXI. No. 121.

ject, requesting to give up the farm, as the sale of the drug by him had become much diminished, in consequence of the out-stations being withdrawn. The justice of the case appeared so obvious, that we understand the resident remitted 1000 rupees per month of the rent, for the two remaining months, March and April. On the Dutch assuming the government of the country, the licence was transferred for the unexpired term, viz. from the 6th to the 30th, the rent for those days becoming due to the Netherlands government. When the time of payment arrived at the end of the month, Poorkei tendered the reduced rent for the 25 days, little dreaming it was possible he could be required to pay the original sum as when the farm was entire, a thousand rupees of which the good faith of the British government had remitted. The act of that government, founded as it was upon such palpable justice, he considered must be respected, however little the Dutch might feel inclined to consider him or his property. But no, the bait is too alluring, the full sum is peremptorily demanded. He appeals to the British resident; the latter remonstrates, but all in vain the full amount is rigidly and rapaciously exacted. An act of such unexampled rapacity and injustice, particularly at such a time, astonished every one, and it has occasioned a great sensation among the native population in the bazars. All the kees cry out against it. They say they have seen something, and heard more, of mandarine squeezing, but this exceeds every thing they have seen or heard of. What measures have been taken to insure redress to the oppressed individual, so as to satisfy the authority which has been so grossly violated, is not known. When will the principle "honesty is the best policy be universally acknowledged and acted upon ?

JAVA.

Macassar Expedition.-Extract from the Batavian Gazette of July 26 :

We have received news these two days past by native boats, that the expedition against Soupa, in Macassar, has returned, after making itself master of that place. We are happy to communicate to our readers the particulars of this event, which, in the present state of affairs in Celebes, is of great importance, by the insertion of the reports of Major General Van Geen, commander of the troops.

General Van Geen, in a letter of the 9th July, announces his intention of sending back part of his force to Java as soon as possible, and to embark himself for Batavia, with his highness the Panumbahan, of Samanap, of whose

whose support on this campaign the General speaks in the highest terms. The Netherland troops did not lose a single man on this occasion, but the enemy had a great many killed.

Price of Commodities. By an arrival from Batavia, we have an account of the government sale on the 30th July of the different articles specified as under :Coffee 10,000 peculs, 14 to 43 dollars; Tin, 450 ditto, 24 to 20 ditto; Mace, (first quality) 200 ditto, 104 to 50; Ditto (second quality) 800 ditto, 71 to 22; Ditto (third quality) 100 ditto, 36 to 50; Cloves 400 ditto, 75 to 98. Coffee in the market, 14 to 15 and in demand.

Price of dollars,

The Insurgents. The letters and papers from Batavia state, that an escort with treasure, consisting of 40 soldiers, and with 200,000 silver rupees (about 20,000.), proceeding from Batavia to Souraba, had been attacked by the Raja of Soloo. Every man was killed, and the treasure seized by the insurgents.

Advices from Batavia to the 4th September state that the "insurrections against the Dutch authorities have assumed a very serious appearance; martial law had been proclaimed, and all Europeans capable of bearing arms, from sixteen to forty-five, were ordered to perform military duty in protecting the towns and villages. The communication between the capital and Samarang, by land, had been cut off by the insurgents, but very recent intelligence had been sent by sea. General De Kock, who was at Samarang, states that every thing was tranquil in the town; the native princes were in force at about twenty miles distance. He had offered rewards for the heads of the principal conspirators, but he appears in some fear for his own person, as the princes had circulated notices that a great reward would be given to the person who should bring in the head of the Dutch commandant. No action had taken place. All business at Batavia was completely suspended.

Syria.

A letter from Aleppo says " Abdallah Pacha wishing, in every respect, to imitate his patron Mehemed Aly, Pacha of Egypt, has declared, by his acts, that he wishes to be the only merchant in his States. He has filled the trade of Beyrout with consternation, by prohibiting the exportation of silk, and by establishing a delegate, to whom applications must be made for the purchase of all articles for exportation which he chooses to permit. The most profound misery reigns in Mount Lebanon. The death

of the virtuous prelate, vicar of his holiness, M. Gandolfi, has filled the Christian population of these countries with sorrow and mourning.

"There has been some fermentation at Aleppo. The Janissaries conduct themselves with wisdom and with moderation. Misery is at its height in this unfortunate country; that which completes the desolation of the land is the irruption of the Bedouin Arabs, who inundate the environs of Aleppo, of Damascus, of Hems, and of Humma, the intermediate cities. They have cut off all communications; the Liban and the Antiliban are the only barriers which arrest their course. The shores of the Euphrates are ravaged by the successive spoliations of the Anases Arabs and of the Bonaks, who burn all which they cannot consume. As a crisis of this calamity, the magistrates buy up the provisions, which they sell at a maximum. The inevitable consequences of these misfortunes produce more than alarm."- French Paper.

Australia.

We have received a file of the Australian to August 4. The bush-rangers, it ap pears, increase in number and audacity. A gang of fifty is stated to be at no great distance from Sydney. In the neighbour hood of Newcastle their outrages are frequent, and many individuals, of desperate character, have absconded from their employers, with a view of joining the gangs. The district of Bathurst has been the scene of serious outrages. The inhabitants of Peterson's Plains have adopted all the means in their power to secure the apprehension of the runaways; but great complaints are made in the Australian of the want of magistrates and of their inactivity. The minor depredators evince their usual skill. A mill and steam-engine, called "the Darling Mills," being intended to be erected at Paramatta, a number of coins were, as customary, deposited in the foundation stone, which was laid with due solemnity. A few days afterwards it was discovered that the coins had been abstracted. The state of the colony seems, in most respects, prosperous: salt-works are about to be established at Newcastle; and such is the rapid advance which production is making, that it is expected the colony will soon possess a plentiful resource for every article of domestic comfort. The average market prices on July 28 were as follow: Wheat 11s. 11d. per bushel, maize 4s. 9d., barley 4s. 6d., Flour 45s. per cwt. Potatoes 4s. 6d. Bread 9d. per loaf.

The following account is given of the Penal settlement at Norfolk Island:

Considerable

Considerable progress has already been made in arable cultivation. Six acres of wheat are in the ground, and three acres and a half of maize. Potatoes, cabbages, peas, and other varieties of vegetables, are planted, and every thing bears a very promising appearance. The surface of the whole island was overspread with grass, four, five, and six feet high. Guava trees are in great abundance, as also orange and lemon trees. The coffee plants flourish most luxuriantly: some of them are seen bearing not less than four or five bushels of coffee. Pine-trees, of a very fine size, are numerous. The various animals have increased to a wonderful extent; such as pigs, fowls, pigeons, &c.: the pigs are very large.

Several of the prisoners, who are of the worst and most incorrigible class of offenders, were, at first, particularly refractory. Capt. Turton, however, ordered out the triangles as the most effectual recipe for the disorders, and after having had a few dozens administered, found his prescription operate tolerably well: he keeps the men hard at work from sunrise to sunset. A great many of the buildings, the walls of which were in a pretty good state, have been roofed in and repaired. Public stores, and barracks for the men, have been put into an efficient and habitable state. Huts also for the prisoners have been erected. The old lime-kiln has been rekindled; it was not, in the least degree, dilapidated. The old road from Cascade to Sydney, now called, by Capt. Turton, Kingston, is put into good travelling order. In short, the effects of industry and hard labour have, within the short period that has elapsed since the landing of the company and the prisoners, re-adorned that garden of Eden, "still where many a garden flower grows wild," and which many persons nów resident here abandoned with regret and an aching heart.

The finest sperm whales are found in the greatest numbers. An immense num

ber of fish of all kinds are found around the island. The weather was experienced comfortably warm.

SHIPPING.

Arrivals.

June 30. Ann, Grimes, from Isle of France.L'Espérance (French corvette), Du Campeer.Thetis (French frigate), Bougainville, both from Sourabaye, on discovery.- July 2. Lalla Rookh, Stewart, from Liverpool.-10. Mariner, Fotherby, from Cork (with 112 female prisoners).-17. Harriet, Anderson, from the sperm whale fishery (with 1600 barrels of oil).-Samuel, Drysdale, from New Zealand.-Aug. 3. William Shand, Kean, from London.

Departures.

July 7. Phoenix, Dixon, for London (met with a gale, and put into Pinch Gut Island, on the 22d, damaged).-29. Lalla Rookh, Stewart, for Batavia and England.

BIRTHS.

July 2. The lady of the Rev. G. A. Middleton, chaplain of Newcastle, of a son.

14. At Sydney, Mrs. Morris, of a son. Aug. 7. At Cecil Park, Sydney, the lady of John Wylde, Esq., of a son.

MARRIAGE.

Aug. 2. At St. James's Church, Sydney, Mr. John Grimes, son of Chas. Grimes, Esq., formerly surveyor general of the colony, to Miss Mary Ann Atkinson.

Cape of Good Hope.

Cape of Good Hope papers to the 26th September mention that coal has been found in a rich tract of land between the rivers Gamtoor and Kromme. There is a proclamation in these papers (inserted by orders of the Governor) by Radama, king of Madagascar, in which his Majesty states the great respect he entertains for the English nation, and intimates he will allow a trade with the town of Mazingay, and the bay and harbours of Boantock, on the most favourable terms, and holds our every inducement to settlers in his dominions.

THE Calcutta Government Gazette contains an official report of the occupation of Munnipoor, by Gumbeer Sing, accompanied by Lieut. Pemberton, mentioned in our last number; the report, which includes some geographical details, is as follows:

Munnipoor, June 14th, 1825. To Col. R. Stevenson, Quart. Mast. Gen. of the Army.

Sir;-Lieut. Brown's letter of the 12th ult. will have apprized you of my having volunteered to attempt reaching Munnipoor, accompanied by Gumbeer Sing, and a detachment from his levy.

I have now the honour to inform you, for the information of His Excellency the Commander-inchief, that the Brig. Gen. commanding the eastern division, having sanctioned the proposal, I left Sylhet on the 17th ult., accompanied by Gumbeer Sing, expecting to reach Banskandy by the direct route of Goobabgung, Byragie Bazar, &c.; but on arriving at the former village the road was found impracticable from the heavy rain that had fallen for several preceding days, and it became necessary to adhere to the left bank of the Barak river, by which circuitous route we reached Banskandy on the 23d. The following day was employed in making the necessary preparation for the march, and on the 25th, the force, consisting of 500 muskets under the personal command of Gumbeer Sing, crossed the Cheree Nullah, passed the low swampy ground in the vicinity of Luckipoor, and after traversing a range of hills, north of the Barak, encamped on the borders of the forest, west of the Jeree Nullah.

From this nullah commences the ascent of the numerous and irregular ranges of hills, extending without a single interval of level ground for eighty miles, to the Valley of Munnipoor. I have the pleasure to annex a list of the few Naga villages in this route, all of which are situated on or near the most lofty points of the different ranges, and the various places at which we halted.

Our progress had been considerably retarded by rain, and on reaching the village of Moonjerion-do on the 1st instant, we were compelled from the same cause to halt for three days, in which time the provisions became exhausted, and from that period to the day we entered Munnipoor the men had but a scanty and precarious supply of bad rice obtained at most exorbitant rates from the Nagas of the different villages through which we passed. To these deprivations Gumbeer Sing's men, composed entirely of Munnipooreans, submitted without the slightest appearance of dissatisfaction, and cheerfully continued to advance, though constant rain had so swollen the nullahs that it was necessary to throw bridges over the three principal ones, the Euraing, Eeyee, and Toobut, the timber for which was in each instance cut immediately after marches, rendered peculiarly harassing from the mountainous nature of the country traversed.

On the 10th instant, the force marched from the Jeft bank of the Eeyse Nullah, and commenced the ascent of the hills forraing a western boundary to the valley of Munnipoor; parties had been pre

viously detached to take possession of two Naga villages, one on either flank, in which the Burmahs had stationed pickets, twelve miles in advance of the town. At 3 P. M. the village of Koongakool on the left was reached by one of the parties, and a few of the Burmahs captured: the other party was equally successful at Miangkeenow, where a large portion of the enemy was killed and some taken; the men were so much exhausted by the day's march, and want of food, that it was necessary to halt, although at such a crisis rapidity of advance was most advisable.

At two o'clock, P.M., on the 11th, while attempts were making to obtain a small supply of rice for the men, from a few neighbouring villages, information was received that the Burmahs had evacuated the stockade in the town, and we took possession of it the following day: every thing of value had been carried off, and nothing was found in the stockade but a few muskets, two iron guns, and about 120 maunds of rice in husk; the enemy consisting of 600 fighting men, and as many followers, retreated in a southerly direction; and information being yesterday given that they had stockaded themselves at a village called Undro, about ten miles distant, Gumbeer Sing and my. seif, with 200 men, went in pursuit of them. On reaching the Erie Nullah, six miles distant, we found that the enemy had again retreated, and subsequent intelligence proving that they had altogether left the district, I returned to Munnipoor, and Gumbeer Sing proceeded to the Towban Pergunnah to make such arrangements for procuring supplies for his men as the exhausted state of this once fertile district will permit.

As the principal objects contemplated in attempting this advance were, the obtaining some accurate information regarding the different passes into the country, its resources, and the strength of the enemy, my attention is now wholly directed to their accomplishment; and I hope in a few days after my return to Sylhet to have the pleasure of transmitting plans of the town, stockade, and surrounding country, together with a map of the route from Banskandy, and such information as may eventually prove useful.

The favourable mention of Gumbeer Sing's name will not, I trust, be considered presumptuous. To his energy, perseverance, and skill, is the success of the undertaking principally attributable, and should his co-operation in any subsequent advance be required, it will, I doubt not, be such as to reflect equal credit upon himself and I have, &c.

men.

R. B. PEMBERTON, Lieut.
Offi. D. A. Q. M GI.

Our intelligence from the different British quarters in the Burmese territory continue to be, in some respects, contradictory. Private letters from Calcutta represent the aspect of affairs in that country in the least favourable light; but we are inclined to place less reliance upon their statements than upon those furnished in letters from the country itself, which are published in the several newspapers of Calcutta. We shall present to our readers the substance of such intelligence as seems most interesting and most worthy of credit.

PROME. - Operations will not be resumed in this quarter till towards the close of the year, when the country becomes passable. The India papers, as well as private letters, state that the ar my was in excellent condition; that the rains had set in gently; that the inhabitants of the town and adjacent villages had returned to their habitations, bringing