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cerned in the affair, that, if detected in infringing it, they would be certainly and severely punished.

8. At my request, the Senior Naval Officer, Captain the Honourable A. Denison, sent Her Majesty's ship "Hornet" up to Penang, with orders to cruise between it and the Laroot River for the protection of trade, and to prevent any breaches of the peace.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

H. ST. GEORGE ORD.

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him; and I wish to be furnished with a copy of your letter to His Highness, and of any reply which he may have made to it.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

KIMBERLEY.

No. 18.

Sir,

No. 15.

Admiralty to Colonial Office.

Admiralty, April 29, 1873.

I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, extracts from a general letter of Vice-Admiral Shadwell, dated the 20th March, from Hong Kong, reporting that the "Hornet" had been sent to Penang in, consequence of certain disturbances which had occured in localities in the Straits of Malacca, and that the "Zebra" remained at Singapore.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

Inclosure in No. 15.

ROBERT HALL.

Extract from a Letter of Vice-Admiral Shadwell, dated “ Salamis,” at Hong Kong, March 20, 1873.

PETTY difficulties which appear to be of frequent occurrence in the Straits of Malacca having again arisen, the "Hornet" proceeded to Penang, and has been cruizing in the neighbourhood of the disturbed localities between the Rivers Perak and Krean. The "Zebra" remained at Singapore by last advices.

No. 16.

My Lord,

Messrs. Lambert, Burgin, and Petch to Colonial Office.

8, John Street, Bedford Row, London, W.C., WE venture to request your advice and direction under the following circumstances:—

June 25, 1873. We hold a power of attorney to act on behalf of a client in Singapore, James Guthrie Davidson, Esq., who is one of two concessionnaires of considerable territory of Salangore, which abounds in tin mines. These have only been worked to a very small extent, and His Highness the Viceroy of Salangore is desirous of opening up the resources of the territory, and the concessionnaires have agreed with him to organize a company upon terms which were included in a document dated in the month of March last.

The concessionnaires are endeavouring to form a company here, but are met in financial circles with this objection, that the territory of Salangore is not within the immediate protection of the British Government, and that therefore there is no assurance of safety of life and property.

We are requested to ask whether there is any possibility of protection being afforded to the territory by the British Government, from which we should derive benefit, or seeing that his Highness the Viceroy of Salangore is most willing to allow soldiers to be employed and kept up by a commercial company, whether the British Government would interfere and prevent the company keeping armed men. soldiers for his security, and the company will require them (as they will have, when The Viceroy would be glad to have the formed, 3,000 Chinamen at work) to keep order

May we ask the expression of your view of this subject. If desired, we should have pleasure in attending with the English Engineer, who has been over the territory and reported upon it, and in affording every further explanation in oar power if such an interview is agreeable to your Lordship.

We have, &c.

(Signed) LAMBERT, BURGIN, AND PETCH.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

FLITTICO.

882

2

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

(No. 95.) Sir,

The Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir H. St. George Ord

Downing Street, May 8, 1873.

I HAVE received your despatch No. 72 of the 20th of March last, respecting the instructions addressed by you to the Acting Lieutenant-Governor of Penang on the 24th of October and the 12th of November, 1872, with reference to the recent disturbances at Laroot.

2. The explanation you now submit does not, in my opinion, affect the view I took in my despatch No. 9 of the 17th January last, the purport of which you will be good enough to communicate to the Lieutenant-Governor of Penang, if you have not already done so.

3. I approve of your having prohibited the exportation of arms to the district between the Krean and Perak rivers.

(No. 137.) Sir,

I have, &c. (Signed)

KIMBERLEY.

No. 17.

The Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir H. St. George Ord.

Downing Street, June 24, 1873. WITII reference to my despatch No. 240 of the 12th of December last, respecting the letter addressed to you on the 15th of October by the Maharajah of Johore, on the subject of Rajah Mahdie's temporary residence in Johore, I should be glad to learn whether the Maharajah has expressed himself satisfied with the explanations you made to + No. 13.

No. 9.

• No. 14.

No. 19.

Admiralty to Colonial Office.

Sir,

I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit, for the

Admiralty, June 27, 1873. information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a despatch of the 18th April last, and its inclosures, from the Naval Commander-in-chief in China in regard to an alleged piratical attack made on an English steamer the "Fair Malacca," by some junks at the River Laroot, and the subsequent proceedings of Her Majesty's ships "Zebra

Hornet," which latter vessel had towed one of the offending junks from Lardot to aud Penang in accordance with instructions received from the Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony.

"

2. My Lords do not intend communicating with the Vice-Admiral on this matter until they have received a reply from the Earl of Kimberley, as it appears to their Lordships that the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown may be required on the subject.

3. I am to add that the papers have already been forwarded for the perusal of Earl Granville, who is of opinion that as the Chinese who were concerned in the proceedings appear to be from Singapore, the Colonial Office will be the proper Department to deal with the case.

4. I am to request that the inclosed papers may be returned when done with.

ROBERT HALL.

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I

am, &c.

(Signed)