CO882-(2-3) — Page 171

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

882

2

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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Straits Settlements by Chinese traders in Singapore, as relates to the interruption to trade with Sumatra and with the dominions of the King of Sulu.

1 ain, &c.

(Signed)

No. 27.

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

Governor Sir H. St. George Ord to the Earl of Kimberley.-(Received September 15.)

(No. 232.) My Lord,

Government House, Singapore, August 8, 1873.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch No. 137 of the 24th June, 1873, referring to your Lordship's despatch No. 240 of 12th December, 1872,† respecting a letter addressed to me on the 15th October, 1872, by the Maharajah of Johore, on the subject of Rajah Mahdie's temporary residence in Johore.

2. Your Lordship requests to be informed whether the Maharajah has expressed htaiself satisfied with the explanations I have made to him, and your Lordship further expresses a wish to be furnished with a copy of my letter to His Highness, and of any reply which he may have made to it.

3. In obedience to your Lordship's instructions I have the honour to forward herewith the copy

of a letter which I addressed to the Maharajah on the 11th February last, and of His Highness' reply of the 15th February.

Sir,

I have, &c.

(Signed)

H. ST. GEORGE ORD.

Inclosure 1 in No. 27.

Government House, Singapore, February 11, 1873. WITH reference to your Highness' letter of the 20th October last, explaining the circumstances under which Rajah Mahdie found an asylum in Johore, and which letter, at your Highness' request, 1 forwarded for the information of Lord Kimberley, his Lordship desires me to inform your Highness that he has learnt with much concern that, from a communication I made to you in consequence of a despatch from his Lordship inquiring as to the circumstances under which Rajah Mahdie had obtained an asylum in Johore, your Highness was under the impression that Lord Kimberley believed that you have been encouraging or assisting Rajah Mahdie and others against Tunkoo dia Oodin in the Salangore troubles.

Whilst his Lordship would never be ready to lend credence to reports injurious to a faithful ally of the Queen, whose intelligent administration of his territory and constant friendliness to the British Government, Her Majesty highly appreciates, Lord Kimberley feels sure your Highness will understand that it was no more than his Lordship's duty to satisfy himself by inquiring from me as to the reason for the presence of such a person as Kajah Mahdie in Johore. In making this inquiry Lord Kimberley in no way assumed that your Highness had rendered assistance to Rajah Mahdie.

Lord Kimberley instructs me further to say, that he wishes to assure your Highness that the esteem in which your Highness has been held by Her Majesty and her Ministers for many years is in no degree diminished, and to convey to your Highness his Lordship's zincere regret that anything should have occured to cause you pain and annoyance.

I have, &c.

His Highness the Maharajah of Johore.

(Signed)

Inclosure 2 in No. 27.

H. ST. GEORGE ORD.

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still more to be assured through his Lordship of the continued esteem and good-will of Her Majesty the Queen and of Her Majesty's Ministers, and their appreciation of my constant endeavours to improve the administration of the Government of my country, and to cultivate the friendship of your Government.

I have, &c.

(Signed) ABUBAKAR, Maharajah of Johore. His Excellency Major-General Sir H. St. George Ord, C.B.,

&c.

&c. Governor of the Straits Settlements.

Sir,

&c.

No. 28.

Colonial Office to Admiralty.

•

Downing Street, September 16, 1873. WITH reference to my letter of the 11th July last, respecting the attack made on the "Fair Malacca" by junks at the River Laroot, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley

to inform you that a despatch on the subject has been now received from Sir H. Ord, which, however, throws but little additional light on the matter.

The Governor has been communicated with by telegraph, and desired to send home copies of the proceedings and evidence taken in the Admiralty Court, and until these documents are received, it seems to Lord Kimberley to be premature to consult the Law Officers of the Crown on the subject.

If, however, their Lordships prefer that the papers should be laid before the Law Officers in their present state, Lord Kimberley will give the necessary directions on receiving an intimation of their Lordships' wishes.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

No. 29.

R. H. MEADE.

Governor Sir H. St. George Ord to the Earl of Kimberley.—(Received September 18.)

(Telegraphic.)

Singapore, September 17, 1873. "MIDGE'S" boats searching for pirates. Laroot attacked by piratical boats, and fired on by stockade. Sub-Lieutenant William Creswell and Abraham Lindesay dangerously wounded. Commander Grant unhurt. Thalia " leaves for Laroot at daybreak to-morrow,

No. 30.

Admiralty to Colonial Office.

Sir,

Admiralty, September 20, 1873. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit, for the Earl of Kimberley's information, copies of a letter dated 15th August from Captain Woollcombe of Her Majesty's ship "Thalia," Senior Naval Officer at Singapore, and of a report from the Commander of Her Majesty's ship “Midge” in regard to the capture of five piratical junks by that vessel in the Straits of Malacca.

A similar letter has been written to the Foreign Office.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT HALL.

Sir,

Johore, Bahru, February 15, 1873.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 11th current, conveying to me, by Lord Kimberley's desire, his Lordship's satisfaction with the explanations offered in my letter of 20th October last, regarding Rajah Mahdie and his temporary residence in Johore, and I beg to thank you for the same.

It is very gratifying to me to have received this explanation from his Lordship, and

† No. 9.

• No. 17.

• No. 21.

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