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For I am most unwilling to do anything at variance with those engagements, for they can never be broken as long as the sun and moon exist.
single Moreover, ever since those engagements were made, there has never been a trouble in Perak from other countries, owing to the watchful care of the English Government.
Therefore, I will not on any account accept what was done at Pulo Pangkor by Sir Andrew Clarke with my grandson, Rajah Abdullah. For there is not a single thing wanting in all the former treatise made by late Sultans in past days
Now in this matter, if my friend likes to come with an Englishman in whom my friend trusts, and with my Chief's, and will follow my Government and carry out all my laws, and set the country of Perak in order, that its revenues may be increased and my country be advantaged, that I shall be happy to accept.
Blanja India Mulia, 13 Shaban 1292.
Enclosure 12. in No. 48.
We, the "Waris" of the country Perak, who have put our chops on this document, inform our friend, his Excellency Sir W. F. D. Jervois, C.B., K.C.M.G., Governor, Commander-in-Chief, and Vice-Admiral of the Straits Settlements, that as regards our own position and that of our country, Perak, they are in a most deplorable state at this time.
Firstly. There are two Sultans in this country, and no arrangement can be made between them, because they follow the bad advice of their followers.
Secondly. The revenues are not properly raised.
Thirdly. The laws are not executed with justice.
For these reasons we see that Perak is in very great distress, and, in our opinion, the affairs of Perak cannot be settled except with strong active assistance from our friend the We have Representative of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the greatest and most noble. met our friend in Perak, and heard his conversation, and we earnestly beg our friend to give complete assistance to Perak and govern Perak, in order that this country may obtain aafety and happiness, and the proper revenues may be raised, and the laws be administered with justice, and all the inhabitants of the country may live in comfort.
Written on the 18th Shaban 1292. (September 19, 1875).
(After compliments.)
Enclosure 13. in No. 48.
GOVERNOR SIR H. JERVOIS to SULTAN ABDULLAH.
Singapore, September 27, 1875. We mentioned to our friend that we were not satisfied with the condition of affairs in Perak, and that we could not allow our friend's country to remain in an unsettled state any longer. We told our friend that we were anxious to see Perak quiet and prosperous, and the people happy and contented. We thought over every plan by which this result could be secured, and we informed our friend that we had arrived at the conclusion that the only way was that the country should be taken charge of by officers of the British Government, assisted by a Malay Council.
We now wish our friends to know exactly what is in our mind.
Our friend met Sir Andrew Clarke, K.C.M.G., C.B., and some of the Perak Chiefs at Pulo Pangkore on January 20, 1874, when our friend put his chop to a paper, and Sir A. Clarke and the Perak Chiefs present also put their chops to the paper.
Our friend was then made Sultan, and our friend solemnly engaged to carry out the conditions stated in the paper.
Our friend has also received a Proclamation, stating that the Earl of Carnarvon, a great Minister of Her Majesty the Queen of Europe, the noblest and the best, would hold our friend personally responsible for the due fulfilment of the engagements which our troops had made.
We now inform our friend with a heavy heart that our friend has not fulfilled his engagements. Before our arrival as Governor of the three Settlements of Singapore, Pulo Penang, and Malacca, Sir A. Clarke, K.C.M.G., C.B., wrote a letter to our friend, informing our friend that he had learnt that our friend did not take the advice of the Resident, Mr. Birch; and he told our triend that he expected our friend to do so in future, and thus fulfil the conditions of the Pulo Pangkore engagement.
Unfortunately, our friend always listens to the counsel of bad advisers, and has not accepted the warning which our friend then received.
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Instead of asking and acting upon the advice given to our friend by the Resident, our friend has always grieved the Resident by the opposition which our friend has displayed.
Consequently, the taxes are not levied, the revenues are not properly raised, and the administration of the Government, justice, and law, has not made any progress. This absence of good government may lead to disturbances in the State, and is, moreover, prejudicial to the interests of the Straits Settlements, over which we are Governor.
Our friend has also caused great distress to our friend's subjects and to British subjects by the manner in which our friend oppresses and squeezes the people of Perak, in spite of the admonitions of the Resident on this point.
When we met our friend at Campong Gaja we informed our friend that we had seen Ex-Sultan Ismael, Raja Muda, Raja Bandahara, and the other Chiefs of Perak. We have now to tell our friend that we see that our friend is only recognised in his position as Sultan by the people of the Hilir, and these bear but a small proportion to the people of the Ulu, and that Ex-Sultan Ismael is still regarded as the Sultan by a large body of the people. Many of our friend's subjects are also leaving our friend because they are not well treated by our friend, and our friend only keeps his position as Sultan by the help and assistance of the British Government.
We are now going to give our friend good advice, and we hope that our friend will take our advice, for we give it to our friend for his benefit. Our friend must not listen to the advice of bad men in this matter.
We bave shown our friend that there are now two Sultans in Perak, and that our friend has no authority in the Ulu. We wish to help our friend in this matter, for the British Government cannot allow our friend's country to be disturbed any longer.
Our friend has proved himself unable to govern the country by himself, has not taken the advice of the Resident, nor fulfilled the engagements our friend made at Pulo Pangkore, and qur friend is responsible for not having done so.
We wish, however, to be kind to our friend, and, if possible, to maintain his position as Sultan. We have already told our friend that the only way of settling the state of affairs in Perak is for officers of the British Government to take charge of the country, assisted by a Malny Council. Now we propose to our friend that officers of the British Govern- ment shall govern the country in the name of our friend. If our friend agrees to this, our friend will still be recognised as Sultan and receive a large allowance; but, if our friend does not agree to this, we cannot help our friend, and our friend will be no longer Sultan.
We hope that our friend will take our advice. Nothing else but our best compliments to our friend.
(After compliments.)
Enclosure 14. in No. 48.
Sultan Abdullah to Governor Sia W. JERVOIS.
We inform our friend, his Excellency Sir W. F. D. Jervois, C.B., K.C.M G., Governor. of the Straits Settlements, that as regards our own position and that of our country Perak, they are in a most deplorable state at this time.
1. There are two Sultans in this country, anil no arrangement can be made between them, because of the bad advice of certain followers.
2. The revenues are not properly raised.
3. The laws are not executed with justice.
For these reasons we see that Perak 18 in very great distress, and in our opinion the
affairs of Persk cannot be settled except with strong active assistance from our friend the Representative of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the greatest and most noble.
We have met our friend in Perak, and heard his conversation, and we earnestly beg our friend to give complete assistance to Perak, and govern Perak, in order that this country may obtain safety and happiness, and the proper revenues may be raised, and the laws administered with justice, and all the inhabitsus of the country may live in comfort.
When a settlement has been made, we hope that we may govern this Country with trusty representatives of our friend.
Dated October 1, 1875.
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