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Capitalists will not invest funds in them, when they can have little or no security for their investments; immigrants will not enter when there is no sure protection to life and property; development cannot take place without capital and labour.

In order, therefore, to secure the remedy sought, it may be assumed that these States must not be administered exclusively by the Malays, but that the British should establish such relations with them, and have such a voice in the general administra- tion, that the requisite security can be guaranteed, and immigration consequently encouraged.

We see in our immediate neighbourhood the good results of British influence in the State of our enlightened friend, the Maharajah of Johore; for although he himself governs, he would be the first to admit the fact, that it is due to British example and British education that the comparative prosperity of his country has been attained.

The system of good government which I am advocating is not only essential to the establishment of commercial relations, but its necessity is likewise recognized when the situation is reviewed socially, morally, and politically.

That the Malays themselves like to be under our rule there can be no doubt. I had been informed that it was the general desire amongst the great body of ryots that the British should take the governing power into their own hands, and my recent visit to Perak bas confirmed this information.

It requires, moreover, but to look to the great number who have congregated in our Settlements to establish the fact. Nor is this to be wondered at, when, instead of being exposed to a lifelong course of tyranny and oppression from the hands of their chiefs, they find in our Settlements freedom of thought and action, and an impartial justice, which they neither get nor expect under Rajah rule.

Gentlemen, it is for you now to consider the course which I have adopted. I trust that you will agree with me that it is one calcalated to advance the interests of this Colony, and to open up a new era in the history of the rich but neglected states of the peninsula under our protection.

Having had the honour of being appointed your Governor, it is my duty, assisted by the officers of the Government, to do everything to promote not only the present, but the future welfare of the Straits Settlements, and I look to the unofficial members, who are the representatives of those whose interests are more immediately associated with the prosperity of the Colony, to support me with their ready assistance and co-operation, in a cause of which we should each be individually proud, and in which we should all be united. The Straits Settlements are to you, gentlemen, the constant scene of your labours, whilst I shall be amongst you but for a comparatively short time. During that time, however, I shall be a colonist at heart, and I shall endeavour, by every means in my power, to encourage our trade, improve our resources, and promote our prosperity; and when my term of office shall have expired, I trust that I shall not only be able to review with some satisfaction the progress which has been made with your valuable aid, but also to watch with pleasure the further development of the Colony, in the affairs of which I shall ever feel the deepest interest.

Singapore, November 5th, 1875.

Legislative COUNCIL.

PRESENT,

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

His Honour the Chief Justice.

The Hon. the Officer Commanding Her

Majesty's Troops.

The Hon. the Colonial Engineer.

H.A. K. Whampos.

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T. Shelford.

"

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the Acting Colonial Secretary.

T. Scott.

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the Attorney-General.

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R. Little, M.D.

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the Acting Auditor-General.

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R. B. Read.

THE NATIVE STATES.

Mr. Shelford-Sir, before the Council proceeds with the orders of the day, I would ask your Excellency's permission to transgress the ordinary procedure for the purpose of drawing attention to your statement about Perak affairs; and, Sir, am the more desirous to do so because it appears to me that, in an important matter of this nature,

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intensified as that importance has been by the sad events telegraphed to this Settle- ment only yesterday, that it behoves the unofficial members publicly and boldly to express, wherever able to do so, their firm approval of the action the Government has taken. Read in the light of recent facts, it would appear that the difficulties connected with Perak may be traced primarily to the personal conduct and character of the Sultan Abdullah, and to the turbulence of the several chiefs. The opinion formed of Sultan Abdullah by Sir Andrew Clarke, as well as by those associated with him, has unfortunately proved incorrect, and so far from the people resting content under his sovereignty, and the several chiefs being satisfied, we know now that the reverse is the case. Outside evidence has made it patent, without the inquiries which led to the statements of last week, that Sultan Abdullah has from time to time broken his agreements, and has proved about as incapable ruler as is to be found in this peninsula. Now, it is simply monstrous that the British Government should be expected to submit to conduct of this nature. Acting, but upon the reports of his several officers, Sir Andrew Clarke, with the consent and at the request of the several chiefs, placed upon. the throne of Perak Sultan Abdullah, who, as a matter of blood, may be regarded as its legitimate ruler. In December, 1873, the Raja Muda wrote a letter to Sir Andrew Clarke, begging of him to appoint a Resident of Perak to assist him in good government, and for the purpose of increasing and raising his revenue. The treaty of Pangkor, therefore, has but ratified that which the Sultan asked for, in its several clauses from 6 to 10. It cannot be too strongly insisted upon that in this matter the chiefs came to us, and not we to them-a fact that is made patent throughout the whole Blue Book on this subject; and therefore I say that, in drawing a tighter hand, his Excellency has but carried out the spirit of the instructions of the Secretary of State, which require not only that these engagements should be kept, but that those who violate them should be held responsible. Now, Sir, a man who will break the Pangkore Treaty will be quite as ready to disregard the pledges he has more recently entered into; and herein, I suppose, con. sist the difficulties of the Government. Full well have the working population found the advantages of British rule from that of their native rulers. The contrast in Laroot in the last two years surely affords a sufficient indication that not among the immigrants, not from the people themselves, if left to themselves, are any great difficulties to be apprehended. The whole history of this peninsula, as now before us, lays all the wrongs and disturbances at the charge of the chiefs. Many of them are land pirates, living on the oppression of the people under them. Now, until this state of things is provided for, employment found for those who will accept it, and others put down with a strong hand, there is no prospect of settled peace. The object of the Malayan Council, as I understand it, was to provide for this. The chiefs have shown, through their rival factions, an inability to maintain in their own country the order for the establishment of which they begged for the intervention of the British Government, and asked for a Resident, whose advice they have systematically ignored. On the other hand, their position is recognized, and they are asked to take part in the Government of a country which they have shown themselves incompetent to rule alone. Throughout all the negotiations down to those which you have just con- cluded, what most strikes one in the Blue Book, is the desire of the Government to lift these chiefs from their present lawless. condition, and to place them in the positions which their rank in the State undoubtedly entitles them to.

Once secure peace throughout these States and ensure safety to capital, and the Government may safely leave the result to mercantile enterprise which is already overflowing the resources of this Colony. I mention this now because Sir A. Clarke expressed bitter disappointment that capital, and especially European capital, did not flow so rapidly into these States as he expected. Proclamation after proclamation was issued, bearing the chops of the native chiefs, and I am bound to add that the distrust with which these proclamations were received has been fully justified by the result. Whether your Excellency's pre. sent policy will be more successful is only to be proved by time. The lamentable events telegraphed, even if confirmed, will not prove that it is ill-conceived, any more than that it will not be successful. When, in a few days, the Government is able to relieve the public anxiety, it is to be hoped that it will prove to have been only the treacherous act of a few lawless chiefe, knowing that their days of lawless rule are drawing to a close, and that neither Abdullah nor his immediate chiefs have been mixed up with an attack as cowardly as it was unmerited. We know that two chielo, Rajahs Yoosuf and Dris, have approved of your Excellency's action; we have reason to believe that the Laksamana and another chief have followed their lead; and, until evidence is laid before us, I must distinctly decline to believe that these chiefs can be capable of such treachery us their implication would involve. However it may be, the course of the

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