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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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We understand with a cheerful heart that our friend will not harbour any of the wicked men who have disturbed the peace of Perak, and we have acquainted the adviser of the great Queen of our friend's good will towards the British Government.

We thank our friend very much, and we hope that our friendship will continue and remain for everlasting.

Nothing accompanies this letter but our best compliments,

Dated March 20, 1876.

No. 61.

GOVERNOR SIB W. F. D, JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the EARL OF CARNARVON. (Received April 24, 1876.)

(No. 129.)

Straits Settlements, Government House, Singapore,

March 21, 1876.

MY LORD,

I A happy to inform your Lordship that ex-Sultan Ismail surrendered bimself at Penang yesterday afternoon, and that he has given up to the Lieut.-Governor of that Settlement for the British Government the Regalia of Perak, which, as I reported to your Lordship in my Despatch, No. 366, of 26th December,* had been carried off by him when he fled from Kinta on the approach of the force which entered that place on the 17th December.

2. In paragraph 10 of my Despatch, No. 372, of the 29th December,† I informed your Lordship that I had written to the Chiefs of the States adjacent to that of Perak not to harbour the ex-Sultan or any of those who had been concerned in the Perak outrages, and that I had also requested the Consul General at Bangkok to move the Siamese Government to instruct the Malay States under their influence to the same effect.

3. In my Despatch, No. 80, of the 23rd of February,‡ I forwarded copy of the reply of the Rajah of Quedah, and in Despatch No. 126,§ forwarded to your Lordship by this nail, I have transmitted copies of letters which I have received from the Sultan of Tringanu and the Rajahs of Patani and Kalantan.

It will be seen that all these Chiefs promised not to barbour any of the offenders, and your Lordship will observe from the letter from Mr. Knox, H.B.M.'s Consul General at Bangkok, dated 25th January last (enclosure 2 of my Despatch, No. 80, of 23rd February), that the Siamese Governinent also engaged to afford us every assis tance in their power.

4. The ex-Sultan was thus prevented from obtaining shelter in any part of the Peninsula outside the State of Perak, and alter the expedition under Mr. Hewick, which I reported to your Lordship in my Despatches, No. 26 of 24th January|| and No. 82 of 23rd February last, he could not feel himself secure in the upper part of Perak, to which he bad fled.

5. Aware that the peace of Perak would always be liable to be disturbed whilst the ex-Sultan was at large, I had determined to make a combined movement with a view of effecting his capture, and I had issued instructions accordingly.

One body of friendly Malays was to advance from the State of Quedah upon the position which he occupied near the Muda river, on the confines of that State; another body, under Rajah Yusuf, directed by Mr. W. E. Maxwell, was to advance up the Perak river from Qualla Kangsa, whilst a third body, consisting of Province Wellesley Malays and Malay miners from Salama, under Mr. Hewick, was to advance from Salama, on nearly the same line as that taken by Mr. Hewick in January last.

6. Before this expedition was organised, however, Mr. Hewick, who had been sent to watch the movements of the ex-Sultan, reported that Ismail was going to cross into Quedal. I therefore ordered preparations to be suspended, and the surrender of Ismail at Penang has, of course, now rendered this expedition unnecessary.

7. It appears that the ex-Sultan, apprehensive of further measures to effect his capture, and finding it very difficult to obtain food for himself and bis dependents, crossed into the State of Quedah about the 12th instant,

On the 14th instant, the Rajah of Quedah met him at a place called Kitare, in the upper part of the Quedah territory, with 174 men, women, and children, and 27 elephants, and at once prepared boats to convey bim to Penang, together with Datu Nara and Pauglima Prang Semaon, two Chiefs, against whom there is evidence of their having been concerned in the Perak outrages,

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These Chiefs, as well as Ismail and the regalia, will be brought to Singapore in H.M.S." Ringdove," now at Penang, and will be here in the course of a few days.

8. As regards the action which should be taken with respect to the ex-Sultan, I have, after discussing the question with my Executive Council, considered it advisable to appoint a Commission to inquire and report as to the degree of complicity of Ismail and any other of the Chiefs in the Perak outrages. This Commission will consist of three officers who have not taken any active part in reference to Perak affairs, viz., Mr. Phillippo, senior puisne Judge; the Honble. C. B. Plunket, acting magistrate at Malacca; and Mr. Paul, recently appointed to the Native States, who, as your Lordship is aware, is well acquainted with the character of Malays and their language. Pending the result of this inquiry, I propose to treat the ex-Sultan as leniently as circumstances will permit.

9. As stated in my Despatch, No. 126, of this date, I have addressed letters of thanks to the Chiefs of the several States adjacent to Perak for the friendly spirit they have exhibited, and I propose to send a special letter to the Rajah of Quedah acknowledging the valuable service which he has rendered.

I would suggest for your Lordship's consideration that the thanks of Her Majesty's Government should be conveyed to the Siamese Government for their good offices.

10. The Maharajah of Johore has afforded me great assistance. The ex-Sultan has, on two or three occasions, sent letters to him, and, on their receipt, the Maharajah has submitted them to me, and requested me to suggest the nature of the replies which he should make. He has throughout advised Ismail to submit to the British Government.

I should add that, since the commencement of the Perak disturbances, as indeed at all other times, the Maharajah has always shown himself ready to render me any aid in bis power.

I have, &c.

(Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.

Kaj C

INSTRUCTIONS to Lieutenant Governor, Penang, and the DEPUTY Commissioner. If Ismail and his party are allowed to remain undisturbed in their retreat at the head of the Perak river, or wherever they may now be, they will become a nucleus for disaffection; and it is on every ground desirable to put an end to this state of things.

The expedition under Mr. Hewick which I sent last month against Ismail was not successful in effecting his capture, and I think that another attempt should be made with this object.

It is desirable that a combined movement should, if possible, be made by Malays, under Yusuf, moving up the Perak river, by Che Karim's men from Salama, and by a force from the State of Quedah.

The departure of these three bodies should be timed so as to arrive at Ismail's retreat at the same time. Steps should, of course, be taken to ascertain the present position of this retreat (for probably Ismail may have moved to another place since Mr. Hewick's attack upon him) before the combined movement is commenced. Meanwhile, the necessary arrangements should be made for organizing and arming the three bodies.

Mr. Maxwell will be requested to arrange with Rajah Muda Yusuf for organizing his Malays for this expedition.

Colonel Anson will take the necessary steps as regards the force of Malays to proceed from the Salama district, and for this purpose it is desirable that he should avail himself of the services of Mr. Hewick, who knows the country over which it will be necessary for this body to move. Part of this force should be composed of trusty Malays from Province Wellesley and part (the main part) of Che Karim's men.

Colonel Anson will arrange with the Rajah of Quedah as regards the body of Malays to operate from his State.

Colonel Anson will inform Mr. Maxwell of the steps he takes for carrying out the movements from Salama and Quedah.

Mr. Maxwell will, in like manner, be instructed to inform Colonel Anson of the steps he takes for carrying out the movement under Yusuf.

A report of the steps proposed to be taken to give effect to these instructions should be made as early as posible.

28th February 1876.

(Signed)

H 2

W. F. D. JERVOIS.