1845.] DECLARATION OF THE SULTAN. 255 



establishment there, endeavoured to persuade the Sultan 

 to sell the island. This was for some time rejected, but 

 conditions were finally agreed upon, which were communi- 

 cated to me by the Sultan. The terms were nearly to the 

 following effect : that the French should, upon payment of 

 one hundred thousand dollars, govern Basilan for one 

 hundred years, but the Sultan declined attaching his 

 seal until confirmed by the French Government. As 

 the possession of Basilan, by the French, would cause a dis- 

 cussion with Spain, which also lays claim to the island, 

 and would, further, create a jealousy amongst other 

 nations ; this treaty has not been recognised by France. 



By the information which I obtained from Admiral 

 Cecile, they appear to have suffered greatly in their 

 rencontre with the pirates of Basilan. It appears that the 

 channel of the river was barred and staked, and that they 

 were reduced to the necessity of carrying the boats over 

 these obstructions. The enemy had laid their guns ac- 

 curately for this point, as well as others to enfilade any 

 such attempt, hence, the attacking party were much cut 

 up before they could advance to the conflict, which the 

 enemy evaded by retreating to the jungle. 



Madame Lagrene accompanied her husband in the 

 ' Cleopatra ', and during our stay in port I experienced 

 many civilities from the Admiral and party on board that 

 ship, they also did me the honour to become my guests 

 on board the ' Samarang ', it was not, therefore, without 

 some feeling of regret that we parted, the French squadron 

 preceding us on the 22nd for Singapore and Batavia. 



This visit of the French had delayed my affairs with 

 the Sultan, but we now commenced on a more intimate 



