202 — xxxiv — 



on any one to reside there. It appears from Miv Lewis's report 

 that certain persons uuder the Chief of Moar have been allowed 

 to establish themselves within the boundaries known from time 

 immemorial as the boundary of Malacca up to Mount Ophir ; that 

 this encroachment has been brought about by the aid and conni- 

 vance of a Dutch proprietor, who was content to act as sub-renter 

 of that Chief, who brought persons into Court to depose to points 

 affecting the limits of the territory ; thus, by a strange inconsis- 

 tency, the sovereign rights of Government, determinable by them 

 only in the Political Department, were brought into discussion in a 

 Municipal Court, which had no jurisdiction whatever in the case. 

 The circumstance of a Dutch subject coming forward to infringe the 

 limits of Dutch territory, affords proof of the singular power 

 assumed by the individual, and the strange laxity and inattention 

 of the Government to their own interest. It would appear indeed, 

 from all I can learn, that the whole time Malacca remained under 

 us, from 1795 to the end of 1818, the public authorities took but 

 little interest in the affairs of the place. Holding it only for a time, 

 the Dutch laws continued in force, and the Dutch Court of Justice 

 was continued in operation, but instead of confining its powers to 

 its proper duties — the administration of Municipal Law — the case 

 before us shows that the Court in reality performed the functions 

 of Government. I mention this subject now, in order to induce 

 caution on the part of the public Officers in parting with the 

 Records of the Dutch Court in Judicial Proceedings, since it seems 

 evident they contain as much matter of Government as of Justice ; 

 the whole of the Records should, therefore, be kept as Govern- 

 ment Records, the Officer of the Court of Judicature being 

 allowed to inspect, examine and take copies when required. 

 In respect to the measure to be pursued in order to effect the 

 removal of the persons from Moar, and the restoration of the 

 integrity of our territory, I am of opinion a letter should be written 

 to the Chief of Moar to recall them. If not attended to, the gun- 

 boat with a party of Sepoys and a careful person may be sent up 

 to a proper position to insist on their removal, but I apprehend 

 little fear of opposition to our wishes. In respect to Police general- 

 ly, it may be observed that, so long as the present persons called 

 proprietors continue to levy their tenth, they must perform the reci- 

 procal obligation imposed by their tenure of maintaining the peace 

 of the country. In not performing that duty, they have entirely 

 failed in their obligation to the State. Were the Government, there- 

 fore, now to maintain Police Establishments, it would only be to 

 incur an expense which the proprietors ought to pay, and they 

 should be distinctly informed that so long as they exercise the pro- 



