THE STBAITS SETTLEMENTS^ &C. 43 



That many affairs are better arranged by our older Colonial 

 Grovernment tban by our English neighbours, is recognised by Eag- 

 lishmen of authority, for instance, by Ken'sington (1892), Money 

 and Boys. I need only mention the government of the ^N'atiye 

 population through the direct agency of their chiefs — a system 

 that is followed in the Native States. 



A bonus of $500 has recently been offered to any officials in the 

 Straits who learn and shew a knowledge of oar language, ia order 

 to make the Dutch Colonial literature more accessible to the English. 



But there is, I think, also something for us to learn ; from our 

 neighbours, especially now when we seem to have arrived at an 

 epoch of transition, and therefore I think it would be advantage- 

 ous if our officials were to go there a little more than they do now, 

 and enquire into and compare the state of things there with that of 

 our own Colonies, and if such visits were not only facilitated but 

 also encouraged. The new regulations on leave are already a step 

 in that direction. 



They would remark, among other things, how the advancement 

 of British trade is the chief aim with every Grovernment, in the 

 Straits or elsewhere, wherever the British flag waves, and that 

 every governing official, however much he may talk of ''humanity 

 and civilisation," devotes his attention in the first place to this. 



Trade has been the chief factor in making the greatness of that 

 ''G-reater Britain" that Sir Chaeles Dilke has sketched for us. 



Every official is impregnated with this idea, and nothing strikes 

 an observant and unbiassed visitor to the English Colonies so much 

 as the zealous and indefatigable devotion of all, each in his own 

 circle to the furtherance of this greatness of the British Empire, 

 even when such endeavours are frequently made at a sacrifice of 

 personal interests and comfort. 



This is the cause of the great national pride that Englishmen 

 possess, which may appear silly and narrow to the foreigner, but 

 fills them however with that prodigious self-confidence, which leads 

 to great deeds. 



This British Empire forms a body of which England is the heart. 

 Whatever forms of Grovernment the different parts may assume, 

 as regards the important points of protection, free trade/ Imperial 

 federation, still every man in England follows with interest the 

 events in these parts, and every one outside of it thinks with love, 

 reverence and pride of his "old England" and always goes back 

 there. "We might well learn that from them. How oftea do we 



