TREATIES. 



£53 



of the Netlicrlanils Government on this head. A perusal 

 of De Groot's report ijicliaes one to think that there is 

 on the part of that goveniment a sensitive jealousy of 

 being assisted, even ia such an object, wliicb may 

 have rendered it difficult ** eifcctuallj to concur with 

 them/' 



In 1847 — that is, after allowing piracy a fiu*ther lease 

 of the Indian Archipelago for twenty- three years — 

 the before -mentioned treaty being all that time waste- 

 paperj but still existing — in 1S47, I saj, a treaty of 

 friendship and commerce was signed between iler 

 Britannic Majesty and the Sultan of Borneo, by tlie ninth 

 article of which these Bovereigns unequivocally and 

 solemnly engage to use mer^/ meam in their power for 

 the suppression of piracy witbui the seas, straits, mid R iters 

 subject to tljcir resjiecttve control and influence." By the 

 tenth article of this treaty the Island of Labuan is ceded 

 to Her Majesty for commercial purposcB^ including, of 

 course, proiectim to commerce. 



This treaty was sought, and this settlement was 

 determined on, in compliance with urgent representa- 

 tions, as to the necessity of some such an estabhshment 

 as *' a terror to pirates;," by the Lit^erpool, Glasgow, 

 Mandiester, East India and other great Commercial 

 Chambers or Associations. 



In 184!r Sir James Brooke was appointed Governor of 

 Labuan and Consul-Gcneral and Commissioner to the 

 Native and Independent Cluefe of the Indian Archipelago. 



