SM A VISIT TO THE INDIAN AttCHlPELAGO. 



What is the meaning of this niagnificent title ? It is 

 expkstied by a despatch from Lord IMinerston to Hia 

 Excellency the said Consul-Geiieral, &c. &c., bearing date 

 the 23rd Pebruai-yj 1848, thus 



" Your previous commumcatioiis with ih'm office will 

 have alreadj made you aware^ that the object of Her 

 Majesty's Government, in conferring upon you the 

 appointment whiclt you hold, as regards the relations of 

 Great Britain with the native and iudependent chiefs of 

 liorneo, is to afford to EritiBh commerce that support and 

 protection which, though ueeded in all foreign countries, 

 is pecidiarfy required in the Indimi Seaa^ in consequence 

 of the prevalence of piract." 



Thus we arrive at a point of time, at which we see Sir 

 James Brooke selected by the British Government — 

 obvious considerations presenting him as the fittest person 

 - — to assist, Her Majesty's representative, in giving 

 effect to old treaties long neglected, and to new treaties 

 concluded specially for the suppression of piracy. He is 

 in that respect the servant of his Sovereign and of his 

 country, with the simple duty imposed on him of obedience 

 to his instructions, and he is instructed to put down piracy 

 m the Indian seas. 



And now our attention is directed to another class of 

 Her Majesty s servants, entirely independent of tliis Consul 

 and CommiBsioner, — ^viz., the Naval service, and, as its 

 moving spring, the " Commander-in-cliief in the East 

 Indies and seas adjacent." 



