m A VISIT TO THE INDIAN AttUHU^ELAGtK 



traverse it, and who from their proximity to it liave the 

 power of organising a police. Wc may lay down the 

 proposition still more broadly, by saying tliat every nation 

 whose vessels use a sea are charged to aid in its police, in 

 proportion to their means, and the advantages they derive 

 from its use. The obligation to exertion incre*ise3 ivith 

 the meanSj and the means increfise with proximity to the 

 Bea. It increases also with the advantages enjoyed^ 

 although this increase may be counterbalanced by the 

 increase uf difficulties arising from distance of position, 

 Now, England derives more benefit from the u«e of the 

 aeaB of the Archipelago than any other nation ; the 

 proximity of her territories to the field of action is as 

 great as those of Holland and Spain, her means of action 

 fer superior to those of the latter, and, in some respects, 

 oven to those of the former. Her obligations therefore to 

 destroy the mai-andors who infest tliese seas are para- 

 mount. Is she Justified in Tvaiting till she is satisfied that 

 other powers have performed their duty 1 On the 

 contrary, that superiority in intelligence, liber ality^ energy, 

 and power, which Providence has conferred upon her, 

 demand that in this work she shall take the lead ; not 

 intermitting her strongest endeavours to excite her 

 neighbours to do their duty, but going about her own in 

 an earnest and determined manner, whetlier they^prove 

 xealouSj lukewarm, or hostile- 



**But England has certain peculiar advantages for 

 the work. The Malay Peninsula is entirely under her 



