112 



bad the British power been incapable of effecting 

 the expulsion of the Siamese, the combiQed ef- 

 forts of all these powers would have rendered it 

 a mritter of ease and certainty. These unani- 

 motis nfferis place the relative position of Slant 

 and Kediih in tlie strongest light, and clearly de- 

 mmistraLe that the pretentions of the former were 

 unfounded. 



But the Pinan^ Government was embarrassed 

 by two considerations ; viz ; First, that it was 

 positively forbidden to undertake any measures 

 that might involve the honor, credit, or troops, 

 of the Company," and secohdly, that the Supreme 

 Government was then despatching Mr. Crawfurd 

 as ambassador to Siam. Bonor and crtdir are 

 terms which admit of various meanings in a poli- 

 tical point of view— " froo/?/' allows hwt of one, 

 and the Pinang Government was therefore com- 

 pelled to decline all these offers of assistance, and 

 leave the Ally of the British to make a hopeless, 

 unaided, resistance* Several times did the un- 

 fortunate inhabiUnts of Kedah rise and endeavor 

 to cut off the garrison of their oppressors, but 

 their efforts were ill concerted » and only served 

 to draw down greater severities and more sangui- 

 nary atrocities upon themselves and families, 



it was fondly hoped that Mr. Crawfurd, who 

 was no mean diplomatist, might be able to settfe 

 the affiiirs of Kedah on a more satisfactory foot- 

 ing with regard to Siarn, but that gentleman's mis- 

 lion proved entirely abortive. He was not only 

 unable to obtain any terms for the British aliy, 

 but was also disappointed in his endeavours to 

 establish a commercial treaty between Great 

 Britain and Siam, whilst the king still insisted oo 



