329 



source. In 1786, we find Captain Light writing 

 to the Supreme Government the information that 

 the Dutch Government at Malacca was extreme- 

 ly annoyed at the British having obtained pos- 

 fiession of Pulo Pinani^, as it anticipated thereby 

 a great loss of trade, and that it was using every 

 endeavor indirectly to prevent the formation of 

 that setilement. As a farther proof of this jealous, 

 monopolizing^ disposition, Captain Glass thus 

 writes, shortly after this communication. *' So 

 oppressive are the Dutch regulations that many 

 will claim your protection to be freed therefrom. 

 Rhio and Salengore have lately fallen sacrifices 

 to their power by attempting to assert a right 

 they had, as sovereign states, to open their ports 

 to all nations, and to allow of ihe import of all 

 commodities. In order, therefore, to give life to 

 commerce, expiring under the restrictive regu- 

 lation of the Dutch, I think it would be advisa- 

 ble to form treaties of commerce with all the 

 remaining independent rajahs, and the freedom 

 of navigation, as allowed by the laws of nations, 

 vindicated ; for, at present, the Dutch will not 

 allow a Malay vessel from the eastward, bound to 

 this place, to pass through- the straits of Ma- 

 lacca." 



By this oppressive and unjust measure, the 

 trade of Pinang to the eastward labored under 

 very heavy disadvantages, and the benefits in 

 consequence of the removal of these by Malacca 

 passing under the same government in A, D. 

 1795 were as great and obvious. On the resto- 

 ration in 1818 of Malacca to the Dutch, that 



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