1832.] 
INSTRUCTIONS. 
107 
Upon Lieutenant Shubrick, to whom the commodore had very 
fully imparted his instructions, and explained his views in gen- 
eral, for the whole management of the enterprise. Foreseeing, 
however, that the plan of operations on shore would inevitably 
lead to a separation of the several divisions, the commodore took 
occasion, while the whole party stood under arms on the spar- 
deck, to explain to the officers at the head of their respective 
divisions, as well as to the men, the nature and objects of the 
service upon which they were about to engage, and for which 
they had been ordered by their government to this distant part 
of the world ; and that, however few in numbers, or humble the 
enterprise, that much good or evil to the future safety of American 
interest, and the lives of their countrymen engaged in com- > 
mercial pursuits in these seas, might depend on their good con- 
duct that night. 
He then explained to them that their first object on landing 
should be to surround the several forts, so as to intercept the i 
Jliglit of the rajahs, as the first and all important preliininary 
step towards opening a successful parley, and. final investigation 
in relation to the Friendship, the outrages committed upon which 
vessel had alone led to their present visit to this island ; and that 
in no instance, and on no account whatever, were they to com- 
mence hostilities, nor fire a gun upon the Malays, unless the 
attack first came from them ; in which case, they were not only 
to defend themselves, but should rush at once to the assault ; and 
at every hazard carry the forts which had thus refused to hold 
conference. Should the conflict become warm, he trusted they 
would bear in mind that humanity to the vanquished was ever 
more honourable to the victor than valour ; and, above all, he 
charged them to lessen, by every means in their power, the suf- 
ferings and alarm of the unarmed and defenceless. 
He next reminded them, and earnestly urged the fact on their 
attention, that but little was known respecting the localities of the 
place where they were about to land, and still less of the strength of 
the forts they were to invest, the number and arms of the enemy, or 
the resistance they might make. He charged them not to forget 
that the honour of their country, so far as committed to their 
keeping, as well as their own honour and safety, might, and most 
probably would, depend upon their steadiness, and the alacrity 
