TO THE COURT OF AYA. 
341 
third instalment when it became due, you would 
take it upon yourself to postpone the period of 
payment. We have now to state, that the coun¬ 
try has been in a state of war for three or four 
years, that our treasury is exhausted, and that 
no revenue has been collected for a long time 
from the people. 
E. In regard to the postponement of the 
money payment, you will recollect that my pro¬ 
mise was made on the condition of your execut¬ 
ing the Commercial Treaty according to the 
draft, to all appearance agreed upon at the last 
meeting. My chief business here was the exe¬ 
cution of a commercial treaty, and until this be 
done in the manner which I have a right to 
expect, I must decline entering upon other mat¬ 
ters of this description. You will not allow the 
free exportation of gold and silver, although 
you engaged by treaty at Yandabo, that our 
trade should suffer no 44 molestation or hinder- 
ance” at your ports which yours did not suffer 
at ours. If a British merchant receives gold and 
silver in your country for the goods which he 
imports, and you prevent him from taking them 
away,'is not this a hinderance and molestation 
to free trade of the most obvious nature. It is 
an infringement of the treaty made at Yandabo, 
and might authorize me to write to Sir A. 
