©ENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE ISLAND OF BORNEO. 371 
ago, and which will augment more and more the development which 
European commerce must necessarily experience in the China Seas, it 
Is our interest not to shew ourselves the last in this race; for India, 
China, Malasia and Australia are the cardinal points towards which 
commerce appears disposed to direct its principal speculations. Let 
us endeavour to turn to profit, while there is yet time, the inheri¬ 
tance, rich and fertile in resources, which we owe to the persevering 
efforts of our ancestors, and let an intelligent solicitude watch over 
these possessions of Malasia, almost the sole remains of the old com¬ 
mercial splendour and rich colonies which Netherlands formerly 
possessed,-precious remains which she has had the good fortune to 
preserve at the price of the greatest concessions, as well as the hard¬ 
est sacrifices. 
(To be continued) 
