strong to settle on
her shores, what might we not hope and expect from the overburdened
population of that vast empire under a happier order of things? The
astonishing number of Chinese settled within a few years at Pulo
Pinang, on a contracted soil, possessing no peculiar advantages
but from a free trade and equitable laws impartially administered,
is both a fact and an illustration; and what might not Borneo hope
for from a happier soil, greater inducements, and other physical
advantages? Java, under the despotism of the Dutch, with the character
of a sickly climate, and the remembrance of the cruel massacre of sixty
thousand innocent Chinese, could still boast a hundred thousand of
these people at the period it fell to the British arms; and withal,
let it be remembered that these shores were once blessed with the
industry of these people to a far greater extent under a happier
period of her history.

Whatever, indeed, might prove the work of ages in various other parts
of the globe would, under the present circumstances of the Chinese
empire, be instantaneous on these shores; and their habits of industry
and civilization, when once rooted to the soil, would soon spread
their genial influence to the extensive population of the interior,
unite them in the bonds of social life, cement them in the general
prosperity, and render these extensive shores a valuable appendage
and an increasing resource to the wealth and power that brought about
so happy a revolution in their affairs.

For a considerable series of years past, the piratical ports of
Borneo, &c., have been in the habit of committing depredations upon
the commerce of British India, in the capture of her ships, the
insulting of her flag, the offering of outrageous violence to the
persons and lives of her mariners, merchants, &c., and this, too,
with the most perfect impunity; no retribution having been exacted,
no reprisals made, no remonstrance presented, and, in fact, no notice
taken of their atrocious depredations. Hence these desperadoes, from
inference and experience of the past, have been led to conclude, that
whatever was practicable would be tolerated; that wherever they had
the means or opportunity of overpowering, it was their duty, as it was
to their advantage, to seize it to their own use, without any other
apprehensions of the consequences than what might arise in the attempt.

Under this discouraging aspect of affairs, there was but little more
l