Map to illustrate the Siamese question.

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" expected with a fleet of praus and ships. We have sent our
"brother, the Laksamana, to accompany our friend to us, that
" we may profit by his counsel, and consider what is best to be done
" for the safety of our country." The King of Kedah would not
willingly obey the orders of the King of Siam, and applied to us for
aid, to which he considered himself entitled. The more I consider Captain LIoHr's proceedings, the more am I convinced
of the unkindness of the conduct towards the King of
Kidah. It has been seen, that Captain LIGHT acknowledged
he had assured the King he would support him, if in distress;
that he told him the Governor-General menaced his enemies;
and that he received the island on condition of protection; and we
find him writing to the Supreme Government on the 17th May,
1787, nearly a year after we had possession of the island: "The
" IHonourable Board were pleased to mention in their instructions,
" that they were willing to give a pecuniary consideration to the
" King of Kedah. Soon after the Racensworth sailed, the King
" became very pressing, and we tound, for a considerable time, a
" difficulty in procuring provisions. I wrote to the King it was the
" intention of Government to make him a compensation for the
" island, and to keep him in good humour I trusted him with 20
" chests of opium, at 250 dollars per chest, since which we have
Sbeen plentifully supplied with provisions. There is a necessity
" fo)r coining to some terms with the King of Kedah while the
" fears of the Siamese and Burmans are upon him; and I have
Sreason to believe nothing will be acceptable without Government
" promising the King protection. This place will be subject to
" many inconveniences without such an alliance as will oblige the
" King to furnish the Settlement at all times with provisions; and
" preventing other European nations from settling in any other part
" of his country. Should the Siamese be permitted to take posses" sion of his country, we shall not only find an insolent and trouble" some neighbour, but be under the necessity of assisting them in
" their wars, or to go to war with them ourselves. I humbly
" conceive that it will be easier, and attended with less expense to
" the Honourable Company, to declare at once the King of Kidah
" under our protection; little else than the name of the Company
" will be wanted; the longer it is delayed, the greater will appear
" the consequence of the island, and the more difficulty there will
" be in fixing a Settlement. The Danes, the Dutch, and the
" French have solicited permission to have only a house in Kidah;
" either of them will promise much, and should the King consider
" himself aggrieved or disappointed by the English, he may in
" despair seek for other alliance."
The bias upon Mr. Loiir's mind is too obvious to be mistaken,
and it is equally clear he held out expectations of assistance from