Map to illustrate the Siamese question.

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"able Company and the Siamese, could be made without approba" tion of the King of Great Britain; at present, as there was no
" reason for his entering into war with the Siamese, he had nothing
" to fear; the Siamese and all other country powers would consider
" the English as his friends, and for that reason would not disturb
" him, unless provoked thereto by his bad policy. From the
" information I have received, I am pretty well satisfied of the King
" having written to Malacca and Batavia to try if the Dutch would
" give him better terms, and last year I hear he wrote to Pondi"cherry, to try if the French would undertake to defend his
" country."
Neither Mr. LIGnT, nor any of the succeeding Superintendents
or Governors had it in their power to assist the King of Kedah,
although his appeals were frequent, and his oppression intolerable.
Availing himself of the arrival of the Governor-General of India,
Lord MINTO, at Penang, when his Lordship was proceeding to
Java, he addressed him a long letter dated 24th December, 1810,
detailing the whole history of his connection with the English
and the oppressions from Siam, and earnestly entreating the
effectual aid and protection of the Supreme Government. The
letter is as follows: "In the year 1199 of the Hegira, in the time
" of my late father, Mr. LIGhT bearing on the head of submission the
" commands of the King of England, and the orders of the Governor" General, with various splendid presents, appeared in the presence of
" my late father, the Rija, and requested, in the name of the King of
" England and of the Governor-General, the island of Penang, for
" the purpose of repairing their ships-of-war, highly extolling the
" greatness, splendour, power, wisdom, beneficence, of His Majesty,
" the prosperity of the Honourable Company and all those connected
" in the ties of friendship with them; promising that the King and
" the Governor-General would assist my father in:whatever might
" be required, and would prevent the enemies of Kedah engaging in
" proceedings detrimentalto the country. Moreover, that they should
"pay rent for the island 30,000 dollars per annum, and entered into
" sundry other engagements. My father, consulting with the Minis" ters, considering that the neighbouring Burman and Siamese nations
" were more powerful than Kidah and having reflected that the
" King of Europe (i. e., England) was greater and more powerful than
" either of those nations, and that by means of the friendship of the
" English Company, these powers would be prevented from violence
" or molestation, perceived that it would be very desirable to enter
" into alliance with the Company, because the Europeans were just
"and regular in conducting all their affairs, and should the Burman
" or Siamese powers unjustly attempt violence, the powerful aid and
" protection of the Company would enable my father to repel the
" aggression. My father was, therefore, extremely desirous of obtain