Map to illustrate the Siamese question.

Lastly, the account was written at the instance of the then
Governor, and we are told that, after hearing the other side, the
views expressed in Mr. ANDERSON's paper were in accordance
with the opinions "of the great majority of the Europeans of
"Penang not connected with the Government."
This paper was, however, recalled and suppressed, and it is
hardly surprising.
At this distance of time, close upon a century from the date
of the events, it seems clear that the Sultan of the Malay State
of Kedah called himself, and believed himself to be, independent; free to govern his country as he liked, free to make
Treaties, and free, with the consent of his people, to alienate
a portion of his territory. That position was accepted by
Captain LIGHT, Onl behalf of the Supreme Government at
Calcutta, was confirmed by the Governor-General, and a
Treaty concluded with the Sultan of Kedah (in 1791 ) for
the cession of the Island of Penang, without any question
ever arising of the need to consult Siam in the matter.
A second Treaty was concluded in 1800, with the Sultan of
Kidah, confirming the cession of Penang and ceding to the
British a strip of territory on the mainland ( now called Province Wellesley ), whilst it provided for an annual payment of
$10,000 to be made to the Sultan of Kedah and his successors
in office as long as these places should be occupied by the
British.
Thus, between 1786 and 1800, two Treaties were concluded direct with the Sultan of Kedah for cessions of territory, and no question of even the implied right of Siam to
interfere was ever made, nor did the Siamese themselves ever
mention such claim.
The Siamese were repeatedly mentioned in the negotiations
between the Sultan and Captain LIGHT, and also in the correspondence between the latter and the Supreme Government
in India, and always in the same strain, viz., that the Sultan
of KIdah was ready to give up a valuable position to obtain
an offensive and defensive alliance with an ally powerful