of Sierra Leone-than indignation at the insults offered to his nation, in the outrages committed on the persons and properties of its subjects, has determined, for the peace and security of the British possessions, and for checking the further progress of this cruel and desolating war, to accede to the prayer of the said kings, chiefs, and headmen.

Wherefore his excellency Charles Turner, knight companion of the most honourable the military order of the Bath, commander of the Portuguese order of the Tower and Sword, and of the Turkish order of the Crescent, captaingeneral and governor-in-chief of the colony of Sierra Leone and its dependencies, the forts and settlements on the river Gambia, Cape Coast Castle, and the forts on the Gold Coast, the Isles de Loss, and the islands, territories, and factories to his majesty belonging on the western coast of Africa, from the twentieth degree of north latitude to the twentieth degree of south latitude; vice-admiral, chancellor, and ordinary of the same; major-general of his majesty's land forces, colonel of his majesty's royal African colonial corps, and commander-in-chief of his majesty's forces on the western coast of Africa, &c. &c., on the part and behalf of his Britannic majesty and Banka, king of Sherbro, by the advice and consent of his tributary kings, chiefs, and headmen-namely Sumana, king of Bendoo; Suwarrow, king of Char; Kong Cuba, prince of Sherbro; Ta Bompay, king of Bullom; Soloccoo, king of Bagroo; Kennefarree, chief of Sherbro Island; Will Adoo, chief of Jenkins; and Ya Comba, queen of Ya Comba, by her lawful representatives and next

:

of kin, Thomas Caulker, chief of Bompey, and George Caulker, chief of Tasso and the Plantain Isles, with the advice and consent of their tributary chiefs and headmen, have mutually agreed as follows:

1st. Banka, king of Sherbro, by the advice and consent of his said tributary kings, chiefs, and headmen, and the said Thomas Caulker and George Caulker, representatives of the said Ya Comba, queen of Ya Comba, have, for themselves, their tributary kings, chiefs, headmen, and people, for them, their heirs and successors for ever, ceded, transferred, and given over unto his said excellency Charles Turner, governor of the said colony of Sierra Leone, and his successors, the governors of the said colony for the time being, for the use and on the behalf of his majesty the king of Great Britain and Ireland, and his successors, the full, entire, free, and unlimited right, title, possession, and sovereignty of all the territories and dominions to them respectively belonging, being situate between the southern bank of the Camaranca river on the north, and the town of Camalay and the line which separates the territories of king Sherbro from those of the queen of the Galinas, on the south; together with all and every right and title to the navigation, anchorage, waterage, fishing, and other revenue and maritime claims in and over the said territories, and the rivers, harbours, bays, creeks, inlets, and waters of the same.

2nd. The said Charles Turner, for himself and his successors, the governors of the said colony of Sierra Leone for the time being, on the part and behalf of his said Britannic majesty, agrees to accept

the cession of the aforesaid territories and dominions from the said Banka, king of Sherbro, and the said Ya Comba, queen of Ya Comba, their tributary kings, chiefs, and headmen; giving and granting to the said Banka, king of Sherbro, and Ya Comba, queen of Ya Comba, their tributary kings, chiefs, and headmen, and the other native inhabitants of the said territories and dominions, the protection of the British government, the rights and privileges of British subjects, and guaranteeing to the said Banka, king of Sherbro, his tributary kings, chiefs, and headmen, namely, Sumana, king of Bendoo; Suwarrow, king of Char; Kong Cuba, prince of Sherbro; Ta Bompay, king of Bullom; Soloccoo, king of Bagroo; Kenefarree, chief of Sherbro Island; Will Adoo, chief of Jenkins; and the said Ya Comba, queen of Ya Comba, and her representatives; and to the said Thomas Caulker, chief of Bompay; and George Caulker, chief of Tasso and the Plantain Isles, and the other native inhabitants of the aforesaid territories

free, and undisturbed possession

and enjoyment of the lands they now hold and occupy.

chief of Brama.

G. RENDALL, A. C. J.

K. MACAULAY, M. C. W. Ross, M. C.

High and Mighty Sirs ;-The marriage of my second son has taken place since your last meeting. His excellent spouse has been most cordially received by my subjects, and this happy circumstance has greatly augmented the happiness of my house.

I continue to receive from all foreign powers the most indubitable assurances of friendship. The hope of more firmly strengthening those reciprocal feelings of amity presents itself through the medium of commercial treaties, of which the necessary negotiations will be

conducted with all the care with which the desire of promoting the good of my people can inspire me. With the same view I have issued orders for facilitating the commerce of my subjects in all parts of the world.

The late exhibition of works of industry at Haarlem produced a display no less flattering to national pride than gratifying and honourable to the industry of my people, and satisfactory in regard to the general good of the nation. All the productions which luxury as well as the common wants of life can require, were there collected, and there could the Netherlander convince himself that in that respect he need not envy any other people.

The general attention is directed to the opportunity which the nature and position of many countries afford to the development of our national industry, through which I hope she will see the channels for the fruits of our industry, and our lands, multiply, which the plans of the trading company has already begun to

open.

The spirit of forming associations, so advantageous to great undertakings, has spread itself more and more, and has extended its influence to the most useful objects; the devoting of considerable capitals to ship-building has given a new life to our docks, and has occasioned the laying down of innumerable keels.

The salt-herring fisheries, which have for many years been a losing concern, will, from all appearances, prove most profitable for this last year.

But with regard to the Greenland and Davis' Straits fisheries, my Netherlanders will, I fear, par

ticipate in the general unfavourable result common to all who have this year undertaken them.

Schools for instruction are now almost universally established throughout the kingdom, and have in many instances shown their utility, especially those of recent establishment.

The Universities have lately been much improved and enlarged, and have in many branches of learning had additional facilities afforded for the attainment of knowledge, and they now furnish the most liberal means for the study of the various sciences. One institution, devoted to the wants of my Roman Catholic subjects, will afford to the young people appointed to study for the church the opportunity of obtaining that knowledge which the present state of civilization requires; and I hope I may promise myself the best consequences to the honour of that church in my kingdom.

Through the beneficence and liberality of the nation, through the strenuous co-operation of your high mightinesses, and through the praiseworthy exertions of the authorities and officers, I am happy to say, that the disasters which were caused by the late floods are already materially repaired, and the dikes will soon be placed in a state of security against the weather.

The commissioners who were appointed by me to examine the best courses for rivers have fulfilled their very important task, and will ere long lay before me the result.

The formation of new plans of improvement is carried on with vigour.

The plan adopted for the prisons developes itself more and more, and will soon be established.

The regulations respecting the meetings of provincial states, and the government of cities, and of country places, have undergone an investigation. The dispositions in those regulations, which concern the right of voting, and the qualifications to take part in the provincial and local government, were, by the end of the tenth year, after the notice of our fundamental law, to be a part thereof; it was therefore of importance to introduce those improvements which experience has shown to be desirable as early as possible.

Our foreign possessions are the subject of my peculiar attention; and my endeavours have been particularly directed to the furthering of their internal prosperity, in order to render them of the utmost advantage to the Netherlands and its industry. The expenditure in several of those possessions has, in consequence of wars and expensive measures in their government, been augmented to too great an amount, which has produced unfavourable consequences in the condition of the finances. I have adopted measures to moderate them, and have further considered it prudent to send a special commissioner thither, in order that the orders already given for economy in the expenditure should be most strictly observed. There is ground to hope that the injurious consequences already mentioned will soon be remedied. It will, nevertheless, be necessary that the mother country should, by means of its credit, come to its support, and I hope that I may reckon on the co-operation of your high mighti

The late alterations in the indirect taxes have answered to all expectations in the increase of their produce, independent of the real relief which has thereby been secured to commerce and agriculture. All difficulties in the collecting of the personal taxes and excise have, as is seen from experience, almost completely vanished. They were, at the introduction of the new plan, unavoidable; the doing away with them has, nevertheless, been the subject of my most anxious cares; it is with that intention that, after having consulted the states of the provinces, and having made use of the power given me by law, I have more generally introduced the farming ofthe excise on the grinding of corn; the manner in which this arrangement has been received, gives ground for supposing, that it will, in all respects, fully answer the objects I have in view.

It is most satisfactory to me that I am not obliged to lay before your. high mightinesses a more unfavourable statement of the finances of the kingdom, notwithstanding the extraordinary expenditures which are the necessary consequence of the disasters which befel us at the beginning of the year. The accounts of the revenue which will, ere long, be laid before your assembly, are such as will justify me in giving a further relief to my beloved subjects by reducing the taxes.

The operations of the sinking fund will, without doubt, in a short time further the possibility of completely liquidating the national debt.

The Netherlands mint supply is regular.

The calling in, and the putting out of circulation of the French