Sir Andrew-Clarke, Governor of the Straits Settlements, seems to-have done
a creditable thing. He. found on- his arrival in Penang that a civil war was raging in the strip, of the Malayan Peninsula ,which stretches from Penang to Singapore, that our -own-Chinese subjects wore taking part, and that the quarrel might ultimately be-fought out in our streets, which would not do. We should have had for the second time to hit too hard, andsanction -something like a massacre. The subject of quarrel was the throne, of Perak, and the Governor accordingly called both the claimants before him on a little island near Perak, and the principal Chinese. His authority was recognised, perhaps after some pressure, which we hear nothing about, and the chiefs agreed that the legal can- didate by Malay law should ascend the throne ; that his rival should be secured in a rich Governorship which he held ; and that bath should admit British Residents, whose advice-is to be taken in all matters. The arrangement contents everybody, and is in itself excellent, but it virtually obliges us to maintain the- Roman peace on a bit of Malaya-800 miles long, and -very valu- able for its mines and soil. As, however, Sir A. Clarke has -suc- ceeded, and as this is just the bit we wanted, let us hope he will get a solemn warning and a G.C.B.
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