We understand that by a s...
-VWeunderstand that bv a secret treaty with the Dutch, the island of Sumatra has been ceded in full sovereignty to that Government, in return for the undisputed possession by the East India Company of the new settlement at Sin- capore, and some vague and unprofitable territorial rights on the coast of Malacca. Of the conditions of this treaty,- which has been made through the medium of the Board of Control, nothing is yet known; but it is strorng- ly suspected that the Dutoh, wvho possess a clharac- teristic shrewdness on points of this nature, have had the best of the bargain, and that they wiU have acquired by this treaty, on very easy terms, the complete control over the growth of spice in the Eastern Arehipe- lago. It is to behoped that soce member of either house of Parliament will put such questions to Ministers as will lead to somne information on the general merits of the trans- action. One thing is certain, that many very inteligent individuals, who are perfectly well acquainted with the countries in question, spealk of the measure in a tone of in- dignant reprobation.