a retreat for Mr Raffles, in the Residency of Bencoolen, in case his services should be no longer required in Java. On his supercession, however, Mr Raffles went home to recruit his health, and, at the same time, to set himself right with the Court of Directors and the public. The charges of Colonel Gillespie were easily disposed of, and his services in Java were acknowledged by the Prince Regent, who conferred on him the honour of knighthood, while the the Court of Directors manifested their appreciation of his services by appointing him to be Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen, with greater powers than had before been held by the chief of that factory. He was empowered to attend to the general interests of the English in the Archipelago, more particularly as related to the Dutch.

This is the commencement of the second portion of Sir S. Raffles' career in these seas. At an early period of his service at Pinang, he had made himself acquainted with the state and prospects and with the earlier history and commercial relations of nearly every native state in the Archipelago: he had traced the connection of the several foreign invaders with each state, and had arrived at the conclusion that it was necessary for the welfare of the native population that the English should be the paramount power in the Malayan countries, and that the Dutch influence should be reduced.

In Java the Dutch had lost their last position in the Archipelago, their other possessions having been previously captured, and Sir Stamford, for a time, saw his fondest hopes realized: his disappointment, on the restoration of these possessions at the peace in 1815, was consequently very great, and he now set himself to work to counteract the Dutch influence in every possible way. This became the master passion of his life, and is the key to all his after proceedings. He had succeeded in instilling some of his policy into the minds of the Royal and Company's Governments at home, and he was now entrusted with extensive powers to watch over British interests in the Archipelago, under the name of Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen, an office in itself, without these extra powers, quite unnecessary.

On arriving in Bencoolen Sir Stamford found everything in a

state of the most extreme disorder, morally and physically. The day before his arrival an earthquake had destroyed the town; while the state of morals among all classes was describ. ed as disgraceful to a civilized government. In writing to Sir R. H. Inglis, under date 12th June, 1819, he says, "The state of "society, even among the Europeans, was very bad on my arri"val. I trust it is improving; an instance has just occurred which "which will, I hope, impress on the higher authorities the neces"sity of attending more closely to the religious and moral cha"racter of their establishment." Sir Stamford set himself to work vigorously to improve matters. He found a number of young men on the establishment, who had no adequate duties to occupy their attention; these he formed into committees, presided over by members of his own family, (staff) who had accompanied him from Java; and the promotion of agriculture, education, religion and general amelioration formed subjects of occupation and amusement, where hitherto dissipation had been the only relief from a dull and monotonous existence. The revenues of Bencoolen had been derived from gambling, opium and cockfighting farms, the almost forced delivery of produce at rates below its marketable value, and the labour of the Company's slaves. Sir Stamford abolished the gambling and cockfighting farms and emancipated the slaves. These acts would require no explanation or apology in the present day, but in the year 1819 the policy was too far in advance; and as no adequate provision was made to supply the deficiency of revenue, the moral considerations were not allowed to weigh against the pecuniary loss. The result of these and other operations, about this period, were nearly being fatal to their projector's prospects and position in the Indian service.

While engaged in matters of domestic policy Sir Stamford kept in mind the political duties attached to his office. The Dutch, on being reinstated in Java, had resumed the dependencies on Sumatra ;-among others, the state of Palembang, which, previously only in nominal possession, had been reduced to complete subjection by a force under Colonel Gillespie. Their policy has always been aggressive, and now having the state of Lampong under their government they at once came into collision with the English

respecting the boundaries of that state, which marched with Bencoolen. The encroachments of the Dutch were embarrasing and Sir Stamford conceived the idea of forming a Settlement, to offer a check to their further advance. He had already declared Bencoolen to be a free port, but its position was unfavourable for trade, being out of the great routes through the Sunda and Malacca Straits. He demanded an anchorage at Simangka bay, in the Straits of Sunda, in order, as he said, in a letter to Mr Marsden, dated 7th April, 1818, " to be able to set up our shop next door to the Dutch". The Settlement was a failure, and he then commenced the policy by which his name and reputation were ultimately established in the Straits. He had already in prospect the idea of a mercantile competition with the Dutch, as the following passage in the letter above referred to will shew. "It would not "I think be many years before my station in the Straits of Sunda "(Simangka Bay) would rival Batavia as a commercial entrepót." His position at Bencoolen afforded him constant opportunities for experiencing the aggressive policy of the Dutch, who aimed at a universal and exclusive authority in the Malayan countries. In order to oppose this design, and put a cheek on their further progress in the Straits, Sir Stamford proposed the formation of one or more trading Settlements, which by the more liberal policy of the English would become "depôts" for the trade of the Archipelago. Pinang was situated too far to the north, and traders on going to it from the eastward would be obliged to pass Malacca, soon to be restored to the Dutch. The desiderata of his Settlement were—a convenient place for the Company's China ships to call at for trade or refreshment, for the collection, according to the old established course of trade, of the produce of the Archipelago, and consequent distribution of English goods in return, and for the exercise of a political influence over the eastern seas. In order to carry out this policy it was necessary for Sir Stamford to have the sanction and co-operation of the Supreme Government, and he determined to proceed to Bengal, for the purpose of urging his views on the attention of the Governor-General. The Marquis of Hasting, then Governor-General, on relieving Lord Minto had taken an unfavourable view of affairs to the eastward, and Sir Stamford

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had many misgivings as to the success of his undertaking. How ever, after a few interviews, he succeeded in placing himself on an agreeable footing, and laid his information and views before his Lordship in such a masterly manner that all objections and difficulties were overruled. He returned to the Straits invested, for the second time, with the authority of Governor-General's Agent in the Eastern seas, and with powers generally to oppose the Dutch and, if possible, to form an establishment to the South of Malacca.

Previous to the capture of Malacca in 1795 the trade of Pinang had been confined to the Northern portions of the Peninsula, to Sumatra, and the continent of India. The possession of Malacca, on the highway of entrance to the Archipelago, enabled the Dutch to check any attempt on the part of the Bugghese and other Eastern traders to visit Pinang. By the treaty of Vienna the settlement of Malacca was restored to the Dutch, and it was not doubted but that the same policy which marked their previous occupation would be resumed; and that Pinang, which by this time had acquired a very considerable portion of Chinese, Bugghese and other Eastern trade, would be again divested of these advantages. Major Farquhar, an officer of the Madras Engineers, who had been a long time at Malacca, in a semi-civil capacity, had, after it had become known that he was to restore Malacca, in the year 1816 brought this subject to the notice of the Pinang Government, and pointed out the Carimons as a fit place for a settlement. In the year 1818 he was authorized by the Pinang Government to visit the Prince at that time in possession of those Islands, and he in consequence proceeded to Rhio, then in the hands of the Malays.*

Major Farquhar found the Rajah Moodah Jaffir to be the only person with whom his negociations could proceed, and with that Prince he concluded a treaty, dated 19th August 1818, in the name of Sultan Abdulrahman of Johore. The Pinang Government attempted to form an establishment on the Island of Bentan, but before their measures were taken the Dutch had forestalled them at Rhio, and they retired from any future attempt, in the

• When Malacca was taken in 1795, the small station or dependency of Rhio followed, but, after a short time, the English abandoned the place, which in consequence fell into the hands of the Malays.

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conviction that it was impossible for them to effect their object.. Under these circumstances Sir Stamford came down to the Straits, with, as before stated, the office of Governor General's Agent in the Eastern seas and further bound to Acheen where, in conjunction with Major Coombs, Agent of the Pinang Government, he was appointed to mediate concerning a question of disputed succession to that throne. Colonel Farquhar, on the cession of Malacca, was proceeding to England, when it occurred to the Supreme Government that his local knowledge, the result of 15 years duty at Malacca as Resident and Commandant, might prove useful in the formation of the new settlement in the immediate neighbourhood of his former Residency. Sir Stamford was furnished with a letter to him, dated 28th November, 1818, inwhich the thanks of Government were conveyed for his able report of his negociations under the direction of the Pinang Government, and a desire was expressed, on the part of the Governor-General, that the benefit of his further services might be secured to improve the relations already established with the native chiefs. His Lordship now requested him to accompany Sir Stamford Raffles in his expedition, and to take charge of the infant settlement, under the directions of Sir Stamford, who would be obliged soon to return to his own Government at Bencoolen.

Sir Stamford sailed down the Straits in company with Colonel Farquhar, past Malacca, to the south of which place their station was to be fixed. Siak was easily given up, when they proceeded to the Carimons, which place had been pointed out by the Colonel as a proper site, but on examination it proved to be inconvenient in point of capacity as a harbour, and they went on towards Johore to which locality Sir Stamford's views were then directed. On passing through the Straits of Singapore Colonel Farquhar suggested that they should land to visit the Tumonggong of Johore, who had lately settled himself on that island, and who was known to the Colonel. On arriving in the harbour the evident advantages of the place struck them both, and they determined there to attempt the formation of the Settlement. Colonel Farquhar went on at once to Rhio to request that the permission, which had formerly been given to him by the Rajah Moodah to form a Settlement on the Carimons, might now be extended to Sin