Two days after completing his official despatch to the Supreme Government, Raffles addressed a private letter to the Governor-General relating to other matters connected with his mission to Singapore, including the lack of co-operation he had received from the Prince of Wales Island authorities and their unwillingness to provide military support for the new settlement:132
Letter 9
Raffles to Hastings
15 February 1819
Private
Penang – February 15th 1819
My Lord,
It is with much satisfaction that I now have the honor to inform your Lordship of the full accomplishment of the ulterior object of my Mission – a British Station has been established in the Straits of Singapore in the vicinity of Johor in a situation combining every advantage geographical and local which we could desire, and I have had the good fortune to effect the arrangement without immediate collision or interference with the Dutch authorities and on terms and conditions which I can with confidence submit for your Lordship’s approbation and confirmation.
The Dutch having previously occupied Rhio, my first object was to ascertain whether they had still left at our command any other Port that would answer our purpose and if so whether we could establish ourselves in such [a] Port with the consent of the Native Authorities and in justice to the Dutch claims and rights – and the Port of Singapore offering itself on every account as exactly suited to our purpose I was happy to find that not only the Authority with whom the Dutch treated at Rhio was incompetent to make arrangements for any of the States beyond the Port of Rhio, but that such States were not even included in his Treaty with the Dutch – Rhio alone being referred to –
At Singapore I discovered a most superior Harbour and found an Authority both competent and willing to treat for our establishment and that we might not want the highest sanction to our arrangement the legitimate Sultan of Johor became a party to our Treaty – and now resides under our protection –
As I have endeavor’d in my Despatch to afford your Lordship the fullest information on every point, I will not intrude on your Lordship’s valuable time by a repetition of the advantages which the Station affords or of the arguments on which I found our right to maintain and enjoy those advantages – but as it may be convenient for immediate reference I have taken the liberty to forward to your Lordship under a separate Envelope a Sketch of the Harbour of Singapore shewing the position with relation to the China Trade133 –
In the execution of the duty which I have had the honor to perform as your Lordship’s Representative, I am confident that every liberal and indulgent consideration will be given to the peculiar and delicate situation in which I have been placed – I have never lost sight of the high importance of the object to be attained nor of the necessity of attaining it without collision – but it was impossible from the first not to foresee that in prosecution of the avowed policy of the Dutch they would attempt to dispute our right to any interference whatever in the Eastern Seas – They will probably appeal in the present case against our Establishment at Singapore, but I trust the grounds on which we maintain our rights in that Station will furnish a fair answer with which their arguments may be successfully combatted134 –
It is impossible also for me to conceal from your Lordship that I have not met with that cordial cooperation and assistance from Colonel Bannerman in which I had a right to expect from the local Government or from the assurances of Colonel Bannerman himself on my first arrival135 – I have throughout met with nothing but obstruction and a determination by every possible means to prevent my interference either to the Eastward or at Acheen – I can assure your Lordship that on my part every degree of conciliation and respect has been evinced, and that it is with the deepest regret I have found them unavailing to secure me against the intemperate Conduct of the Chief Authority at this place – Your Lordship will perceive that in the first instance my proceeding to the Eastward at all was violently opposed, and that I was informed it was my duty at any rate first to go to Acheen – desirous of meeting the wishes of the local Government I agreed to do so, but after a detention of twenty days by frivolous & unnecessary delays, just as I was on the eve of embarking I received a requisition to stay my proceedings and not to visit Acheen until a reply to some Despatches sent to Bengal was received – I also met this wish and in the interim proceeded to the Eastward & accomplished the main object of my Mission – On my return I naturally requested Colonel Bannerman to afford me two additional Companies of Sepoys to complete the number he had promised should be held at my disposal – He now says he is not justified in giving me any further assistance and without knowing on what grounds the arrangements to the Eastward have been made declares a judgment against them – and in order that they may be annulled exposes the Station to insult and our interests to hazard – It is in vain that I urge these arrangements as made in your Lordship’s name, and that whatever differences of opinion there may be, these arrangements considering how much is at stake they ought to be supported until the final orders of the Supreme Government are received – The local Government are determined to oppose all interference on the part of your Lordship except it be communicated in the shape of a positive order, and I should make but a bad return for the confidence with which your Lordship has honoured me, if I did not apprize your Lordship of this circumstance –
I hope it will be clearly understood that I make no complaint against the local Government – it is not my wish to agitate any question in which they are concerned, but as I fear the same delicacy will not be observed on their part, I deem it necessary to say this much in explanation and in my own defence.
Fortunately for the public interests I have still the command of a sufficient amount of Troops and Stores at Bencoolen to complete the Garrison of Singapore to the requisite strength until your Lordship’s further orders are received136 – and however much the disappointment in receiving this expected reinforcement from Penang is to be regretted on account of the delay and expense it may occasion, it forces me to the adoption of an alternative which has some advantages – namely the gradual transfer of our Establishment from Bencoolen to Singapore – knowing the sentiments of your Lordship on this subject I shall not hesitate to carry into effect this arrangement as far as may be safe & practicable – and I shall in all probability be myself as much at Singapore as Bencoolen –
In the detailed arrangements for our defences and for the Establishment at Singapore I trust your Lordship will find nothing to disapprove – I have directed Major Farquhar to collect materials and to construct a Blockhouse on the principle which your Lordship did me the honor to suggest137 and I have no reason to believe that our Fortifications will involve any considerable expence – The Establishment is moderate but sufficient to secure efficiency in the first instance – I am particularly anxious to solicit your Lordship’s favorable consideration of Lieutt Crossley138 who I have appointed to assist Major Farquhar – the services of an officer possessing the peculiar qualification of Lt Crossley are most essential on the first establishment of the Settlement, and altho’ I have great reliance on Major Farquhar’s well known character and mildness, I have no reason to expect from him any knowledge of the details of business or any very great personal energy in case of emergency139 –
I have signified to Captain Coombs my desire of proceeding to Acheen without delay, and whatever may be the arguments brought forward to oppose our progress I shall certainly persevere in the execution of the high trust reposed in me – Your Lordship will be happy to hear that the Report of the Dutch having made an offer to the ExKing140 is altogether unfounded – No attempt at negociation has ever been made by that Power and there is no reason to believe they contemplated any thing of the kind – Since my arrival in this quarter I have received much information from Acheen but until I can write to your Lordship from the spot I should not feel myself justified in hazarding an opinion beyond my conviction that nothing is to be so much depreciated as our interference in any manner in the domestic politics of the Country – it will involve us in troubles not less than those which have occurred at Ceylon, and I hardly know what corresponding advantage could be contemplated –
While I feel the utmost anxiety to know your Lordship’s sentiments on the arrangements which have been concluded, I place the fullest reliance on your Lordship’s gracious assurance of support, and I can assure your Lordship that the first and only object of my ambition was to effect what would redound to the honor and credit of your Lordship’s unrivalled administration, & by a devotedness to your interests to prove myself in some degree worthy of the confidence reposed.
I have the honor to remain, with the highest respect,
Your Lordship’s most obedient &
most devoted humble St
T S Raffles
The Most Noble
The Marquess of Hastings K.B. &c &c &c
Four days later, Raffles wrote to John Adam, Political Secretary to the Governor-General, repeating his complaints about the opposition of the Prince of Wales Island government to his mission to the Eastward:141
Letter 10
Raffles to Adam
16 February 1819
Private
Penang 16th. February 1819
My dear Sir,
The immediate departure of the Hope does not admit of my doing more than closing my despatches and referring you generally to their contents for the result of my Mission to the Eastward, which I am happy to say has in every respect been most successful – Singapore possesses advantages far superior to Rhio and I think you will admit that the ground on which we stand is perfectly secure –
I have been placed as you will perceive, in a very delicate and responsible situation and while I kept the main point in view, namely the attainment of our Station to the Eastward, have had to contend with other opponents besides the Dutch – Where such great national interests were at stake it is to be regretted that the local Government did not abstain from gratuitous opposition – I regret this opposition the more as it may annoy his Lordship who could not do otherwise than look for active cooperation and zeal in the prosecution of his plans – I trust however I shall have the credit for not having provoked this opposition & for having exercised every possible forbearance –
I have this instant since closing my Despatch received a Letter from Colonel Bannerman calling upon me still to stay my proceedings and not to go to Acheen until replies to his Letter are received from Bengal – and should I persist he states his determination of sending over the Troops, alludes to accompanying them himself, and if they are not wanted, adds his intention of sending them to Bengal – thus depriving himself of the only means of supporting our Establishment to the Eastward –
I shall persevere steadily in the accomplishment of the objects entrusted to me, and you may rely on my using every caution not to involve the Supreme Government unnecessarily in any question with the local Government – Fortunately I can support my Station at Singapore without the immediate aid of this Govt., but it is of importance that the early orders of the Supreme Government should be received with regard to the force to be permanently set apart for the Station –
It is probable the local Government here may request that the new Station be placed under their orders142 – this would be tantamount to withdrawing it at once, for it has already their valediction – I can assure you I have no personal feeling in the question, but so much is involved in the proper management of a new Settlement for the first few years that I am most anxious to keep it under my wing – where by the bye it can only legally be protected, for by the Company’s Charter all to the southward of the Town of Malacca can only be administered in the Company’s name in connection with Fort Marlborough which is made an exception to the general rule –
I have just received your Letter respecting Mr Napier & shall be most happy to shew him every attention & to forward his views to the utmost of my power143 –
Yrs very sincerely
T S Raffles
Pray excuse the haste with which this is written
John Adam Esq
&c &c &c
Under the same date, Raffles wrote to Colonel Young of the Military Board in Calcutta, again complaining about the unwillingness of the Prince of Wales Island government to supply adequate military support for the new settlement of Singapore:144
Letter 11
Raffles to Young
16 February 1819
Private
Penang 16: February 1819
My dear Sir,
I wrote you a few lines from onboard ship on my return from Singapore to this place and I must confess I expected to meet a different reception to what has been offered – Before I went to the Eastward I had the repeated and public assurances & pledges of this Govt. that tho’ they differ’d in opinion they felt it their duty to afford me every cooperation – that 340 Sepoys & on the arrival of the returning Battalion a much larger force as I might require should be at my disposal for operations to the Eastward, & on this solemn pledge I acted – I have established my Port with only one Company – I require two more to support it – this they decline to give me – and say as I appear in their judgment to have violated my Instructions from the Supreme Govt. they will give me no assistance whatever until the further orders of the Supreme Govt. are received – Shame on such conduct! They are so mortified that against their predictions I have succeeded they stop at no point to distress me – It is in vain I urge the arrangement is made in the name of the Govr. General – that the flag as it now stands is exposed to insult – No say they, we form our own Judgment, a Copy of the Instructions given to you were sent to you & we are the competent local authority to form such judgment –
Fortunately I am independent & can support my Port by transferring my Establishment from Bencoolen coute qu’il coute – but no thanks to them for that –
As they advocate the cause of the Dutch, & have publicly declared their opposition to the Settlement, I earnestly entreat of you at the present moment to represent this in a true light in a proper quarter – the disrespect is to the Govr General.
I rely more on what you may do in ten minutes than on all the personal influence I have elsewhere – in return command [?] me – The object I have obtained is great – let it not be thrown away –
The Court of Dir[ectors] are said to have given up Java because they feared the establishment of a King’s Govt. there – In the same spirit Col. Bannerman once a Director would give up all our Eastern & China Interests – to maintain his little authority at Penang against my interference further East –
I am ashamed to send this Letter which I now for the first time discover to have been commenced at the other end – it is late at night – the ship sails before day light therefore excuse it
Sincerely yrs
T S Raffles
Col. Young
On the following day, 17 February 1819, Raffles informed the Dutch Governor of Melaka, Jan Samuel Timmerman Thijssen, that acting on instructions from the Supreme Government and as agent to the Governor-General, the Marquess of Hastings, he had “entered into and concluded a treaty and defensive alliance” with Sultan Hussain Muhammad Shah and Temenggong Abdul Rahman by which “a British factory [had] been established at Singapore, and the port and island placed under the protection of the British flag”.145
Fig. 23
Jan Samuel Timmerman
Thijssen (1782–1823), Governor of Dutch Melaka 1818–23.
Five days later, he informed Charlotte, Duchess of Somerset, of his success in establishing a British station at the entrance of the Straits of Melaka:146
I have … to communicate to you a political event of great import – namely the accomplishment of the great object I have always had in view by forming a permanent British Establishment in the Malayan Archipelago, by which the progress of the Dutch Supremacy may be checked and all our Interests political and commercial, secured. It has been my good fortune to establish this Station in a position combining every possible advantage geographical and local, and if I only meet with ordinary support from the higher powers I shall effectually destroy all the plans of the vile Dutchman – That I may be sure of success I hope I may be permitted to place the new Settlement under the immediate patronage of your Grace – With such a patroness we cannot fail – I must however tell you where you are to look for it in the Map – Follow me from Calcutta within the Nicobar & Andaman Islands to Prince of Wales Island, then accompany me down the Straits of Malacca, past the Town of Malacca, and round the South Western Point of the Peninsula – You will then enter what are called the Straits of Sincapore and in Marsden’s Map of Sumatra you will observe an Island to the North of the Straits called Singapura – this is the spot or the site of the ancient Maritime Capital of the Malays and within the walls of their fortifications raised not less than six centuries ago, I have planted the British Flag where I trust it will long triumphantly wave in spite of the Dutch and to the utter ruin of their despotisms and monopolies – The situation has every possible advantage for all the political advantages we desire – … The Dutch view our Settlement not only with jealousy but with a determination to destroy it by all possible means fair or unfair – and therefore I am desirous that its value to us should be duly known and appreciated – Almost all that I have attempted in Sumatra has been destroyed from a delicacy towards the Dutch – if this last effort for securing our interests also fails, I must be content to quit politics and turn Philosopher – but how can it fail under such a Patroness?
Raffles wrote again to the Marquess of Hastings from Pinang on 28 February 1819, giving him news he had received from Farquhar in Singapore and details of the Treaty concluded by the Dutch with Riau, which was more inclusive of the Johor empire than he had expected:147
Letter 12
Raffles to Hastings
28 February 1819
Private
Penang 28th February 1819
My Lord,
I had the honor on the 15th Instant to inform your Lordship of the success which had attended my proceedings at Singapore, and I have now the satisfaction to add that the accounts which I have since received from Major Farquhar are in every way satisfactory – every necessary arrangement had been made for the comfort of the Troops and considerable progress had been made in the collection of materials and otherwise for the several works directed to be executed – Native Traders were arriving from all the neighbouring Ports and the best understanding prevailed –
At the period when I closed my Letter to your Lordship as well as my general Despatches by the Hope I had not received the Dutch Treaty with the Chief of Rhio – and this is the first opportunity which has since offer’d for my correcting a mistake which I find I was led into by the Native Chiefs – This Treaty was certainly intended to include the whole of the ancient Empire of Johor and it is therefore rather upon the incompetence of the party who recorded it than upon the Treaty itself that our argument must rest – The Tommengong of Johor seems also to be included in a manner different from what would be inferred from his Statement to me, but I have no reason to believe that Statement incorrect, and am rather inclined to believe that the Dutch used his name as best served their purpose and without his knowledge or authority –
I am not aware however that this mistake in any way affects the ground on which our title stands – The basis on which our Treaty rests is perfectly independent of any thing contained in that of the Dutch – being made with an independent Prince who was no party to the Dutch Treaty and has no connection with them, whose right to the Throne is unquestionable & who if the point were agitated would prove to be the Superior and Sovereign of those with whom the Dutch have treated –
It is impossible the Dutch can justly maintain any right to exclude us from the Territories of Johor by virtue of their ancient Treaties with that State, for altho’ it is acknowledged Rhio was once dependent on their Government of Malacca, it did not remain so permanently, and when the English took possession of Malacca in 1795, no jurisdiction was exercised over it – The Naval and Military Commanders of the expedition demanded of the Dutch Governor whether Rhio was a Dependency or not, and the reply was that all Agreements between Rhio and the Government of Batavia had ceased – The consequence was our acknowledgement of the Chief as an Independent Prince and as such he has ever since been considered –
It may be expected that our new Establishment will be viewed with great jealousy by the Dutch – but it is impossible for them to prevent its rise – and while we confine ourselves to one Station there is no probability of collision – We do not interfere with their authority at Rhio, neither do we dispute the power of those Chiefs to make engagements for Rhio and Lingen – The legitimate Sovereign is contented with a fourth of his dominion and we are contented with one Station within this – The communication which I have made to the Dutch Governmt. in reply to their protest, will I have no doubt leave the question to be discussed, as far as may be necessary, between your Lordship and the Supreme Government of Batavia and prevent all measures of opposition or collision on the part of the local authorities –
The orders of your Lordship respecting Acheen having been received by this Government, it is our intention to proceed thither without delay and I hope in the course of a fortnight or three weeks to report to your Lordship the result of the Mission to that State –
I have the honor to remain, with
The highest respect,
Your Lordship’s
Obliged and very
faithful humble servt
T S Raffles
The Most Noble
The Marquess of Hastings KG
&c &c &c
After his return to Pinang from Aceh on 29 April, Raffles worked on his long report of his mission which, he informed the Chief Secretary of the Supreme Government, George Dowdeswell, in a private letter dated 5 May 1819, had occasioned initial “trouble and annoyance” with the Prince of Wales Island government and his fellow Commissioner, Captain Coombs. He continued, with regard to Singapore:148
I have the pleasure to inform you that our Settlement at Singapore is making great progress – The arrival of the three Company’s of Sepoys from Bencoolen has set at rest all questions regarding the insufficiency of the Garrison, and every thing is going on harmoniously even with the Dutch – I much fear the account of their violence was in the first instance much exaggerated and that it may have occasioned undue alarm in Bengal – It was natural that the Governor of Malacca should feel annoyed at a blow which destroyed all his prospects & reduced to a nullity the Settlement of which he had charge – but this has now gone by, and he is as desirous to withdraw every hasty expression as perhaps he was at first ready to make one – The Port of Singapore is already crowded with Native Vessels – The batteries and other defences are nearly completed and the Population is most rapidly increasing – Major Farquhar informs me that the Dutch are talking of withdrawing from Rhio and it is now generally believed the Dutch will willingly cede Malacca for a pecuniary equivalent – If there should be any hesitation on this subject why not transfer Bencoolen in exchange? The Dutch would gladly accept the offer & further accede to the Equator being the Boundary of our respective States149 –
Having now, I trust satisfactorily accomplished all the objects of the two Missions on which I had the honor to be employed, it is my intention to leave this Place as soon as our Report is dispatched – at Singapore I shall await for a short time the arrival of the further orders of the Supreme Government, and thence proceed to Bencoolen, returning to Singapore whenever my presence there may be necessary –
On 19 May 1819 Raffles wrote privately to the Governor-General informing him of the completion of his report on Aceh, and of his reconciliation with his fellow Commissioner, Captain Coombs, and the Prince of Wales Island government concerning their differences over Aceh.150 He also noted that as a result of Hastings’s instructions to Bannerman, adequate military reinforcements had now been sent to Singapore:151
Letter 13
Raffles to Hastings
19 May 1819
Private
Penang 19th May 1819
My Lord,
We have now the satisfaction to forward by the Stanmore, under charge of the Lord Bishop who has kindly offered to deliver them, our Report and Proceedings on the Mission to Acheen.
We can hardly expect that our very voluminous proceedings, consisting of not less than a thousand pages, should undergo a detailed examination, but in our Report I have endeavor’d to bring forward all the leading points, and marginal references are made to the proceedings in support of the information which it conveys – I trust therefore considering all circumstances that your Lordship will be able to obtain an insight into this very troublesome question as it has appeared to us on the spot, without much trouble or inconvenience –
I am happy to inform your Lordship that since I had the honor to write by the Boyne the unpleasant feeling excited by the result of the mission has in great measure subsided, and that by conciliation & temper much has been effected – Captain Coombs on explanation has been induced to withdraw his application to resign his Appointments and Governor Bannerman seems satisfied in the communication to Captain Coombs that his services at Acheen are unnecessary – I have myself had the satisfaction of personally communicating with the Governor and Mr. Phillips on the subject of our Interests at Acheen, and if the orders from Bengal are decisive I yet trust every thing may go on favorably – an early and direct communication from your Lordship to the King, ratifying the Treaty would I think be extremely advantageous.
On the conclusion of this very unpleasant but important duty, I hope your Lordship will perceive throughout the whole of my proceedings, that I have studiously avoided all reference to the local Governmt. or the former Commission under its authority; and I believe there is not one point throughout the whole of our very voluminous record which can be attacked on this score – the result is not only accorded in by my Colleague, but I have now the satisfaction to find that it is nearly the same as that to which Governor Bannerman looked on his first arrival, and as it was on the opinion of Captain Coombs that he was induced to consider another result more advantageous, it is reasonably to be expected that in the course of a very little time, the change which was effected in the opinion of Captain Coombs will have its due and natural effect with the higher authority –
Since the result of your Lordship’s Instructions I am happy to say that every aid has been tendered for our Garrison at Singapore – I have availed myself of the offer to effect the relief of the Troops and to send down by the Transports 16 heavy Guns for our principal Battery which is nearly completed –
We have just received accounts that the Rajah Mooda of Rhio has left that place for Lingen alledging to us that he will no longer live under the Tyrannical rule of the Dutch – What may be his story to them I know not, but it is rumoured that the Dutch will either be left entirely to themselves at Rhio or withdraw altogether, the latter is said to be in contemplation – So far therefore from there being cause to apprehend attack, we find our Rivals moving further from us – As I purpose leaving this place for Singapore in a few days I shall not trouble your Lordship with further particulars until I can send a more detailed report from the spot –
In closing my immediate duties with this Government, it is my study to conciliate and quiet all unpleasant feelings and I am not aware that it will be necessary for me to make any further public Representations than I have done – I must however solicit your Lordship’s particular consideration of the two points to which I have been under the necessity of requesting the attention of the Supreme Government, because they are somewhat of a personal nature to the parties, and connected with the dignity and authority of your Lordship’s Representative – I allude to the extraordinary communication to Major Farquhar that he was not in honor and much less duty bound to obey my Instructions,152 and to the intimation to Captain Lumley that his ship was solely appropriated for my accommodation – In the former Major Farquhar has been involved in the necessity of perhaps personally offending Governor Bannerman, and in the latter, I felt it my duty personally to remove all unpleasant feeling from the mind of Captain Lumley.
I fear that a very considerable & unnecessary expense has been incurred in consequence of the opposition I have met with – the detention of the Transports and other heavy charges, cannot fairly be attributed to your Lordship’s Agents who certainly did their utmost to keep down every charge as far as the prevailing judgment of the Mission could interfere –
I was in hope to have had the honor of forwarding by the present conveyance a companion for the Tapir,153 but I have been disappointed – and my influence at Malacca where they most abound, is not at present very great – I hope however to be more successful in Sumatra, and in the mean time, I request respectfully to refer your Lordship to the Lord Bishop for an account of our more general researches in Natural History154 –
I have the honor to remain with
the highest respect and consideration
your Lordship’s most obliged
and faithful humble St
T S Raffles
The Most Noble
The Marquess of Hastings KG. KGCB
&c &c &c
