Mss Eur C34

Perhaps the most interesting document is a letter from Raffles to

? W. Ramsay, dated 10th November 1805. This is the only dated

document of this period in the whole collection.

The dated documents are distributed thus ˗˗

1805 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1818 1820 1823 1824

1 4 6 6 3 4 4 1 2 1

1˗3, pp. 1˗9: Rough notes.

2, pp. 11˗14: T. S. Raffles to W. Marsden. ? April 1818.

Routine.

3, pp. 15˗43: Thomas Raffles to (? W. Ramsay). Fort

Cornwallis, l0th November 1805. “After the warm interest

you were pleased to take in my welfare, I must always feel

desirous in doing everything in my power in acknowledgemt

of your kindness. … I have the pleasure to acquaint you

of our arrival here on the 18th September. … As a regular

Sett of our Consultations up to the 8th instant ... are

forwarded. … I have been very particular in my Enquiries

respecting the Construction of Docks here.… The

Government of Mr Farquhar was very expensive ... yet

the new Government have no cause to complain ... all the

Company’s Spice Plantations were sold to Individuals,

previous to our Arrival - the Report of Mr Roxburgh Junr

on which this measure took place, is sent in the Packet…

the present Establishment is quite sufficient for the various

duties of the different departments provided 5 or 6 Writers

are sent out annually .... ”

4, pp. 47˗54: T. R(affles) to Lord (Minto). Calcutta,

11 July 1810. He proposes to visit Malacca, and to secure

the co operation of the Chiefs of Java, &c.

5, pp. 55˗60: Thos Raffles to Lord (Minto). 9 Aug. 1810.

“Enclosed ... the result of my inquiries respecting the

best Season for operations against Java, accompanied by

some general ideas relating to the mode of attack ... the

propriety of treating in the mean time with the Native

Powers. ... Your Lordship might authorize my proceeding

to Palembang without loss of time ....”

6, p. 61: (T. S. Raffles) to Willim Hunter. 18 Septr

1810. Asks for Copies of Burmese, Siamese and Malay

vocabularies.

7, pp. 63˗66: (T. S. Raffles) to Lord Minto. 16 Oct. 1810.

He asks for the services of Mr. John Scott.

8, pp. 67˗98: Translations of Malay letters written to

Native Princes, &c., previous to the Expedition to Java in

1811. [Except Palembang taken out and placed separately.[See 235]]

These were sent out soon after Raffles’ arrival at Malacca .

Mr. J. Scott and Tunku Pangeran carried some of the letters,

and prssents.

“ I further send my Agent Tunku Pangeran who is in the

employ of the English; and if your Highnesses after hearing

what the Princes have to say are desirous of establishing

a friendship with the English, I request you will effect a

meeting with Tunku Pangerang who has in his possession a,

Paper under my hand and Seal in which is contained all the

terms and Conditions that I wish to be attended to ....”

Instructions to Tunku Pangeram of Siac are also given.

9, pp. 99˗110: (T. S. Raffles) to Lord Minto. Malacca,

18 Feby. 1811. Co-operation with Captain Farquhar; the

Eastern trade; supply of wine and native doctors, &c.

Another copy of this draft is given in 244, 18.

10, pp. 110˗118: Mem. respecting Passage from Malacca

to Java. Malacca, 22d May 1811. “In order to ascertain

the most advantageous passage for the expedition from hence

to Java several of the most experienced Eastern Traders

both here and at Penang have been consulted, particularly

Captains Carnegy, Greig, Tait, Stewart, Scott and Smith.

Mr Carnegy was from first to last clearly of opinion that

the northern route round Borneo was the only one…”

11, pp. 119˗126: Jas. Carnegy to Thos. Raffles. Penang,

24 May 1811. The passage to Java, &c.

12, pp. 129˗133: From Lord Minto to (Raffles). 8 Feby

1811. Mauritius, &c., now in our possession; intends to

proceed in person to Malacca, &c. Printed in Lady Raffles’

Memoir, pp. 23˗24 . [Copy.]

13, pp . 133˗137 : Lord Minto to (Raffles). 11 March 1811.

“ I still hope we may take our final departure from Malacca

in April.... I bring Hope & Leyden with me [See Lord Minto in India, p.251] ... also

Mr Seton, late President at Delhi, an admirable man, & now

Governor of Prince of Wales Island.... You will be glad

to find my friend Greig in this affair. He is placed at your

disposal....” Printed in Lady Raffles’ Memoir, pp: 26˗27.

[Copy.]

14, p. 138: Lord Minto to (Raffles). 26 Feby 1812. “I

will remind you also of the Reports I am anxious to obtain

on Slavery ... with a view to eventual emancipation ....”

[Copy.]

15, pp. 139˗142 : Lord Minto to (Raffles). 28 Feby 1812.

Concerning opium. [Copy.]

16, pp. 142˗153: Lord Minto to (Raffles). 12 May 1812.

“Your Conduct has afforded the very highest satisfaction.

I do not confine the sentiment to myself, for it is fully shared

by all my colleagues ... and independent of the warm

interest which I take, both on the score of friendship, and if

I may say so, of partnership, in your credit, I derived great

satisfaction from the confirmation of our hopes...” Also

opium business, &c. [Copy.]

17, pp. 153˗156: Lord Minto to (Raffles). Calcutta, 25th

May 1812. “If you should be superseded I trust and believe

that you will be taken the best care of that circumstances

admit... I do most cordially and deeply feel for your

disappointment ....” [Copy.]

18, p.157: Lord Minto to (Raffles). 8 Dec. l812. “I send

you a printed paper of my discourse as Visitor of the College

of Fort Wm I took that opportunity of doing justice ...

to my own general sentiments concerning him (Dr Leyden).

... I have also introduced a short and yery imperfect

notice of Mr Horsefield for whom I have conceived a very

high esteem ....” [Copy.]

19, pp. 158˗163: Lord Minto to (Raffles). 9 Dec. 1812.

“it would have been very desirable to have known precisely

and certainly what your own wishes would point to in the

event of supersession ... before the arrival of Genl Maitland

in Bengal ... my aim will be to place you in charge of

the Residency of Solo & the general Superintendence of

the Eastern provinces .... I feel by sympathy, much as

I had experimented the reverse myself.... The appointment

was originally made by a temporary Authority, incompetent

to ensure its permanence ....” [Copy,]

20, p. 163: Lord Minto to (Raffles). 16 Dec. 1812.

“Genl M. has I know made overtures to another Genl Officer

to hold the 2d Military Station ....” [Copy.]

21, pp. 163˗164: Lord Minto to (Raffles). 22d June 1813.

“I am very grateful for the Great Stone .... Your 12

Caesars are placed on handsome Pedestals in the Marble Hall

at Calcutta... Printed in Lady Raffles’ Memoir, pp. 188˗

189. [Copy.]

22, pp. 165˗166: Lord Minto to (Raffles). 22d June 1813.

“I learnt with great pleasure that you have determined to

accept the Residency of Fort Marlbro’ ... I have therefore

adopted the measure at once, of appointing you formally to

Bencoolen to take effect on your being relieved from your

present office, or resigning it ....” [Copy.]

23, p. 166: Lord Minto to (Raffles). 24 June 1813. “We

have recd the documents ... respecting the Courts of Solo

and Djocjo Carte ….” [Copy.]

24, pp. 167˗180: T. S. Raffles to the Chairman of the East

India Company. Buitenzorg, Java, 13th February 1814.

On the abolition of the systems of vassalage and monopoly; on the Eastern Islands; and on Japan.

25, pp. 181˗189: T. S. Raffles to Lord Minto. 2d Octr

1814. “Lord Moira is obviously desirous of screening

Gillespie, and I am confident that If Assey had not gone to

Bengal & in some measure pushed the Dispatches into

notice, they would evidently have been allowed to be on

the shelf ... many errors may have been committed, I am

ready to admit ... the party espoused by Lord Moira is so

violent, that much caution is necessary... , Of eventual

success I am pretty confident altho’ I foresee much immediate

danger and inconvenience.…We are now living quietly

and half my salary is accumulating in Bengal. This tho’ a

moderate provision will in a short period place within my

reach a sufft capital , to undertake the voyage to England and

to spend a year or two there ….”

26, pp. 189˗190: Assey’s letter from Calcutta to Mr Raffles.

On General Gillespie. [Extract.]

27, pp. 190˗197: Lord Minto to (Raffles). St Helena,

12 March 1814. “… a hint that my Brother Mr Hugh

Elliot, Governor of Barbadoes, might possibly be transferred

to the Govt of Java.... I have mentioned these circum-

stances... to acquit myself of haviug sacrificed, or rather

counteracted a public principle, which I have so often

expressed, from affection even for a Brother ....” [Copy.]

28, pp. 197˗203: (Raffles) to Lord Minto. 17 Sept. 1814.

“The sale of lands, the measures regarding the Paper

Currency... have been universally condemned˗˗the two

first principally on the grounds urged by Genl Gillespie, and

the latter in a general measure on the extraordinary assertions

of Mr Robinson. . . . I am happy to say that I see my

way tolerably clear, and that as the tide has turned, I feel

perfectly confident of my ability to prove whenever necessary,

that the? decisions have been premature. The faction that

took up arms against me is no longer heard in Bengal, and

the current Report is that I have gained a complete Victory.

... A desire was expressed by Mr Tucker that I should

proceed to Bengal˗˗had I done so I am satisfied that I should

never have returned to resume my Station.... the Dutch

will feel some difficulty in resuming possession ....”

29, pp. 205˗216: (Raffles) to the Court of Directors. Fort

Marlborough, the 10th April 1818. The pepper trade, &c.

30, pp. 217˗229: (Raffles) to the Secret Committee of the

East India Company. Fort Marlbro’, the 10th April 1818.

The spirit of exclusion which appears to animate the Dutch

Commissioners; the possession of an anchorage in the Straits

of Sunda; &c.

31, pp. 233˗248: (Raffles) to the Court of Directors. Fort

M arlbro’, the 12th April 1818. On the Dutch taking possession

of Padang and the effect on Bencoolen; the distracted state

of Acheen; the French and Americans; the desirability of

an establishment at Pulo Duo; &c.

32, pp. 249˗264: Correspondence of Captain Flint with

the Dutch authorities on their refusal to allow him to proceed

to Semarang. There are copies of six letters, dated from

22nd March to 8th April 1820. The gist of this correspondence

is given in Lady Raffles’ Memoir, pp. 441˗443.

33, pp. 267˗277: Correspondence of Sir T. S. Raffles with

Baron Van der Capellan. Copies of three letters of June

1823, relating to the landing of Lady Raffles at Batavia and

the objections of the Dutch authorities, who, however, finally

grant permission. These three letters are printed in Lady

Raffles’ Memoir, pp. 552˗554.

34, pp. 279˗290: Charles Evans to Sir T. S. Raffles.

Padang, Nov. 17th / 23. On missionary work and the

difficulties at Padang. Encloses a vocabulary of Menang-

kabau words.

35, pp. 291˗294: Charles Evans to Sir T. S. Raffles.

Padang, March 23, 1824. On the Menangkabau language.

36, pp. 295˗302: Vocabulary of Menangkabau Words.

37, pp. 303˗312: A rough vocabulary, begins “this, ekōi,

nē; that, eko-dda, nedda; here, kai, ka-shet-ne. . . .”

38, pp. 313˗376: History of Java. Begins, “This History

of the Land of Java from the commencement to the con-

clusion, derives its origin from the anxious state of mind by

which a lowly and ignorant Fakiyah [Fakīr] was oppressed till the

28th day of the Month Shahaban in the year Alif, when a

gift from the Most High descended upon the said Fakiyah.

…”

“We are told that a Rakshasa accompanied by his Wife

went forth from the Forests, into the Country named Pājang ;

and created himself the ruler of that district. He adopted

the name of Raja Bakā. This Raja Bakā and his wife were

accustomed to devour daily forty human beings.... Si

Jāya put himself under the tuition of a Brahamāna possessing

great supernatural power. . . . Sang Aji Jaya and the

Brahamāna then proceeded to the Palace of Raja Bakā (whom

they deposed by answering five riddles).... As soon as he

(Bakā) was gone the Brahamāna and Sang Aji Jaya descended

… called unto them all the People of the Country ...

they issued orders …” Then follow accounts of “Sitong

Wanāra,” “Brawijaya,” “Radin Lambu Patang,” “Sarif

Ibrahim,” “Fuang Alun,” “Jabang Baya,” “Nyai Gade

Pinatch,” “Susuhanan Mahhadum,” &c.

A portion of this document is given in 242, 8.