Mss Eur E106

There are copies of two Dutch records of earlier date, but most of

the documents pertain to 1811, when Raffles entered into corre-

spondence with the Sultan of Palembang, and sent agents to treat

with him. Raffles advises the Sultan to drive the Dutch from his

country “at once”; “for they are a bad Nation and intend to follow

a bad course towards your Majesty,” he writes. Immediately after

the acquisition of Java, Raffles appointed a Commission to treat

with Palembang, but before its arrival in that country the Sultan

had murdered all the Dutch and rased their Fort to the ground.

In 1812 Raffles sent an expedition, under Colonel Gillespie, to depose

the Sultan and to take possession of Bangka and Billiton . The last

1, pp. 1˗28: Memo Respecting Palembang. This is a

translation (by a Dutchman) of a report, by a commissioner

of the Dutch Company, on the island of Bangka, the state

of the tin mines there, and the prospect of their further

development. He was “to inquire and give his opinion (on)

the local situation of Banca and the advantages,to be derived

from the taking possession of it in general and with regard

to the trade of Batavia, Java, &c.” Other points of enquiry

were: Government and inhabitants; means of augmenting

the produce of the tin mines; provision of rice, cloth, timber,

&c.; the most suitable place on the island for a new

Establishment; the necessary force required; &c. On all

these points information is given, and definite suggestions

are made.

There is no indication of date or authorship.

2, pp. 29˗64: Contract with the Sultan of Palembang

dated 28 Novr 1791. Translation (W. M. 1807). A second

copy of this document is headed Act of Renovation.

Begins: “Of the former Contracts between the Nether-

lands East India Company and the Successive Kings of the

Kingdom of Palembang ....” The first part, that is the

actual contract, is signed by A. H. C. Harring. The

second part is signed by W. A. Alting (Governor-General)

and the members of the Council of India. The main points

of the contract relate to: all pepper produced to be sold to

the Dutch Company, by exclusion of all other European and

Native nations; the Sultan, &c. to encourage the culture of

pepper; also all the tin of Banca or territory of the High

Regency; the prevention of smuggling; the Sultan to inter-

dict all white or European strangers; restriction of trade in

rice, salt, &c.; all trade between Palembang and China

forbidden; piracy; &c.

3, pp. 65˗68: Captain James Bowen to Thomas Raffles,

Envoy to the Malay States at Malacca. Phoenix Straits of

Banca, Jany. 23rd 1810 [The year is 1811]. “The Dutch Vessels ... left

Palembang 13 Days ago. They did not succeed in obtaining

their object for the Sultan would not supply them with tin

unless they paid for it in hard cash.... I hope long ere

this reaches you Mrs Raffles will be completely recovered.

... The Sultan has got your Letter, at least it is on its way

to him.” [Holograph]

4, pp. 69˗72: Translation of a Letter from T. Raffles Esqr.

Agent to the Govr Genl with the Malay States to the Sultan of

Palembang. “... Since my arrival at Malacca I have

heard with much concern of the approach of a Dutch force to

the Mouth of the Palembang River.... I would therefore

recommend to your Majesty to drive them out from your

Country at once.... I have the pleasure to present to your

Majesty˗˗1 piece of Gold flowered Muslin, 1 piece of Kincob

& a Bengal shawl˗˗in token of my friendship & esteem.”

There is no date, but probably the letter is the one referred

to by Captain Bowen, and was issued in December 1810 or

January 1811.

5, pp. 73˗76: (Raffles) to the Sultan of Palembang.

Malacca, (Jan.) 1811. “I wrote to your Majesty five days ago

& now ... address you again by Tunku Radin Mahomet

whom I have appointed my Agent .... With respect to the

Dutch what does it signify that your Majesty should longer

remain attached to them & permit them to reside in

Palembang˗˗for they are a bad Nation and intend to follow

a bad course towards your Majesty ....”

6, pp. 77˗79: From the Sultan of Palembang. 10 January

1811. Acknowledges communications, but promises nothing.

7, pp. 81˗83: Translation of a Letter . . . from Paduka

Seri Sultan Ratu Mohamed Badarudin, who is seated on the

Throne of Palembang . . . to his friend Thomas Raffles . . .

10th January 1811. “... With respect to the tenor of my

friend’s letter, I have not yet fully answered it in con-

sequence of my Brother Radin Mahomed who brought the

letter not being furnished with Credential Letters.... I

have the honor to forward as a token of friendship a cane

with a Gold head, 10 pair of Tin Bathing Vessels, 2 pair of

Elephants’ Teeth, and 2 Piculs of Wax ....”

8, pp. 85˗87: Translation of a respectful Letter from

Tunku Radin Sharif Mahomet to Thomas Raffles ....

8th February 1811. “... I request my Friend to dispatch

... the required written Power as Agent ....”

9, pp. 89˗92: Letter from the Sultan of Palembang to

Rudin Muhammed vakil to Mr Raffles. [n.d.] “... we

wish to conduct the whole matter respecting them (the Hollanders)

so far as in us lies to the satisfaction of the great

man in Malacca.... We have sent an urgent message to

Batavia in order that the General at Batavia may recall them

(the Hollanders) with the utmost speed ....” [Translation.]

10, pp. 93˗100: Agreement proposed by the Sultan of

Palembang. (Two Copies. Page 99 should follow page 94.)

11, pp. 101˗114: (Raffles) to Toonko Radin Mahomed.

3d March 1811. With the following enclosures :˗˗

(a) Proposed Deed of Treaty.

(b) Memoranda transmitted to Toonco Radin Mahomed.

(c) Letter to the Sultan of Palembang.

The draft Treaty proposes: the Sultan to dismiss the

Dutch; to admit no Residency of any foreign power except

the English; to transfer the contracts with the Dutch to the

English, &c.

12, pp. 115˗118: From the Sultan of Palembang to Thos

Raffles Esqr .... the 21 day of Rabiâ al Awwel ... 1226.

Similar in purport to No. 9 above.

13, pp. 119˗120: The Sultan of Palembang to Radin

Muhammed. .

14, pp. 121˗122: The Sultan of Palembang to Thomas

Raffles... 25th of Rabiâ al Awwel ... 1226. Informs

“his friend the Sri Paduca Thomas Raffles Esqr that the last

letter of our friend has reached us prosperously. . . .”

15, pp. 123˗126: The Sultan of Palembang to Thomas

Raffles .. . 29th of Rabbia al Akher . . . 1226. “... his

highly honoured and respected letter, with the accompanying

presents brought by Capt Macdulow (Macdonald) has

prosperously arrived.... With regard to the Hollanders in

the kingdom of Palembang we request our friend to entertain

no doubts or displeasure ....”

16, p. 127 : (A letter in Arabic, with seal. 1226.) Endorsed

“Opened and read in presence of the Commission on board

the Minto at Mintao, November 11th 1811.”

17, pp. 129˗130: J. T. Von? Anddellney aan ... Lord

Minto . . . Samarang den 30e September 1811. “Den

Zeedert eenigen tijd Zich hier bevonden habbende Zendeling

van den Zulthan van Palembang ... met overeenkomst van

den commissaris Robison, heede costijwaards vertrekende

….”

18, p. 131: Appointment of Commissioners to take

possession of Palembang, 2d November 1811. This is an

order by Thos. J. Raffles, Lieutenant-Governor of the Island

of Java and its Dependencies, appointing Captain Thomas

Phillips, William Wardenaar, Esq., and Alexander Hare,

Esq., to receive charge of the Residency at Palembang.

[? Autograph]

19, pp. 135˗180 : (T. S. Raffles) to Captain Richard Phillips,

William Wardenaar and Alexander Hare, Esquires. Batavia,

2d November 1811. Two copies. This is a letter of instruction

to the Palembang Commissioners. The main point is given

in the words “it is the wish of Government to obtain by fair

means possession of the Island of Banca. ... You will

therefore protract your negociation… In such case you

are authorized to make an offer of indemnification to the

Sultan of 20,000 Spanish Dollars per Annum…”

These is no mention of the Dutch, except a bare reference

to the present Dutch Resident, Mr. Grovenhoff van Woortman.

Enclosures :˗˗

(a) Order of Government reserving to itself the trade

of Tin at Palembang and Banca. 2nd November 1811.

Java.

(b) To Lieutenant Jackson appointing him Resident

at Palembang. 2nd November 1811.

(c) To Grovenholf van Woortman ... at Palembang.

2nd November 181l. He is ordered to deliver over

charge to the British Agents. Also a copy in Dutch.

Both signed “Thos. S. Raffles.”

(d) L. W. Meyer, de Hollandiche Secretaris General

van het British Gouvernement. L.W. Meyer aan den

Resident van Palembang Grovenhof van Woortman.

Batavia, den 2en November 1811. [? Autograph.]

20, pp. 181˗183: Statement of the Presents made and

received at Palimbang. Signed “R. Phillips, Batavia,

7th December 1811.”

21, pp. 185˗196: Deposition of Toenko Serief Mahomed

and Sayd Aboe Bakar Bin Aesien Room respecting the murder

of the Dutch Inhabitants of Palembang. 12 Decr 1811, at

Malacca.

This states that the murder of the Dutch (24 Europeans

and 63 native soldiers) was ordered by the Sultan, but no

direct evidence is given. The murder, according to this

deposition, took place towards the end of September.

22, pp. 197˗212: Translaet Malaijse Brier Gesz door

Tongkoe Sarieff Mohamed te Malakka Aan Zijn Excellentie

Thomas Raffles.... 6 January 1812. Also an English

translation.

The information given is here much the same as in the

deposition (No. 21).

23, pp. 213˗252: (Raffles) to the Right Honorable Gilbert

Lord Minto, Governor-General.... Batavia, the 7th M arch

1812.

This gives a summary account of the events leading up to

the murder (as recorded in more detail in the above papers),

and states the reasons justifying the sending of an expedition

to Palembang.

24, PP. 253˗264: Memorandum. Instructions to Colonel

R. R. Gillespie commanding the forces for the expedition to

Palembang and Banca. [n.d.[?March 1812]] No signature. “The possession

of Banca is to be the sine qua non... In the event of the

removal of the Sultan . . . the nearest relative . . . be

immediately placed upon the throne ... the condition of

friendship and alliance is to be the voluntary and unqualified

cession of Banca and Billiton ....”

25, pp. 265˗284: The Governor-General to the Honourable

Thomas S. Raffles, Esq …. Fort William, 15th May 1812.

“... executing rigid and signal justice on the Sultan of

Palambang’s deep and detestable offence . . . the dethronement

of the Sultan should be the first and main object of

the War: and his treasure appears to be as justly at the

disposal of the Conqueror at his Crown.... The two

points, therefore, of your instructions to Coll Gillespie, which

relate to these objects, are fully approved.” [Copy.]

26, pp. 286˗291: Table of the Quantity of Tin produced

at present or to be expected from Banka. Signed by Thos.

Horsefield; no date.

27, pp. 293˗304: Major (?) A. W. Court to Thomas Stamford

Raffles. Minto, 10 June 1815. “... Rajah Akil has just

arrived from Billiton ... the Disposition of the People of

Billiton towards him appears very questionable.... Rajah

Akil with 30 followers marched from Sejoo to attack the

Depatty ... he succeeded, the Depatty fell ... the good

Disposition of the People of Billiton to receive the authority

of the Hon. Company’s Government.... We have been a

little retarded for the want of a due Supply of Clash ....

The Troops are still seven months in arrears ....”

28, pp. 305˗328: This document is endorsed “Reports

on the Island of Billiton dated 1 August 1812 and 27 Novr

1819”; but there is one report only (dated 27th November

1819) which quotes from an earlier report. Extracts from

this report are printed in Lady Raffles’ Memoir, pp. 418˗419.