would, if fortified, command with cannon the straits, through 
which every vessel passes to China and all the eastern settlements. 
A more convenient site and more formidable position could not 
possibly be selected; and it is really astonishing that it should 
have remained so long imnoticed. It was the capital of the 
Malays in the twelfth century; but they were obliged to abandon 
it, during the unfortunate wars with the Javan Empire of Maja- 
pulait, and retire to Malacca, and when the latter was taken by 
the Portuguese, they settled at Johore; and Singapore has, till 
now, been almost forgotten. I have no doubt it will soon rise 
to more than its ancient consequence. I have just arrived in 
time to explore the woods, before they jield to the axe, and have 
made many interesting discoveries, particularly of two new and 
splendid species of Pitcher-Plant {Nepenthes Raffiesiana and 
N. ampidlarid), far surpassing any yet known in Europe. I have 
completed two perfect drawings of them, with ample descriptions. 
Sir S. Raffles is anxious that we should give publicity to our 
researches, in one way or other, and has planned bringing out 
something at Bencoolen. He proposes sending home these 
Pitcher-plants, that such splendid things may appear under all 
the advantages of elegant execution, by way of attracting attention 
to the subject of Sumatran botany.” Many of Dr, Jack’s plants 
did appear in the Malayan Miscellany, published at Bencoolen; 
but no plants of the Nepenthes Rqfflesiana ever reached Europe 
alive; till the Royal Gardens was supplied with a case of them, 
through the kindness of Capt. Bethune, R.N., who, on his return 
from his scientific mission to Borneo, had a Wardian case filled 
with them ; and so well were the plants established in the case, 
and so great was the care taken ot them overland from India, 
that they were as healthy on their arrival at Kew in 1845 as 
the day they were transplanted from their native glen in Singa¬ 
pore. It was the very year in which Dr. Jack writes, that, as is 
well known, at the suggestion of his friend and patron. Sir 
Stamford Raffles, the island of Singapore was purchased by the 
India Company of the Sultan of Johore. Mr. Crawford was its 
first Governor and historian : since that period, it has become a 
settlement of vast importance to our country, and being much 
frequented by our ships, both mercantile and of the navy, it is 
to be hoped its vegetable productions will soon be familiar to 
us. Dr. Jack, with the modesty which was a striking feature in 
his character ^ves the credit of the discovery of this plant in 
the forests of Singapore, to Sir Stamford Raffles; probably in 
order that the name might be considered more appropriate. 
Singapore, Wver does not appear to be the only station 
for th^ plant; Korthals, if we read his high Dutch correctly, 
gives Bintang, off the coast of Sumatra, as another habitat. 
