34 MEMOIR OF 



actual institution, several years afterwards, under his 

 auspices, as the Zoological Society of London. 



In November 1817 Sir Stamford Raffles, accom- 

 panied by his lady, sailed for his new residency, and, 

 after a tedious voyage, arrived safely at Bencoolen. 

 The condition of this establishment at the time of his 

 arrival must have been veiy desolate. In a letter to 

 Mr Marsden, he thus describes their uncomfortable 

 situation : " This is without exception the most 

 wretched place I ever beheld. I cannot convey to 

 you an adequate idea of the state of ruin and dilapi- 

 dation which surrounds me. What with natural im- 

 pediments, bad government, and the awful visitations 

 of providence, which we have recently experienced 

 in repeated earthquakes, we have scarcely a dwell- 

 ing in which to lay our heads, or wherewithal to sa- 

 tisfy the cravings of nature. The roads are impas- 

 sable ; the highways in the town overrun with rank 

 grass ; the government-house a den of ravenous dogs 

 and polecats." The administration seemed to have 

 been little better ; a listless idleness had taken hold 

 of the native inhabitants, gaming and cockfighting 

 prevailed, and the Malayan character was exhibited 

 in its very worst aspect ; while the murder of Mr 

 Parr, a former resident, had given rise to complete 

 distrust among the European inhabitants ; " an ap- 

 pearance of general desolation appeared." 



By the energy and prudent measures adopted 

 without delay by Sir Stamford, the aspect of affairs 

 and of the country became soon improved, and con- 

 fidence to a certain extent was restored between 



