SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES. 53 



As time wore on, the occupations of office became 

 'ess engrossing. The long time spent in passing 

 from Calcutta to Bencoolen, in matters connected 

 with government, and the permanent establishment 

 and prosperous condition of Singapore, left little more 

 to be accomplished : a return to Europe was contem- 

 plated, and the arrangement and description of his im- 

 mense collections looked forward to. At Bencoolen, 

 Sir Stamford lived in comparative retirement at his 

 residence in the country ; his chief employments be- 

 ing study and the examination of the numerous inte- 

 resting productions his house and grounds contained, 

 being in his own words, " a perfect Noah's ark." Farm- 

 ing occupied also a portion of his time, and the mak- 

 ing of roads, and improving the neighbouring country. 

 In a letter to his cousin, he pleasantly writes, " Much 

 of my time is taken up in agricultural pursuits. I am 

 by far the most active farmer in the country ; and as 

 President of the Agricultural Society, not only take 

 precedence at the board but in the field. I have a 

 dozen ploughs constantly going, and before I quit the 

 estate, I hope to realize a revenue of L. 2000 or 

 L. 3000 a-year, besides feeding its population." 



This state of rural happiness and employment in 

 benefiting the country was now however about to ter- 

 minate. A succession of sickly seasons occurred, 

 which ravaged the population, and we may almost be 

 surprised that Sir Stamford and his lady were pre- 

 served among the many losses they sustained. Their 

 three eldest children fell victims in succession to the 



