148 IIORSBURGH TESTIMONIAL. [1844. 



Commodore Chads would assume the post of second in 

 command in India, commencing from the western points 

 of the Straits of Malacca. 



About this period I received a communication from the 

 Governor, Lieut. Col. Butterworth, requesting an opinion 

 as to the proper site for the Horsburgh Testimonial, 

 intended to be erected as a Lighthouse, in some part of 

 the Strait of Singapore. The sum of 6,400 dollars was 

 already subscribed for this purpose. A surveying party, 

 under the command of Lieut. Baugh was despatched to 

 examine the Romania Islands and shoals adjacent, and 

 upon the completion of the plan, executed by Mr. 

 Richards, second master, my opinion was given in favour 

 of placing it upon the outer and southern Romania 

 Island ; not only as calculated to guide vessels safely in 

 and out of the straits, but as a better lead to ships ap- 

 proaching from the eastern side. Vessels could graze 

 the island on which the Lighthouse would be erected, 

 could anchor to await tide, and would always be in con- 

 dition to make progress, without any attendant danger. 



This would not, however, be the case if placed upon 

 Pedro Branca ; it is true that it would then point out 

 where the dangers, so well described by Horsburgh, exist, 

 and enable a vessel, if she had sufficient breeze, to avoid 

 them, but more than this it would not effect ; but if 

 Romania Island invites approach and securely clears Pedro 

 Branca, there can be no solid reason for putting a light 

 in a spot where it would only partly serve one purpose. 

 The Romania shoals are not dangerous, even if a vessel 

 ground there, and she must then draw above eighteen 

 feet ; and the position at Romania would afford facilities 



