Application of the foregoing subjects. 19 



respect to the pursuit of every branch of liberal knowledge or of 

 scientific research, of those extended realms, which comprised the 

 peculiarly interesting,though, comparatively, little known countries, 

 that were placed, eventually, under Sir Stamford's government. 



Tiiey were thus presented to the contemplation, of one 

 whose comprehensive genius could at once perceive the kind 

 of investigation they required, and whose indefatigable activity 

 in the exercise of his power, could procure, with the same readi- 

 ness, the means necessary for inquiry. The versatility of talent 

 he possessed, was fully adequate to the demands made upon it, by 

 the variety of circumstances around him. Sir Stamford Raffles 

 was competent to the most difficult and trying situations, in which 

 the ruler of countries, inhabited, partly, by Europeans of different 

 nations, and often of conflicting interests, and partly by Natives 

 still more various in character, could be placed. He could esti- 

 mate and determine, Mith facility, the claims of these regions to 

 the attention of the statesman, the scholar, and the naturalist. 

 He was well qualified to bestow upon them the beneficent care of 

 the enlightened philanthropist, anxious to ameliorate the moral 

 condition and consequent happiness of the population committed to 

 his charge, by the most intelligent and efficient means. 



Nor was he less distinguished by the energy and promptitude 

 with which he executed every plan of improvement suggested by 

 these diversified relations. Having risen to his exalted station 

 solely by the force of his talents and his application, (his energy was 

 often required to surmount the opposition excited by the jealousy 

 of those persons, whom he might be supposed to have superseded, 

 whether in weight of influence and authority, or in oflicial situ- 

 ation. The more confined views of others, also, who had been 

 accustomed to a line of colonial policy dictated by notions, which 

 an age that is rapidly approaching will consign irretrievably to 

 the darkness from whence they originated, demanded, not un- 

 frequently, the exercise of the same qualities. And, above all, 

 these varied talents, in Sir Stamford Raffles, were animated and 

 ennobled by the free-born and independent spirit, the generous 

 love of knowledge, and the desire of imparting it to others, the 

 love of freedom, and the love of making others free, — of giving 

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