His arrival in the East. 21 



sequent reputation and prosperity were founded. The island of 

 Pulo Penang, situated on the western coast of the peninsula oti 

 which the Malayan empire flourished in former ages, and which is 

 still one of the principal seats of that nation, had been ceded to 

 the East India Company about the year 1786, and denominated 

 Prince of Wales's Island. Being found a valuable post for the 

 protection of the trade with China, and the encouragement of com- 

 merce among the Eastern Islands, it was formed into a government, 

 with a regular civil and military establishment, in the year 1805. 

 The talents and industry of Mr. Raffles, as we must for the present 

 designate him, having obtained the favourable opinion of the Court 

 of Directors of the Company, the appointment of Assistant-Secretary 

 to the new settlement, notwithstanding the exertion of powerful in- 

 fluence in favour of other candidates for the office, was conferred 

 upon him, although he was yet a mere youth; together with the 

 rank of junior merchant, and an eventual succession to the council. 

 About this period Mr. Raffles was united in marriage with the 

 widow of a surgeon in the East India service; and in a short time 

 afterwards, pursuant to his appointment, he proceeded to Prince 

 of Wales's Island, in company with Governor Dundas, and the 

 other gentlemen of the civil department. During the voyage 

 thither, be applied, with great diligence and success, to the study 

 of the Malay language, which prevails not only over the peninsula 

 already mentioned, but also throughout the maritime regions of 

 the Asiatic Isles, and is the vernacular dialect of a population 

 equal to or perhaps exceeding that of the Indian continent. This 

 judicious and appropriate preparation for the business in which he 

 was about to engage, rendered him, immediately on his arrival at 

 the Island, a valuable acquisition to the government; and his con- 

 duct received, accordingly, the approbation of the Court of Di-r 

 rectors at home. 



On reviewing the gradual means by which the most distinguished 

 individuals of the human race, in modern times and in civilized 

 society, have attained their highest stations, their greatest influ- 

 ence over their contemporaries, and their strongest claims to the 

 regard of mankind in general, we may usually observe the follow* 

 jug order to have obtained in their advancement. They have 



