Hh introduction to Lord Minto. 33 



of tliese subjects leads to some remarks on the comparatively 

 modern origin of the Malays, who appear not to have existed as 

 a separate and distinct nation, until the arrival of the Arabians 

 in the Eastern seas : the memoir here terminates, and is suc- 

 ceeded by the Maritime Institutions, selected by the author, for 

 the purpose of laying before the Asiatic Society, on account of 

 their singularity and characteristic peculiarities. 



About this time Mr. Raffles was appointed Malay translator to 

 the Govv'rnment of India, having been introduced to the Ear! of 

 Minto, the Governor-General, by his friend Dr. Leyden, who hud 

 become Professor of Hindustani in the College of Fort-William at 

 Calcutta. He soon obtained, and ever afterwards enjoyed, the 

 highest regard and confidence of this nobleman. And His Excel- 

 lency, in one of the Anniversary Discourses he delivered to the 

 College, an establishment in which the education, in every branch 

 of oriental learning, of those who are intended to occupy public sta- 

 tions in India, is completed, honoured Mr. Raflles's Malay pur- 

 suits with an especial notice, also announcing his being engaged in 

 compiling a code of Malay laws. 



But the era was now rapidly approaching, at which Mr. Raffles 

 was destined to take a more prominent station in public aflTiiirs. 

 He was present at Calcutta in 1811, during tlie time wheji the 

 reduction of the Dutch settlements in the Eastern seas was con- 

 templated by the Bengal Administration. The annexation of 

 Holland to France, which had been effected by Napoleon, having 

 virtually placed at the disposal of the latter power, all (hese 

 valuable and extensive possessions, it was deemed expedient that 

 the island of Java, which was the central seat of the Dutch 

 colonial government, should, without delay, be brought under the 

 dominion of Great Britain. Those gentlemen whose situations 

 ID the East had qualified them for the execution of such a task, 

 among whom, of course, was Mr. Raffles, were accordingly re- 

 quested by the Governor-General to furnish the best information 

 they could impart, respecting the state of the Indian islands, on 

 which the Dutch settlements were planted. In a short space of 

 time, Mr. Raffles presented to Lord Minto, a memoir on this 

 subject, which was found to be so superior in information to those 

 Vol. III. c 



