400 SINGAPORE. 



office of governor was filled during our visit, by Samuel George 

 Bonliam, Esq., whose usual residence is at Singapore, but I had not 

 the pleasure of seeing him, as he was absent on a tour of duty. A 

 steamer is attached to this service, and enables the governor to 

 communicate freely with the three ports. At each port there is a 

 recorder's court, for the trial of offences, and the settlement of com- 

 mercial difficulties. A chief justice, who resides at Singapore, is 

 the principal law officer for criminal offences, and is appointed by the 

 crown. Capital punishment is referred for approval to the authorities 

 at home. 



By the treaty of 1824, the Dutch gave up Malacca, which had 

 become useless to them, and the English bound themselves not to 

 make settlements on any of the islands to the south of it. This 

 was certainly a very unwise covenant on the part of Great Britain, 

 and showed great want of knowledge respecting the resources and 

 geographical position of the various islands. 



This false step has been prejudicial to the interests of Great Bri- 

 tain, and has entailed upon the fine islands of Borneo, Celebes, 

 Banca, &c, the benighted policy that has so long been pursued by 

 Holland. Banca, from which England has thus excluded herself, by 

 all accounts is said to possess the best tin mines in the world. In 

 this treaty of March, 1824, signed at London, it was mutually agreed 

 that piracy should be extirpated from the Eastern seas; but the 

 practice has probably existed to full as great if not greater extent 

 in the few years that have since elapsed, as at any previous epoch. 



It cannot but appear evident that the political relations with Hol- 

 land, which have existed, and still continue to exist, in these islands, 

 have had little effect in improving the state of civilization ; for although 

 that nation has been in possession of power for nearly two hundred 

 years, yet the natives of the several islands are not found to be more 

 advanced in the arts or sciences, nor their comforts or conveniences 

 of life in any degree improved by its influence, although thousands 

 of Europeans have grown rich upon their labours. This is no doubt 

 one of the usual effects of a monopoly ; and these islands, which are 

 blessed with all the abundance of God's providence, have by the 

 grasping hand of avarice been impoverished, and made the seat of 

 bloodshed and want. Slavery is as prevalent, and as openly counte- 

 nanced, as on their being first taken possession of. It would be diffi- 

 cult for any one to point out what good the policy of Europe in the 

 East, has brought upon the islanders, in return for the riches that 

 have been derived from them. 



