5G EXPEDITION TO MOLUCCA ISLANDS. 



bitants whether it is to be kept in the hands of the Company, from 

 the unjust and extraordinary preference given to the Andamans by 

 Admiral Cornwallis, that deters them from embarking any consi- 

 derable capitals in clearing the grounds and making plantations 

 which require several years before they can derive any material 

 returns from. It is, therefore, imagined that it would be much 

 more to the advantage of the Company to withdraw the establish- 

 ments both of Bencoolen and Andamans and bestow their atten- 

 tions on this island : as the general opinion of the Andamans 

 proves that it never can answer the idea of Admiral Cornwallis, 

 the propriety of adding the garrison and establishment there to 

 Pulo Penang is acknowleged by every person acquainted with its 

 situation and the circumstances attending. This addition alone 

 would be sufficient encouragement and security to Penang. As to 

 Bencoolen, since it is only kept up for the purpose of collecting 

 the pepper on the West coast of Sumatra, and seeing that the quan- 

 tity produced has gradually diminished for some years past, it is a 

 question, with very little doubt, if the whole of this pepper would 

 not just as certainly be brought to the English at Penang. where 

 the Malays could sell it at a price, not so much above the contract 

 price of Bencoolen. as to equal the expense of that Settlement now. 

 The harbour of Penang is proved to be safe and capable of hold- 

 ing all the ships of our Navy in the East, and affording them and 

 any other ships every requisite assistance at all times. There is 

 now a shipwright established, who built four ships here, and from 

 the cheapness of timber, if encouragement was given to artificers, 

 ships might be built cheaper here than anywhere in India, and 

 docks for the largest ships could be formed almost by the simple 

 excavation of the rock of Pulo Juaja* where the Chinese now ma- 

 nufacture chunam very cheap and good. It is, therefore, a good 

 situation for establishing a Naval Arsenal as the most central to 

 all the trade between India and China and all the islands to the 

 Eastward, which there are now hopes may be carried to an extent 

 much beyond what it has been hitherto, and this in all probability 

 could be done without any, or at most a very trifling, expense to the 

 Company ; since if they would only avow their encouragement and 

 support of the Settlement, in the manner before-mentioned, its 

 being continued a free port would secure it such a resource of 



* Jerajnk or Jerjali. 



