BRITISH CONNECTION WITH MALAYA. 973 
managed by commercial Superintendents. and the Indian Govern- 
ment was content to leave their factories and possessions, in 
Penang at all events. outside the Indian political system. 
The next stage exhibits an entire change. The Indian Govern- 
ment went from one extreme to the other. The rapid progress 
of the new Settlement’s commerce at Penang was duly appreciated 
by the Government of Lord WELLESLEY, the early prosperity of the 
place supporting his views regarding “ private trade ;” the expedition 
of 1797, and, no doubt, Colonel WELLESLEY’s communications, 
brought enquiry, when quieter times followed, into Penang’s 
political prospects. Exaggerated notions then came to be entertained 
of the new Settlement’s importance for naval and political purposes; 
and in 1804-5 the East India Company decided to confer upon 
it an independent Government, and sent outa Governor and 
Council, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and several Writers, after 
the fashion of the older Presidencies, with which Penang was 
now to rank. A Recorder’s Court followed (1807), and enquiry 
was also made as to the desirability of abandoning Malacca 
(1808), the better to secure Penane’s position. Then came the 
Java expedition (1811), and the old commercial struggle with the 
Dutch also entered into the political phase ; not so much through the 
temporary occupation of their possessions, asin consequence of the 
great political stroke of abolishing monopoly (1818), which followed 
shortly after our occupation. What Lord Minto took in 1811, was 
restored; but his successor, Lord Hasttyeas, was equally ready to 
support the talented administrator, Sir T. 8. Rarries, upon whom 
his predecessor had relied, and who had governed Java until its 
restoration; and he allowed Rarries to found Singapore (1819), 
for objects which are very clearly explained in one of RaAFFLEs’s 
first letters from Singapore, dated June 10th, 1819 (preserved 
in the Raffles Museum). 
The Penang Government was also alive to the importance of 
preventing any re-establishment of Dutch monopoly at this crisis, 
and for that purpose entered into negotiations, which will be found 
recorded in the earliest of our Treaties with Pérak and Stlangor 
(1818). 
1805. 
