192 JACK'S LETTERS TO WALLICH, 1819-1821. 



away the Governor, 156 Mr. Phillips 157 and another: 158 the Govern- 

 ment thus becoming vacant by the disappearance of both the heads 

 of it, it will of course rest with the Bengal Govt, to make the 

 necessary provisional arrangements. We shall of course be anxious 

 to hear what these are; and the most probable is that it will he 

 united with this under Sir Stamford. The plan has already been 

 recommended by Lord Hastings to the Court of Directors, for 

 adoption on the retirement of Col. Bannerman, so that I think 

 that there can be little doubt of his embracing this unlooked for 

 opportunity of carrying it into effect; 150 I shall rejoice at it on 

 Sir Stamford's account, though I confess after so much moving* 

 about as we have had lately, I would rather remain quietly here 

 for some time, especially as I have so much in hand. Sir S. him- 

 self would like to remain here too for some time: however we 

 must take things as they come. 



I am extremely busy at present. I was in hopes ere this to 

 have had some printed sheets of descriptions to send you, but Mr. 

 Ward 160 is so slow and dilatory, that I fear he will be of little use 

 to us. A first paper (not mine) which was given him on trial, 

 has not been got out of his hands yet. My botanical time is a 



156. Colonel Bannerman., 



157. The Honourable W. E. Phillips for a Jong time a servant of 

 the East India Company in Penang, acted as Governor thrice before 

 Colonel Bannerman came out, and became confirmed as Governor in 1819. 

 He lived in great state having a park full of deer round his residence, and 

 was most hospitable. He did not die of cholera in this year: so, either 

 Jack's information was wrong, or we must look for another Phillips. The 

 first alternative is more than probable. 



Succeeding to the Governorship, W. E. Phillips by his prompt and 

 firm action in the end of 1819, snuffed out a renewed attempt on the 

 part of Saif-ul-alam to disturb the peace, at the time when Eaffles was in 

 Calcutta, on his very mission for the subordination of the Penang Governor- 

 ship : and which it seems, he undertook thinking this apparently capable 

 officer dead. 



158. Whoever was dead, it further was not Captain Coombs for he 

 remained in Penang after this date, and died much later in Scotland. 



159. After the receipt of this news Eaffles proceeded to Calcutta to 

 urge personally the amalgamation of the Straits Settlements into one 

 government as already half -promised (vide Memoir of Sir Stamford Raffles, 

 p. 396). He arrived there on or about November 12th, 1819, taking Jack 

 with him, and Jack taking his collections. In Calcutta, Eaffles became ill; 

 and the stay was prolonged, giving Jack facilities for working over his 

 plants with Wallich. Because of this interruption of the correspondence 

 by personal contact, it has been thought best to divide the Bencoolen letters 

 at this break into two series. 



160. The Eev. 1ST. M. Ward, one of Eaffles' missionaries, doubtless the 

 one mentioned by him in his letter to the Duchess of Somerset already 

 quoted p. 147. He subsequently penetrated into the interior of Sumatra. 

 Was it not he who in 1815 was with Carey and Marshman at Serampore ? 

 (Vide Private Journal of the Marquess of Hastings, (London 1858, ii. p.' 

 93). Jack did not think much of him. 



Jour. Straits Branch 



