202 JACK'S LETTER* TO WALLICH, 1819-1821. 



explaining to them at the same time, that as a sufficient number 

 of the principal specimens had already heen obtained, the expense 

 might easily be kept within the limits by avoiding an unnecessary 

 number of duplicates. Now what do you think was the reply to 

 this noble proposal?— no words but those of the letter itself' can 



convey to you the full idea, or measure of the ingratitude 



of it; I shall ask Sir S. to let you have a copv of the corres- 

 pondence, The fact is they think they have nearly 



exhausted Sumatra : and now meditate their retreat with as much 



as they can carry off They say they were solicited 



to come here, and in compliance therewith abandoned the researches 

 they had so successfully commenced in Bengal, with many simi- 

 lar lies. 



As they seemed determined not to recede in their preten- 

 sions, it became necessary to appoint a committee to take charge 

 of the whole of the collections, which has accordingly been done. 

 They express themselves very indignant, and talk of going to Bengal 



to protest; Let Gen. Hardwicke (to whom 1 beg 



my compliments on his late accession of honors) know the story, 

 and see the correspondence. If possible prevent Lord Hasting- 

 from being humbugged by them, humbug, (I like the word and so 

 do you) not being one of the things that his Lordship is quite 

 proof against. There is a vessel here at present that will take a 

 great part of the collections at once to England, which will be so 

 much secured. Our return perhaps was fortunate, as it appears 

 that they had actually been preparing to steal a march and to be 

 off with the whole. So much was this expected that the acting 

 Resident had actually his eye upon them, to place a guard over the 

 house and property, if they should make the attempt. 



Enough however of such a subject : I have commenced with 

 it as being the uppermost at the moment, before even acquainting 

 you with our safe arrival here. I wrote you by a vessel that 

 parted with us at Padang, and was proceeding from thence to 

 Madras. 



In that I gave you some account of Tappanooly. and the dis- 

 coveries in that quarter. We arrived here 20 " on the 3rd of March, 

 but the weather was so bad, and the surf so great in consequence, 

 that we were unable to land till next day. Bather tantalising this, 

 particularly to Sir S. However we are now once more quietly 

 settled and beginning to resume our old routine. This business 

 of the Frenchmen will give me some additional occupation and 

 disturbances, as all their collections come in here, and there will 

 he the plague of stowing and arranging them, cum stinkibus. et 

 filthibus, et ceteris et ceteris. 



200. Bencoolen. 



Jour. Straits Branch 



