ENGLISH TOMBS AND MONUMENTS IN BENCOOLEN. 53 



In 1801 under the Governor-General Lord Wellesley a 

 commissioner was sent from the High Court of Bengal to 

 Bencoolen with authority to suspend the Governor and his two 

 councillors and reduce the number of functionaries, prohibit 

 private trading, and reduce the Settlement to a dependency 

 of Bengal. 



It appears that the commission was executed in a tactless 

 manner. The garrison of Fort Marlboro was assembled in 

 arms and the commission read in public. 



A considerable outcry resulted from this insult, some of 

 the dismissed received compensation, while others were dis- 

 missed without pay and being bound to the place became im- 

 poverished. These conditions caused great discontent which 

 was increased among the natives by the action of Eesident 

 Parr, who was sent from Bengal to succeed the late Governor. 



He proceeded to reform the native administration of 

 justice without consulting the native chiefs, assuming a 

 despotic power over them. To the cultivation of pepper he 

 added coffee and made both compulsory. 



Moreover being used in his former position in Bengal to 

 absolute obedience he personally insulted many of the most 

 important natives. 



Before long a conspiracy against his life was deliberated, 

 this was know]] but Parr although warned would pay no 

 attention. 



On a determined night his house at Mt. Felix — some three 

 miles south of the Fort — was attacked by a band of natives 

 who overpowered the guard, then entered the room where Parr 

 lay ill and decapitated him, in an attempt to defend him his 

 wife and secretary Murray were wounded, but no attempt Was 

 made on their lives nor on the lives of other inhabitants of 

 Bencoolen. 



The attack was a personal matter. 



The action of the Government relative to this is described in 

 Lady Raffles's Memoir: — 



The measures that followed were of a doubtful cast. 



As soon as it was discovered that the designs of the people 

 were confined to the assasination, and not directed against the 

 settlement generally, search was made for the perpetrators of 

 the act. Rewards were offered for the apprehension, alive or 

 dead, of the assassins. 



It was thought unsafe to touch the chiefs. Several of 

 the people were blown from the mouths of guns. As the 

 danger diminished, the spirit of indignation and revenge seem- 

 ed to have increased. An order was given to burn and destroy 

 every village within a certain distance, and the work of de- 

 ft. A. Soc, No. 73. 



