178 THE FOUNDING OF SINGAPORE. 



By possessing the only passes to this Empire, namely th r e 

 Straits of Snncla and Malacca, they had it in their power at 

 all times to impede that trade ; and of their disposition/to 

 exert this power, even in time of peace, there was no doubt. 

 It was therefore determined that we should lose no time in 

 securing, if practicable, the command of one of these Straits; 

 ami the straits of Malacca. on account of their proximity to 

 our other Settlements appeared the most eligible. 1 was 

 accordingly authorized to provide for the establishment of the 

 British interests at Acheeu, ( the most Northern Kingdom of 

 Sumatra and which commands the Northern entrance of these 

 Straits) and to fix upon some Station that might equally ccm- 

 mand the southern entrance. My negotiations occupied a 

 period of several months, but they ended successfully, and the 

 predominance of the British influence in that quarter has 

 been duly provided for. The same has been effected at this 

 end of the Straits and the intermediate station of Malacca 

 although occupied by the Dutch, has been completely nulli- 

 fied. 



This decisive though moderate policy on the part of the 

 British Government has paralysed the further efforts of the 

 Dutch, and we have reason to hope that every thing will 

 remain in statu quo pending the references which are neces- 

 sarily made to Europe by both parties. Our eventual object 

 is of course to secure the independence of the Bornean, Su- 

 matra n and other States with which we have been in alliance 

 for the last twenty years : and further, if practicable to re- 

 gain the Settlements of Malacca, Padang and Banca. These 

 ought never to have been transferred to the Dutch, but as 

 they are indebted to us in nearly a Million Sterling on the 

 adj ustment of their Java accounts, it is to be hoped we may 

 yet make a compromise for their return. 



I shall Say nothing of the importance which I attach to 

 the permanence of the position I have taken up at Singapore ; 

 it is a child of my own. But for my Malay studies I should 

 hardly have 'known that such a place existed ; not only the 

 European but the Indian world also was ignorant of it. It 

 is impossible to conceive a place combining more advantages: 

 it is within a week's sail of China, still closer to Siam, Co- 

 chin-China, &c. in the very heart of the Archipelago, or as 

 the Malays call it, it is "the Navel of the Malay countries"; 

 already a population of above live thousand souls has col- 

 lected under our flag, the number is daily increasing, the 

 harbour, in every way superior, is tilled with Shipping from 

 all quarters ; and although our Settlement has not been 



