MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN LIGHT. 5 



The task of governing this mixed multitude fell entirely on 

 the shoulders of Captain LiGHT himself, for he received but 

 little encouragement from the Indian Government, who long 

 regarded the Establishment at Penang with doubts and even 

 with jealousy. There had been a rival settlement formed at 

 the Andamans in 1791, under the patronage of Admiral 

 CORNWALLIS; but it never prospered, and in 1796, was aban- 

 doned. Meanwhile Penang had natural advantages which 

 served it better than any patronage. The Superintendent, as 

 he was called, lost no opportunity of assuring the East 

 India Company of the success of his beloved Settlement as a 

 commercial enterprise, and implored the Directors to estab- 

 lish a proper Government and to make provision for the 

 administration of justice. This was a difficulty most keenly 

 felt, but in spite of his earnest recommendation no proper 

 remedy was applied. The sole tribunal up to the beginning of 

 the 19th century was an informal kind of Court Martial, com- 

 posed of Officers and respectable inhabitants. All the minor 

 offences and petty disputes were adjudicated by the '' Capi- 

 tans" or headmen of the various nationalities inhabiting the 

 island ; and there was no regularly organised judicial system 

 in the island till the establishment of the Recorder's Court in 

 1805. In Captain LiGHT's time persons convicted of murder 

 were sent prisoners to Bengal; and by the express order of 

 the Indian Government it was "made understood upon the 

 " island for the sake of example that they were to remain in 

 "slavery for life.'' This bugbear of slavery in Bengal was a 

 childish subterfuge wherewith to maintain the majesty of the 

 law ; but Light was no party to such folly ; and continually 

 urged his Government to provide proper Courts endowed 

 with full authority. 



Early in 1788, the financial question confronted the Super- 

 intendent of the new Colony. He was much averse to laying- 

 burdens on the people, and especially to interfering with the 

 freedom of the port, and expresses his regret at the insistence 

 of Government. In a despatch addressed to Lord CORNWAL- 

 LIS, dated 20th June, 1788, he urges: "Some reasonable time 

 " should be allowed the first settlers to enable them to bear 



