TAKEN FOR A SPY. 
57 
be a secondary consideration if I wished to visit the most 
interesting portions of one of the most lovely islands in the 
world, as 1 could not afford the time to remain stationary. I 
happened to arrive in Java at a most exciting period ; the 
great European revolutions had just burst into flame, and 
the Dutch had made up their minds that the English Govern- 
ment if driven to war with France would take it from them ; 
my arrival, therefore, created quite a sensation ; there was a 
very strong suspicion amongst the good people of Batavia 
that I was an English spy, and they could not understand 
why the Governor General was so civil to me, granting me 
permission to travel all over the island ; moreover issuing 
an order that Captain Hamilton was to be treated with 
every attention. 
I met with great kindness at Government House. 
Colonel Butterworth, the Governor of Singapore, by having 
the Java mails made up separately saved the Batavian 
Government the trouble and expense of sending all the way to 
Hong Kong for their letters, for which act of consideration 
the Governor General was very grateful, and my arrival in the 
island shortly afterwards with a letter of introduction from 
the Colonel, enabled his Excellency to show through me 
his appreciation of the kind act of our Governor ; hence the 
mystery of my reception which so puzzled the public at large. 
At various places I reviewed troops, made speeches, and 
was driven about escorted by cavalry, and I gratefully ac- 
knowledge the kindness and civility I received from all 
the Government Officials during my sojourn in the Island. 
Unfortunately in the circular order issued, it was mentioned 
that I was to be shown sport ; in some places whole districts 
were turned out to beat the jungles for me, but as a rule the 
