SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES. 
21 
OU8 RafHes, in preference to many who were thought 
at least to have possessed more interest. In 1805 
the Directors detei'miiied upon sending out an esta- 
blishment to Penang ; and Mr Ramsay, then secre- 
tary, having observed his talents for diplomacy, his 
application, and his quickness, recommended him to 
the office of assistant secretary. In September fol- 
lowing Mr Raffles first set foot in the East, the 
theatre in which his acquirements and industry were 
to be shown forth. During the voyage out he bad 
nearly mastered the Malayan language; and, from the 
llness of the secretary, he was at once obliged to en- 
ter upon all the duties and difficulties of his office, a 
task of great responsibility, but which he executed 
to the satisfaction of his employers. 
The great exertions and application necessary to 
carry on the duties of the government, with the 
effects of the climate on a constitution not yet 
inured to it, were too much for Mr Raffles, and he 
was thrown into bad health, and an illness so seri- 
ous, that relaxation and change of air to Malacca 
were recommended. Hence his anxiety to benefit 
the government brought him hack almost before he 
was able to undergo fatigue. Ho made the voyage 
in the long boat of an Indiaman, and again reached 
Penang in time to send off despatches, and to for- 
ward many objects which could scarcely* have been 
accomplished without him. 
While at Malacca he first saw and mixed with 
the varied population of the Eastern Archipelago, 
