34 
MEMOIR OF 
actual institution, several years afterwards, under his 
auspices, as the Zoological Society of London. 
In November 1817 Sir Stamford Raffles, accom- 
panied by his lady, sailed for his new residency, and, 
after a tedious voyage, arrived safely at Bencoolen. 
The condition of this establishment at the time of his 
arrival must have been veiy desolate. In a letter to 
Mr Marsden, he thus describes their uncomfortable 
situation: — “ This is without exception the most 
wretched place I ever beheld. I cannot convey to 
you an adequate idea of the state of ruin and dilapi- 
dation which surrounds me. What with natural im- 
pediments, bad government, and the awful visitations 
of providence, which we have recently experienced 
in repeated earthquakes, we have scarcely a dwell- 
ing in which to lay our heads, or wherewithal to sa- 
tisfy the cravings of nature. The roads are impas- 
sable ; the highways in the town overrun with rank 
grass ; the government-house a den of ravenous dogs 
and polecats.” The administration seemed to have 
been little better ; a listless idleness had taken hold 
of the native inhabitants, gaming and cockfighting 
prevailed, and the Malayan character was exhibited 
in its very worst aspect ; while the murder of Mr 
Pan-, a former resident, had given rise to complete 
distrust among the European inhabitants ; — “ an ap- 
pearance of general desolation appeared.” 
By the energy and prudent measures adopted 
without delay by Sir Stamford, the aspect of affairs 
and of the country became soon improved, and con- 
fidence to a certain extent was restored between 
