The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-25 00:00:00

SIXG.4 PORE.

The Marquis of Lammlown adverted a few evenings agn, In the
Mouse of Lords, to the inipornance of this rising colony, and called
the attention of Parliament to the necessity of presetting inviolate
those principles of free trade on which it was founded. Tit; appre-
hensions of the Noble Marquis on this head were awakened, we
periumrs by the report that this colony was about to become an
appendage to that of Prince of Wales' Island, where all the ener-
gies of a liberal system of trade have already began to sink under
the weight of an expel:sive establishment. With what interest the
stony of Singapore may be regarded by the spc.culittive ;Ago-
wopher, as well as by the merchant, our readers may judge front the
following compiled account :
Siugapore, correctly written Singahpura (meaning the City of
Lions, or the Warlike City), is placed at the extern entrance of the
great Straits of Malacca, the second in point of importance of the
great avenues of the Archipelago. The natural advantages of this
sitiatinn did mit escape the natives of the country. It was here
that the nest .Malayan colony from Sumatra was formed ; and it was
here, again, that the same people fitted themselves, lifter they were
driven from Malacca by the usurpation of the Portuguese.
This little spot is as highly favoured in its climate as in its situ-
ation ; and what appears very extraordinary to those who believe
that the causes of disease are well understood, although all the eir.

curostances which are thought conducive to yellow and intermittent
fevers—such as low and marshy grounds, luxuriant vegetation, and
rapid evaporation, are found combined in this spot—yet„ according
to the intelligent Mr. Finlayson, these destructive maladies are
here quite unknown.
The island of Singapore has the honour of being the first colony
in modem times (perhaps In ancient also), in which the principle of
tree trade has been declared ; and if any example were wanting to
prove the policy of a liberal system with regard to commerce, we
should say—look at the history of Singapore; which is briefly
this :—When Java, and the other principal islands of the eastern
Archipelago, were surrendered to the Dutch, Sir Stamford Raffles
11.31/ with regret the sacri6co of ocr Interests then made, not only as
regarded these islands, but alto our intercourse with China ; he
observed also with pain, how rapidly the Dutch advanced in their
design of destroying our commerce in that part of the world : under
these circumstances he was induced to turn his thoughts to the
island of Singapore, as to a last and almost forlorn hope. All that
he knew ant was, that, although in a favourable situation, it con-
tamed only a poor fishing village, and that it was the haunt of
pirates ; but he knew also that the chief had applied to Bengal for
protection, and would not be sorry to see the British flag flying on
his island.
Armed with the authority of the Governor-General, and fur-
nished with a vessel belonging to the Company's marine, Sir
Stamford took possession of the Island. and, under a treaty con-
cluded with the Chief, hoisted the British flag on the 26th Fe-
bruary 1819. At that time the inhabitants did not emceed one
hundred and fifty, of whom about thirty were Chinese. Ills first
act was to declare " the port of Singapore a free port, and the
trade thereof open to ships and vessels of every nation, five of
thry, equally and alike to all." Now mark the result.
in the course of the first three months' possession, the population
increased from one hundred and fifty to three thousand ; In the
Ant year to about five thousand ; two years afterwards to ten thou-
•sand ; in 1824, by a census, not very accurately taken, it had risen
to thirteen thousand, besides itintr:mts to the amount of three
thousand ; and in 1825, it was computed that the population had
•increased to at least fifteen thousand souls, besides upwards of
thirty thousand Chinese, who about the middle of the year had ar-
rived as settlers in six large junks. By the latest accounts it ap-
pears that capital was daily flowing in. that ten or twelve respect-
tilde mercantile houses had been established by Europeans, and as
puny by Chinese, Arabians. Indians. Armenians, &e.; but that
ti.e principal part of the trade and manufactures, as well as of the
agriculture of the Island, was in the hands of the Chinese, who
also composed a large proportion of the population ; that ship-
building had commenced ; that the banks of the river would admit
of vessels of 600 tors being Lunched; and that an active and va-
luable commerce in teak-timber was springing up with Siam.

By an estimated value kept in the Master Attendant's Office,
the trade of Singapore has increasel as follows :
In lfrn, value of imports Mild exports - £4.541 172
1833, - ditto -13,2 t 1 3.17
1824, - - ditto - - 15,thei ism)
• 182 k, estimated at not less than . . 20,1t00.009

barge junks from diiirrent parts of Chine not only bring an.
neatly a multitude of settlers, but also import and export valuable
cargoes ; vessels of smaller sizes from Siam and Cachin China Ve
yearly increasing; • considerable trade is also opening with Ma-
siklla. The number of square-rigged vessels that arrived in tbe
)ear 1823 from India arid Europe, amounted to 216 ; of naive
oriental craft to 1550, importing nearly 81).000 tons of merchandise,
And all this unprecedented increase of trade, population, and
prosperity, has arisen. not so much front the favourable locality
of tl.is eastern emporium, and the safety and convenience of its
poet (both of which are excellent), as from the establishment in
good faith of the principle of free trade; a simple provisional ad-
ministration of justice, dispensed without delay i • ,tract and
efficient police, and a judicious system of granting and registering '
lands ; to which may be added, as thost important, a large and
liberal institution for the education of youth, of whatever country
pc religion. The Chinese in liariculor, some million' of whom
kyr! sectered over the islands of the great Asiatic Archipelago, are
everywhere ready to receive instruction. At the College of Ma.
bete, Chinese boys were not only taught to read their own and the
Vlglish language, but allowed cheerfully by their parents to be
hist:tired in the principles of the Christian religion. The College
that was established there has now been removed to Singapore. and
gifted to the Malay College. founded by Sir Stamford Raffles.
Thus commerce and civilisation, religion suit morality, are likely
to go hand in hand in this lilting settlement, where the picture of
ancient Tyre' so brilliantly painted by Fencloo, seems likely to be
actually realised.

GERMAN P.IPERS.

NURT:MTICRCH. MARCH 14.

On the 11th of this month the celebrated composer 31eyerbeer
arrived here from ..1111xn, where he passsed some weeks, and act out
agate the next day to Berlin. Ilt said that he intended to atop
there only a few days, and then. to go to London.
The King of Saxony sends 200.0001 dollars to Leipsic, to relieve
the oonarnerciel distress. The estate of Reichenbach will now be
better, because the funds are rising.
CAELSRritIe, MARCH

The disasters caused by the commercial distress have brought
some facts to light which mer.t the serious attention of the Oennan
Governments and merchants. First, it is now shown that the
greater part of the raw materiels, slid, as wool and cotton, were not
purchased by the Eir,lish on their own account but only taken on
commission ; consequently the loss fills on the consigners, while
e English commissioners get ample commission and good in.
terest few the money they have advanced. Secondly, the English
manufacturers are now able to procure, at a cheap rate, from th.!
proprietor*, who are pressed on all aides, the raw materials that arc
arcomulated in she warehouses they will endeavour to depress
thorn as much as passible ;-in which they will the more easily
asiccasti, as the Enghsh commission's*. regardless of the loss of
their foreign consigners. in order to get their commission and the
money advanced as soon m possible, urge the sale on the taking
bark of the goods deposited. and thus second the views of the ma-
nufacturers. The raw materials will therefore be for a time cheaper
io England than in the countries which produced tbent.—Frarakbrt
Papers, March 17.