The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-16 00:00:00

SIXGAPONF.

Three are few of our eastern possessions that have at-
tracted a larger share of the public interest than that re-
cently founded by Sir Stamford Raffles, at Singapore; and
if no other argument could be adduced in favour of the
colonisation of India, and the benefits of free trail., ov-r
monopoly, the history of this infant, yet flourishing, settle-
ment would be sufficient. The history of its foundation
must be known to most of our readers ; and it will be
gratifying to them to learn that the early promises held out
by its intelligent founder, of a rapid rise to opulence and
consideration, have been folly borne ma by succeeding
events. We subjoin as the latest tu counts from that
island which have reached England, au ac.-ount of its state
'anti condition at the close of the year te23:—
The nienharts of Singapore begin at length to surmount all
dillirulite.; and, an it were. the foundation atone of the .•
'Min" is already laid. Ifodowns (warehouses) and dwelling_
houses are ri.ing fast on all sides, and marking, by their daily pro-
gress, the general spirit of this settlement ; the south-eastern aide
of the river, .shieh Wag, previous to the arrival of Sir S. Karnes, a
mere marsh or the worst description. and when taken possession of
be the English, covered with jungle. and overtiowed in some
places four feet by the high tides daily, has been converted into the
most valuable spot npon the whole island. It wilt form the centre
of the commercial establishments- Roads have been made in va-
rious directions over the sante marsh of the most desirable con-
struction, and every encouragement girzn to individual industry.
A bridge is erecting across the river, which wan a most desired
improvement. It is of a gnat length, with a double-draw in the
centre, to allow the largest resod.' to pass sip the river at any
time—there being almost all the way frosu tine to fifteen feet at
low water.

The (*kinetic here manifested a spirit of colonization fit ex-
ceeding what could have been petted front existing circumstan-
ces; new streets, Ate. have been lined out for them, intersecting
each other at right angles, and the order and regularity which have
been preserved in each distinct Camping defies description. By a
seasonable regulation, every I se has • verandah of six feet,
tieing every street, which in the worst weather allows business of
ell kinds to be carried on, front one end of the town to the other,
without the chance of damage.
The difficulties which sir S. Raffles hail to surmount in the first
place were of no ordinary nature, but to • ready and comprehen-
sive mind like hie„ obstacles only drew forth his extensive know-
ledge, and his capability of turning everything to the best account.
'louses were removed and rebuilt on other sites, and the places
formerly poesessed by a herd of petty &alerts, Chinese and others,
occupied by noble goduwna in the shott space of • few montha,
end to the satisfaction of all parties. The • tish market,' which
!in a place where the population chiefly exist upon fish, and when
may say hundreds of pounds are brought its daily, became a
great nuniasses limn this pans which were thrown away becoming
iitialed, has been removed over the sea, upon a trance-work,
well tilativicel for this purpotie.
A road Ines been executed arrow the island to the Rangone river.
which is from 2110 to ratio feet broad. Ity this a passage is opened
overland with all the native states on the east coast of the Malayan
Pennisida, and even to Siam itself. Since the mission of Mr.
Crawford we hare had en increase of our Siam and Cochin Chinese
imponx, and every prospect of a still further intercourse. as we
were visited loiely by two war junks belonging to the King of
Cochin China. who proceeded onwards to Prance of %)'ales Island
in furtherance of their mission. They were received kindly by Sir
S. Rallies. The Siamese also some time ir,u obtained a grant
(ground at Singapore, and it is supposed we shall soon have a
large company of that nation residing here.
It is worthy of remark that when Sir Stamford Raffles
(who has recently arrived in England) quitted Singapore,
he received the most flattering testimonies from merchants
and others quite independent of his patronage and power,
awl therefore probably declaring their real sentiments, as
to the Isla fits conferml by his liberal policy on the set-
thement of Singapore. In their address they say—
To your unwearied real, your vigilance, and your comprelien.
sive views. we owe at once the foundation and maintenance of a
settlteitent tufparalleled the hberaltty r!fthe prineipks on which
it has been istablished—prinelples, the operation of which has con-
verted, in a period short beyond all example, a haunt of pirates into
the abode of enterprite, security, and opulence.
These principles. which have Ohs led such wonders at
Singapore, arc simply the principles of fair competition and
free trade; and they would do the same for every part of
our Eastern possessions if they were acted on throughout
their whole extent. This certainly ought to induce the
Legislature to extend sill more and more the freedom of
intercourse with India, front which ltritish subjects alone
are now most unjustly excluded, while subjects of every
other nation can trade there freely, instead of counte-
nancing, as they appear to do, the narrow and selfish po-
licy of the East Italia Company, in making that inter-
course even more difficult than formerly. We transcribe
with pleasure, the Reply of Sir Stamford Rallies to this
Address, from the merchants of Singapore ; and we beg
the reader to observe that it is a servant of the East India
Company that speaks, one who has been bred tip from his
youth in the very school where pr.judices against free
trade, and in favour of monopoly, are taught and encou-
raged. Ilia enlightened judgment soon perceived, how-
ever, that colonization, BO much dreaded by his ignorant
masters, would be the main spring of all improvement in
the East ; and in his :Inswer to the merchants of Singa-
pore he distinctly says :-
31onopoly and exclusive privileges, against which Public
°Onion has so long raises! its voice, are here unknown. Sings.
pore is a free port, and as long as it so remains It cannot fail to
rosper.
Let us hope that Sir Stamford Raffles will devote his
time and talents in England to impress the importance of
free trade and colonization to India generally on the minds
of the prestnt Ministers, that our British and Indian fel-
low subjects may alike reap the benefits of a more littoral
police in the interecure between their respective countries.
oat! Trued/cr.

LITER.ITURE.

RECOLLECTIONS OF AN EVENTFUL LIFE.