Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T11:26:38.919Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The European Mercantile Community in Singapore, 1819–1867

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

C. M. Turnbull
Get access

Extract

In continental India the East India Company subjected European immigration to tight restrictions. Private Europeans had to obtain a licence to live in India and were forbidden to buy land. When the trade of India was thrown open to private merchants in 1813, the restriction on settlement was retained. The same licensing system applied in theory to European immigrants in the Straits Settlements, but in practice it was not enforced. In 1797 when Calcutta first enquired by what authority the European inhabitants had settled in Penang, few of them could produce licences, but no steps were taken to evict them, and in 1823 the Recorder ruled that the possession of land entitled them legally to remain in Penang.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Southeast Asian History , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , January 1969 , pp. 12 - 35
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 1969

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Thomson, J. T., Sequel to some glimpses into life in the Far East, London, 1865, pp. 22–31.Google Scholar

2. Ibid., p. 49.

3. R. C. S'pore to European non-officials, 20 March 1827, ed. Braddell, Thomas, “Notices of Singapore”, Journal of the Indian Archipelago, (JIA), IX, 1855, pp. 60–61.Google Scholar

4. Gibson-Hill, C. A., “The Singapore Chronicle”, Journal of the Malayan Branch, Royal Asiatic Society, (JMBRAS), 1953, XXVI (1), p. 183.Google Scholar

5. Directors to Fullerton, Sept. 1829, Straits Settlements Records, (SSR), C 6.

6. Resident's Report, 9 Jan. 1824, in “Notices of Singapore”, JIA, IX, 1855, pp. 468–469.Google Scholar

7. List, , “Notices of Singapore”, JIA, IX, 1855, pp. 57–60.Google Scholar

8. Crawfurd, J., Journal of an Embassy.… to the courts of Siam and Cochin China, 2 vols. London, 1828, II, p. 383.Google Scholar

9. Braddell, T., “Notes on Naning”, JIA, I, (n.s.), 1856, p. 216.Google Scholar

10. “Notices of Singapore”, JIA, 1855, IX, p. 58.Google Scholar

11. Thomson, J. T., Some Glimpses into Life in the Far East, London, 1864, p. 202.Google Scholar

12. Straits Times (ST) 19 08 1845.Google Scholar

13. Official census taken Dec. 1849 in JIA, 1850, IV, p. 106.Google Scholar

14. Census report for 1860, in Singapore Free Press, (SFP), 3 & 10 01 1861Google Scholar; ST, 11 05 1861.Google Scholar

15. The Prince of Wales Island Gazette, 1805–1827Google Scholar: The Penang Register and Miscellany, 1827–1828Google Scholar; the Government Gazette of Prince of Wales Island, Singapore and Malacca, 1828–1830.Google Scholar

16. “Notices of Singapore”, JIA, IX, 1855, p. 457Google Scholar (Crawfurd's application to the Governor General for leave for F. J. Bernard to set up a newspaper).

17. Gibson-Hill, , JMBRAS, 1953, XXIV, (1) pp. 181, 183–184, 193.Google Scholar

18. Ibbetson to India, 21 Nov. 1832, SSR, R 2, p. 21Google Scholar; Gibson-Hill, JMBRAS, XXIV, (1), pp. 181–182.Google Scholar

19. William Napier, nicknamed “Royal Billy”, law agent, Lt. Gov. Labuan 1848; legal adviser to Temenggong of Johore, 1855–57; returned to England 1857; first Chairman Straits Settlements Association in London 1868.

20. Edward Boustead, came from China and founded Boustead & Co. of Singapore about 1827; part-time editor Singapore Chronicle; left Singapore for Europe 1850; died in England 1888.

21. George Drumgold Coleman, born in Ireland, established in private practice as an architect in Singapore at least as early as 1823; appointed Superintendent of Public Works, 1833; Trustee and Committee member, Raffles Institution, 1835; died in Singapore 1844.

22. SFP, 2 02 1837.Google Scholar

23. Abraham Logan, (1816–73); born in Scotland; read law at Edinburgh University but gained no professional qualification; came to Penang 1839; admitted as law agent; practised as law agent in Singapore, 1842–67, in partnership with younger brother J. R. Logan 1842–53 and with Thomas Braddell 1862–67; Secretary to Singapore Chamber of Commerce, 1850–68; retired to Penang 1869 and died there 1873.

24. John, Horace St., The Indian Archipelago, London, 1853, 2 vols., II, p. 107.Google Scholar

25. Robin Carr Woods, (1816–75), law agent in Singapore 1849, called to the bar in England 1863; practised in partnership with James Guthrie Davidson 1861–72; Acting Attorney General 1870; senior puisne judge 1875; died 1875. ST, 16 March 1875. Braddell, R., 100 years of Singapore, 2 vols., London, 1921. I, p. 198Google Scholar; Makepeace, , 100 years, II, pp. 281–282.Google Scholar

26. SFP, 9 10 1845.Google Scholar

27. AT, 17 June 1846.

28. ST, 14 10 1851.Google Scholar

29. ST, 23 05 1849.Google Scholar

30. Buckley, C. B., An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore, 2 vols., Singapore, 1902Google Scholar; reprinted Kuala Lumpur, 1965, II, p. 604.

31. James Richardson Logan, (1819–1869); born in Scotland, where he went to school with John Turnbull Thomson; studied law in Edinburgh, then emigrated to Bengal to plant indigo and shortly afterwards moved to Penang as a planter; admitted to the Penang bar as a law agent and from 1843 to 1853 worked in partnership with his brother in Singapore; returned to Penang in 1853 and died there in 1869. Thomson, J. T., “A sketch of the career of the late James Richardson Logan of Penang and Singapore”, Journal of the Straits Branch, Royal Asiatic Society, (JSBRAS), 1881, No. 7, pp. 75–81Google Scholar. The notice of his career in Dictionary of Indian Biography (DIB), 253 is inaccurate.

32. Very few copies of the Penang Gazette of Logan's time still survive and the back numbers in the Gazette's office were destroyed by fire in 1904, (PG centenary number, 1933). Many articles were reprinted every week in the Free Press and less frequently in the Straits Times.

33. Thomson, , JSBRAS, 1881, No. 7, pp. 75–81.Google Scholar

34. R. C. S'pore to Butterworth, 20 May 1846, quoted in ST, 11 09 1855.Google Scholar

35. For example, India to Cavenagh, 20 July 1860 SSR, S 28, Item 148.

36. Blundell to India, 28 Aug. 1857, SSR, R 32, pp. 73–74.Google Scholar

37. Act XV of 1857.

38. Cavenagh to India, 31 Aug. 1861, SSR, R 39, pp. 255–256Google Scholar; Cavenagh to C. P. S'pore, 23 Aug. 1860, SSR, V 28, pp. 194–195.Google Scholar

39. Penang Gazette, (PG), 22 09 1855.Google Scholar

40. ST, 19 07 1862.Google Scholar

41. ST, 5 03 1867.Google Scholar

42. ST, 8 06 1867.Google Scholar

43. ST, 20 04 1867.Google Scholar

44. See Cameron's gracious tribute to Abraham Logan's career as a journalist in ST, 7 01 1865.Google Scholar

45. Report of the Indian Law Commissioners for the Straits Settlements, p. 17Google Scholar, 8 Feb. 1842, in India to Bonham, 17 June 1842, SSR, S 9.

46. Presentment of 27 April 1846, in ST, 29 04 1846Google Scholar; SFP, 30 04 1846.Google Scholar

47. SFP, 30 04 1846.Google Scholar

48. Ibid.

49. PG, 9 05 1846Google Scholar; SFP, 23 07 1846Google Scholar, quoting Calcutta Star, 17 06 1846.Google Scholar

50. Rawlinson to Giand Jury, quoted in his obituary notice, London Times, 2 04 1888.Google Scholar

51. SFP, 29 03 1849.Google Scholar

52. SFP, 26 09 1851.Google Scholar

53. SFP, 24 09 1852.Google Scholar

54. SFP, 22 04 1853.Google Scholar

55. SFP. 19 08 1853.Google Scholar

56. SFP, 24 11 & 1 12 1854Google Scholar; ST, 28 11 1854.Google Scholar

57. For example Directors to India, 2 March 1853 (re Singapore Grand Jury presentment of October 1851) in India to Blundell, 22 April 1853, SSR, S 20.

58. Fontanier, V., Voyage dans VAtchipel Indien, Paris, 1852, pp. 265–266.Google Scholar

59. Kyshe, J. W. N., Cases heard and determined in H. M. Supreme Court of the S. S., 1808–84, 3 vols., Singapore, 1885, 1, lxxxi.Google Scholar

60. SFP, 21 09 1849.Google Scholar

61. SFP, 31 08 1849.Google Scholar

62. SFP, 11 & 18 08 1854Google Scholar: ST. 15 08 1854.Google Scholar

63. SFP, 25 08 1854Google Scholar; ST, 29 08 1854.Google Scholar

64. Petition printed in full in SFP, 24 11 1854.Google Scholar

65. Directors to India, 15 Oct. 1856 in India to Blundell, 15 Dec. 1856, SSR, S 23, Item 269.

66. SFP, 18 02 & 21 10 1853Google Scholar, 3 March & 24 Nov. 1854; S'pore Jury in SFP 25 08 1858.Google Scholar

67. ST, 28 11 1854.Google Scholar

68. ST, 19 05 1857Google Scholar; McCausland, to Blundell, 23 05 & 13 11 1857, SSR W 24, Item 241 & W 25, Item 460Google Scholar; Blundell to McCausland, 24 Nov. 1857, SSR, V 23, pp. 300–303.Google Scholar

69. ST, 19 05 1857Google Scholar; McCausland, to Blundell, , 23 05 1857Google Scholar, SSR, W 24, Item 241.

70. SFP, 3 12 1857.Google Scholar

71. PG, 17 May & 9 Aug. in SFP 5 06 & 21 08 1856Google Scholar; Penang, R. C. to Governor, , 1 12 1858Google Scholar. SSR, DD 28, Item 239.

72. PG, 7 Feb. in SFP 5 03 1857Google Scholar; PG 6 Feb. & 14 Aug. in SFP 25 02 & 26 08 1854Google Scholar; Penang Jury in July 1854 & June 1855, Kyshe, Cases, I, xc.

73. McCausIand, to Blundell, , 29 01 1858Google Scholar, SSR, W 26, Item 40; Blundell to Me Causland. 6 Feb. 1858, SSR, V 24, pp. 127–134Google Scholar; Blundell to India, 23 Feb. 1858, SSR, R 33, pp. 3–5.Google Scholar

74. Cavenagh, to McCausIand, , 30 01 1860Google Scholar, SSR, V 29. pp. 194–205.Google Scholar

75. McCausIand, to Blundell, , 20 02 1860Google Scholar, SSR, W 33, Item 89.

76. SFP, 18 01 1865Google Scholar, in Annual retrospect for 1865.

77. Cameron, J., Our Tropical Possessions in Malayan India, London, 1865. p. 209.Google Scholar

78. SFP, 18 01 1866, in Annual retrospect for 1865.Google Scholar

79. NAI, Jud. 4 03 1859, 7–8Google Scholar, and Jud. 16 02 1861, 27–28A.Google Scholar

80. SFP 2 02 1837.Google Scholar

81. Alexander Laurie Johnston, born in Scotland; joined East India Company's merchant navy and later bought his own ship, settled in Singapore 1819; first magistrate of Singapore; left the settlement in 1841 and died in Scotland 1850 Buckley, I. pp. 62–63.

82. Ch. Commerce to Butterworth, 2 Jan. 1845, SSR, W 10; ST, 26 08 1845.Google Scholar

83. In 1849, for instance, the Singapore Chinese pukat traders sent a letter of thanks to the Chamber of Commerce for inducing the Raja of Kelantan to have their debts paid.

84. Butterworth to Bengal, 21 Oct. 1845, SSR, R 13.

85. PC, 7 March in SFP 19 03 1846.Google Scholar

86. Complaint of the J.P., G.G. Nicol, in Nicol to Butterworth. 8 Oct. 1846, in SFP, 22 10 1846.Google Scholar

87. Governor to Bengal, 1 April 1843, SSR, R 9.

88. ST, 20 May 1846.

89. It is impossible to gauge the full extent of the activities of the Chambers of Commerce in Singapore and Penang since none of their nineteenth century records have survived.

90. ST, 18 02 1846.Google Scholar

91. Cameron, p. 298.

92. SFP 17 09 1852.Google Scholar

93. India to Blundell, , 16 09 1853Google Scholar, SSR, S 20, Item 90; SFP, 29 07 1853.Google Scholar

94. Directors to India, 14 Jan. 1857, copy in India to Blundell, 24 April 1857, SSR, S 25, Item 97.

95. ST, 11 09 1865Google Scholar, condemning the Chamber for calling a meeting about the transfer, since this was a general, not a purely commercial, concern.

96. Kyshe, , Cases, I, lxxiv–lxxv.Google Scholar

97. Circular memo No. XXXV, 19 June 1868, Straits Settlements General Orders, 1867–72.

98. For example, PG, 12 March in ST, 22 03 1853.Google Scholar

99. ST, 11 11 1846.Google Scholar

100. ST, 11 11 1849.Google Scholar

101. SFP 20 07 1849.Google Scholar

102. William Henry MacLeod Read, 1819–1906; arrived in Singapore 1841; Chairman Singapore Chamber of Commerce 1865; first non-official member of Leg. Co. 1867; Dutch consul, 1857–85; retired to England 1887; died 1909. Obituary notices, ST, 4 06 1909Google Scholar; SFP, 5 06 1909.Google Scholar

103. Braddell, R., One Hitndred Years, II, p. 383.Google Scholar

104. ST, 18 02 1846.Google Scholar

105. ST, 4 06 1909.Google Scholar

106. Buckley, , I, p. 369.Google Scholar

107. Obituary notice, SFP, 5 06 1909.Google Scholar

108. ST, 18 02 1846.Google Scholar

109. SFP 3 01 1851Google Scholar in Annual retrospect for 1850.

110. ST 11 11 1846.Google Scholar

111. Chamber of Commerce to Governor, 12 Feb. 1858, SSR, W 26.

112. Buckley, , I, pp. 184–187.Google Scholar

113. ST 14 10 1845.Google Scholar

114. Annual retrospect for 1845 in SFP 15 01 1846.Google Scholar

115. India to Cavenagh, 15 April & 4 Aug. 1861, SSR, S 32, Items 105 & 204; Governor to India, 20 Aug. 1864, SSR, R 45, pp. 246–247.Google Scholar

116. ST 12 08 1845Google Scholar, commenting on the passage of the Ellen.

117. ST 5 08 1845Google Scholar. Boyd Cable. A hundred year history of the P & O, 1837–1937, London 1937, pp. 53–64.Google Scholar

118. One Hundred Years, II, p. 115.Google Scholar

119. ST 9 12 1865.Google Scholar

120. Annual retrospect for 1845 in SFP 1 01 1846.Google Scholar

121. Marryat, Frank S., Borneo and the Indian Archipelago, London, 1848, p. 213.Google Scholar

122. SirKeppel, Harry, A Sailor's Life under Four Sovereigns, London, 1899, 3 vols, II, pp. 76–77.Google Scholar

123. Correspondence between the Association, Singapore merchants and British government departments is printed in full in SFP 2 02 1837Google Scholar, and reprinted in SFP 23 03 1852.Google Scholar

124. The Liverpool Financial Reform Association, for instance, used Singapore's prosperity as an argument in its agitation for taxation reform in 1856 (SFP 26 02 1857).Google Scholar

125. ST 26 08 1845.Google Scholar

126. SFP 23 04 1852.Google Scholar

127. SFP 26 07 1855.Google Scholar

128. ST 15 02 1867.Google Scholar

129. Makepeace, , 100 Years, II, p. 173.Google Scholar

130. Ibid., p. 174.

131. SFP 3 09 1846Google Scholar; PG 14 Aug. in SFP 17 09 1852.Google Scholar

132. ST 4 07 1854Google Scholar; SFP 7 07 1854.Google Scholar

133. Cameron, , pp. 287–288.Google Scholar

134. ST 10 01 1867.Google Scholar

135. SFP 1 11 1860.Google Scholar