Letter from Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles addressed to a newspaper editor, with salutation "My dear sir": letter, 1818

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Letter written by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles to a newspaper editor in London. It was probably written in Calcutta immediately before Raffles set out late in 1818 on his voyage to Singapore. It relates to the transactions of the Dutch in the Malay Archipelago in brutally suppressing Indonesian unrest in Palembang and the Moluccas, especially the uprising at Saparua where 400 Indonesians were put to dealth by the Netherlands authorities. Abstract -- "The safety of our Indian Empire may next be assailed - Russia I said to have it in contemplation to open a direct communication with Batavia and an agent is now in Bengal forming connections to support a Russian Establishment in the Eastern Islands- the man was with me today."

Contribution from Singapore Memories website (5 Apr 2025) --
Page 1 -- for the same period perhaps they expect that he cannot still avoid disaster - but are still driven by fortune from trying their rights - The retention of East India is cold blood in such a situation as Java & indeed on any basis Holland is honesty and common measure - but in such a limited population as that of the Batavians it is still more dreadful and signed - Refer to a hint in my history of Java and your etc on what have already paid their deputation system in the Moluccas - Sir Pitt has already found their order, for interests at least to the northward would at Batavia - refer to what I saw and if the policy in any point, and the world is to what a sacrifice of honor independent of letters must ----- Page 2 -- ought also to hasten by giving the Possession to the Dutch. It may now consider number as effectually excluded Your Excellency from the East Coast on the Island of Borneo. The cause may have closed any independent Act and our Arms there is at their command. If the French give free homes in this Country in slavery and take possession of the western establishments they avoid measures of the Government to become Masters and entirely every Island. The safety of our Indian possessions makes such speculations proper in mind to have in consideration for I would communicate with Batavia and as you agreed to my own Bengal forces consents to uphold a European Post on the Eastern Islands. The men are too near to easy... ------ Page 3 -- 9. 1816 This is an Autograph of the late Sir Stamford Raffles. Thos Raffles. My dear Sir, There are some transactions of the Dutch that might to be publicly noticed - the little affair about the designation of the Treaty at Palembang might & stand there - Character for ever - as dishonest - as inhuman the affair at Cheribon hardly exceeds the recent Massacres at Sourabaya - You are aware that the Ratification of the Dutch Authority for Borneo here - on the Island of Celebes when the time they hoisted the Dutch Flag they are claimed here independence for six months - the Dutch at last are convinced that by some Physical force order was restored and the whole tranquility prevented - but this was not sufficient for the Dutch - the Conflagration being hanged if I am yet seen and remember if I am wrong - in number above four hundred - where the Dutch force ------ Page 4 -- Press another fully acknowledged they thought I was easy to make a trouble & attempt to prevent the success of such a trouble - showing to what they debasement brought out their Prisoners and shot them - Law portion enforced on the inhabitants of an ex. Batavia - a gentleman of veracity & faith character for Sophraman Hale The number received 400 - that the country at the time was perfectly tranquil - every the misfortune Brothers had been Schoolmasters and the Dutch Govt. but none were known to - hardly the British must have had on their minds in their mind the less former measures of the implied all intention by that measure they succeed with actions as from underlings with the Eastward for a century - Jun.