PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
C.O. 882
4PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO]
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of Larut, if he succeeded in driving his enemies out of the district. Led by this inducement, which would have given him an income of some 10,0007, or 15,000l. a year, Captain Speedy resigned his post in police of the Straits Settlement, and engaged himself in the service of the Mantri.
5. Captain Speedy then proceeded to India, and enlisted a body of Sepoys to fight for the Mantri's cause. He had made but little progress, however, towards driving out of Larut the faction of Chinese then opposed to the Mantri, when Sir Andrew Clarke intervened, and by entering into negotiations with the head men of the conflicting factions, brought the disturbances to a termination.
This step was immediately followed by the Panhore Treaty, by which the Mantri's position was declared to be that of Governor only in Larut, and it was determined to accord him a fixed allowance out of the state revenues, as an officer of Perak subordinate to the Sultan. Captain Speedy was at the same time appointed Assistant Resident in Larut, at first on a salary of 2,0007., subsequently reduced to 1,500l. a year.
6. Your Lordship will thus perceive that the engagement of Panhore could not but be distasteful both to Captain Speedy and the Mantri; to the latter as being the fiat which rendered void any claims which he had previously advanced to the independent sovereignty of Larut, to the former as being the instrument which reduced the salary promised to him to about one tenth what it would have been, should he have ever proved successful in the Mantri's cause. It is not difficult, therefore, to imagine that Captain Speedy would not have been sorry to witness a course of events which would terminate British intervention and so restore his former relations with the Mantri of Larut. As to this chief, one result of inquiry into the causes of the disturbances in Perak has been to show that he has been caballing and plotting against us with much cunning ever since the engagement of Panhore was entered upon, and that, behind the scenes, he has been one of the prime movers in the Perak outrages.
7. But irrespective of the considerations to which I have just referred, I think that Captain speedy is wanting in many of the qualifications which are required in a Resident or Assistant Resident in the Native States. Doubtless, he is acquainted with both the Hindustani and Malay languages, and he possesses much physical power. It is also stated that he has considerable influence amongst the Chinese and Malays. If, however, the latter be the case, this influence was exerted to very little purpose in obtaining means of transport for the troops passing through Larut at the end of last year. Brigadier General Ross, who commanded that force, informed me that the so-called influence of Captain Speedy did not exist, and that he was powerless to induce the head men to obey his orders or requisitions. At that time I had great difficulty in raising elsewhere supplies of Coolies, who, if Captain Speedy had the influence attributed to him, should have been easily obtained by him, in any number required, from amongst the Chinese in Larut. 8. I do not think that the facility with which Captain Speedy can acquire languages any guarantee for the possession of other qualifications essential for the position of a Resident.
is
From personal observation I must say that he does not appear to be a man of business habits; he is decidedly lazy, and submits very unwillingly to the necessary discipline of the public service. He is, moreover, extravagant in the expenditure of
money.
Your Lordship will observe that Larut being at present the main source whence the revenue of Perak is derived, it is of great importance that economy should be exercised in that district, in order that as large a share as possible may be applied to meet the expenses incident to the Government of the whole State, and to repay the advances made by this Colony. Recent investigation has shown that considerable reduction may be effected in the expenditure in Larut.
9. The salary which Captain Speedy has drawn, viz. 1,500l. per annum (in addition to a large and very comfortable house) is a very high one for the duties performed, and when the Residency is finally established at Qualla Kangsa, and the road between that station and Larut is available for carriages, an arrangement may be made by which the Resident at Qualla Kangsa may perform the Residential duties for Larut. There will then be only one Resident and one Assistant Registrar in Perak, the former receiving 2,000l., the latter (at Bandar Bharu) 7501. per annum. It is to be observed that there is a line of telegraph through Larut to Qualla Kangsa; and Bukit Gantang, where the Mantri of Larut lives, is nearly as close to Qualla Kangsa as it is to the Assistant Resident's house in Larut.
10. Taking all these points into consideration, I strongly recommend that, if possible, employment may be found for Captain Speedy elsewhere.
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I need scarcely assure your Lordship that my only object in writing thus confidentially respecting Captain Speedy is a desire to remove a difficulty in carrying out the policy of Her Majesty's Government with respect to the State of Perak.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
&c.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,
&c.
&c.
No. 10.
WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
GOVERVOR SIR WM. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the EARL OF CARNARVON, (Received 20 November 1876.)
(Confidential.) MY LORD,
Government House, Singapore, October 18, 1876.
In my despatch to your Lordship, No. 300 of 19th August, I recommended that Mr. J. E. Hewick, at present Assistant Superintendent of Police in Province Wellesly, should be appointed to the post of Superintendent of the Guard in Perak, and I bave received your Lordship's telegram of the 7th inst., authorising such appointment.
2. Since I wrote that despatch to your Lordship, however, I have been informed on good authority that in the expedition, which Mr. Hewick conducted in pursuit of Ex-Sultan Ismail and party, as reported to your Lordship in my despatch No. 159 of 6th April,† Mr. Hewick exhibited much want of discretion. It has been stated to me that, on that expedition, he allowed his men to behave in such a way that his name is held in aversion by a great number of people in Upper Perak. Although I am myself inclined to believe that the accounts I have received are exaggerated, it is impossible to avoid paying attention to them, and it would not be desirable to run the risk of placing an officer in the position of Superintendent of Police, who might be regarded in a hostile spirit by a section of the population.
3. Mr. Davidson, whom I have recommended for the post of Resident, and in whose opinion and judgment I place great reliance, on account of the reports to which I have referred, regards the appointment of Mr. Hewick as superintendent with much dissatisfaction and anxiety. He informs me that, from all he has learnt, he does not think Mr. Hewick qualified for holding the post, and as is essential that the Resident and the Superintendent of the police force should work in accord, and possess mutual confidence in each other, it now appears to me undesirable to appoint Mr. Hewick Superintendent of Police in Perak. I have, therefore, not acted upon your Lordship's authority to appoint Mr. Hewick.
4. The reports to which I have referred respecting Mr. Hewick have not changed my own opinion of the qualifications possessed by him as a police officer, as reported in my despatch, No. 300. Indeed, were there time to investigate those reports, before making an appointment, I should have proposed to await such inquiry before withdrawing my previous recommendation.
The circumstances of the country and the people are, however, such that it will take long time to get to the bottom of the matter, and I have, therefore, considered it better to recommend the appointment of Lieutenant Swinburne in lieu of Mr. Hewick.
I have, &c. (Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
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The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,
SIR,
&c.
&c.
&c.
No. 11.
COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.
Downing Street, November 23, 1876.
I AM directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Hardy, a copy of the correspondence with the Governor of the Straits Settlements, on an application from Dr. Randell, the principal civil medical officer of the Straits Settlements, for compensation for the wound he received when accompanying the troops in the advance from Blanja to Kinta in November of last year.
No. 78, of " Eastern No. 20."
† No. 73, of "Eastern No. 17 A.”
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