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The hoisting of the Union Jack by Sir Stamford Raffles at Singapore occurred as far as can be ascertain- ed on the 29th January, 1819, and the Treaty was signed with the Sultan of Johore on the 5th February of the same year.
Regulations under the hand of Sir Stamford Raffles dated the 29th August, 1823, provide inter alia “The "Port of Singapore is a free port and the trade thereof "is open to ships and vessels of every nation free of "duty, equally and all alike."
On the 3rd November, 1819, Major William Farquhar, the then Resident of Singapore, wrote to Sir Stamford Raffles at Fort Malborough as follows:- "It affords me the greatest satisfaction to be able to "continue the most favourable Report of the rapid "advancement the Settlement is making in every respect "which has far surpassed my most sanguine expecta- "tions. The population is every day increasing and the "trade of the Port even in that early stage of its infancy "is rising fast in importance. Native trading vessels "with valuable cargoes continue to come in from the "various Eastern ports and bring the most friendly "assurances from their respective Chiefs of their "unalterable attachment to the British Government and "how they feel gratified at the opening prospects of a "free and advantageous commerce which our Establish- "ment at Singapore has caused to all the surrounding "Powers.
"In noticing the various Native Ports with which "Singapore has already commenced Trade, I shall only "here particularise those of the first importance viz., "Siam, Cambogia, Pahang, Borneo Proper, Sambass, "Portianah, the Island of Celebes, Lingin, Rhid, Siack, "Indergeria Jambia with all of which place promises to "carry on a brisk and lucrative trade."
On the 24th March, 1820, Sir Stamford Raffles writes from Fort Malborough to Captain Travers, the acting Second Assistant at Singapore, as follows:-
"You will be particularly careful that no obstruc- "tions or restrictions exist in the way of the most "perfect freedom of Trade, the convenience and "facilities of the Port for shipping and Native "Prows points of the first importance and your "constant attention is to be directed to this. Whatever "Regulations may be necessary for restricting the "indiscriminate vend of opium and spirituous liquors "for the consumption of the place, you are to be "particularly careful that there is no interference with "the most perfect freedom of Trade in the former "article
"It has been represented that contrary to the "wishes of Government, various small duties and "exactions have been enforced on Native Prows, you "will enquire into this and in order that the intentions "of Government may not be misunderstood or departed "from, cause the Port Regulations to be affixed at the "wharf in English and Native language.
"It is not deemed at present advisable to levy "any duties and the Port charges are to be as moderate "and as simple as possible".
The year 1854 was the 35th anniversary of the foundation of the Settlement at Singapore and a special celebration was given at Government House by Major General William Butterworth, the then Governor, who in his public speech said inter alia "Here there have "been no adventitious circumstances such as the discovery "of vast mineral deposits or any very favourable "agricultural results, to aid the advancement of this "Settlement-nothing in fact, but what that great man "(Sir Stamford Raffles) foresaw and foretold when he "selected this spot for its geographical position and "stepping in advance of the age, pronounced it to be a "Free Port-looking to it becoming the chief Emporium "in these seas for British merchandise and the produce "of the Indian Archipelago. How fully this has been "realised, a glance of one's Trade Settlement will "satisfactorily shew.
Now Ladies and
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