RAFFLES, Thomas Stamford (1781-1826). Autograph letter signed (‘T.S. Raffles’) to Dr [Nathaniel] Wallich, Singapore, 11 February 1823. One page, 247 x 201mm, bifolium, (occasional spotting at edges). Stamford Raffles writes from Singapore to his friend and contact at the East India Company in Calcutta, the botanist Nathaniel Wallich: ‘ [the enclosed] might serve to explain the State of affairs here before my arrival and the necessity of my interference ’ . Raffles deals first with matters practical, requesting supplies of ether – ‘we have long since got through our Stock […] and you will oblige us much by sending us by the first opportunity a Pound or two of the most volatile you can procure’ – before getting to the heart of the matter: ‘I promised you the enclosed tho’ have not yet fixed upon the author – if it could fall into the hands of Will. Mackenzie it might serve to explain the State of affairs here before my arrival and the necessity of my interference’. Stamford Raffles spent under a year in Singapore – the city he is credited with founding – the majority of this between October 1822 and June 1823. Bruised by a series of personal disasters in Sumatra, Raffles resolved to retire from service in the East, but desired first to return to Singapore, arriving more than three years after he first dropped anchor in January 1819 and secured the island for the British East India Company. At first, he was thrilled by what he found – the commercial vigour of the city he once described as ‘this, my almost only child’ delighted him – but he became increasingly critical of Colonel William Farquhar, Singapore’s resident, for his tolerance of slavery, legalisation of gambling, and mismanagement of the settlement boundaries. In January 1823, just a month before the present letter was written, Raffles had reported Farquhar as incompetent to the East India Company at Calcutta, where his correspondent, Nathaniel Wallich (1786-1854), was conveniently positioned to place ‘the enclosed’ [presumably a report on Farquhar; not present] into the hands of its intended recipient. Wallich had travelled to Singapore at Raffles’ behest in 1822 to design its botanical gardens, but had by this juncture returned to his post at Calcutta’s Botanical Garden. By April, Raffles had taken over as resident in Singapore, with Farquhar stripped of his office as military commandant: during his short tenure, before ceding his position in June, Raffles instituted a series of far-reaching administrative reforms with fairness and progress at their centre, laying the foundation for Singapore to flourish. This is the first letter written by Raffles from Singapore to come to auction in over twenty years.
RAFFLES, Thomas Stamford (1781-1826). Autograph letter signed (‘T.S. Raffles’) to Dr [Nathaniel] Wallich, Singapore, 11 February 1823. One page, 247 x 201mm, bifolium, (occasional spotting at edges). Stamford Raffles writes from Singapore to his friend and contact at the East India Company in Calcutta, the botanist Nathaniel Wallich: ‘ [the enclosed] might serve to explain the State of affairs here before my arrival and the necessity of my interference ’ . Raffles deals first with matters practical, requesting supplies of ether – ‘we have long since got through our Stock […] and you will oblige us much by sending us by the first opportunity a Pound or two of the most volatile you can procure’ – before getting to the heart of the matter: ‘I promised you the enclosed tho’ have not yet fixed upon the author – if it could fall into the hands of Will. Mackenzie it might serve to explain the State of affairs here before my arrival and the necessity of my interference’. Stamford Raffles spent under a year in Singapore – the city he is credited with founding – the majority of this between October 1822 and June 1823. Bruised by a series of personal disasters in Sumatra, Raffles resolved to retire from service in the East, but desired first to return to Singapore, arriving more than three years after he first dropped anchor in January 1819 and secured the island for the British East India Company. At first, he was thrilled by what he found – the commercial vigour of the city he once described as ‘this, my almost only child’ delighted him – but he became increasingly critical of Colonel William Farquhar, Singapore’s resident, for his tolerance of slavery, legalisation of gambling, and mismanagement of the settlement boundaries. In January 1823, just a month before the present letter was written, Raffles had reported Farquhar as incompetent to the East India Company at Calcutta, where his correspondent, Nathaniel Wallich (1786-1854), was conveniently positioned to place ‘the enclosed’ [presumably a report on Farquhar; not present] into the hands of its intended recipient. Wallich had travelled to Singapore at Raffles’ behest in 1822 to design its botanical gardens, but had by this juncture returned to his post at Calcutta’s Botanical Garden. By April, Raffles had taken over as resident in Singapore, with Farquhar stripped of his office as military commandant: during his short tenure, before ceding his position in June, Raffles instituted a series of far-reaching administrative reforms with fairness and progress at their centre, laying the foundation for Singapore to flourish. This is the first letter written by Raffles from Singapore to come to auction in over twenty years.
Testen Sie LotSearch und seine Premium-Features 7 Tage - ohne Kosten!
Lassen Sie sich automatisch über neue Objekte in kommenden Auktionen benachrichtigen.
Suchauftrag anlegen.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
