THE Supreme government of Bengal judging it necessary to establish a commercial post in the Straits of Malacca, considered Acheen as a proper place for that purpose; but, after a fruitless negotiation with the king, the business was relinquished. Mr. Light mentioned Pulo Penang, an island belonging to the king of Quedah, as a place well suited, in every respect, to their views. It was obtained, in perpetuity, from the king, on condition of paying six thousand dollars a year, as an indemnification for the loss he might sustain, in his revenue, from the trade of Quedah being diverted into another channel.

Mr. Light was appointed governor, for which he was well qualified, and sailed from Bengal with a small detachment, in July 1806, and arrived at Pulo Penang early in August he hoisted the British flag on the 12th of that month, and called it "PRINCE OF WALES's ISLAND.

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The first settlers had to contend with great difficulties: An immense forest was to be cut down; swamps drained, and large ravines filled up. The zealous perseverance of Mr. Light, and those under his command, overcame these obstacles, in a much shorter time than could have been expected. A town was marked out, called George-town population increased, and with it trade. Within the first year, upwards of sixty Chinese families removed from the adjoining countries, and settled in the town and country.

The population and commerce of the new settlement met with nothing to interrupt its growing prosperity till the year 1791, when the king of Quedah, jealous of the growing consequence of the colony, demanded an increase of four thousand dollars, to compensate him for the loss he suffered, in consequence of the prows resorting to the port of George-town, instead of Quedah, as formerly. Mr. Light, not deeming himself authorized to comply with this demand, the king assembled a large force under different pretences; but the real one was to seize on the Island. Mr. Light applied for reinforcements to Bengal, which arrived at the most critical moment; when the Quedah forces were assembled on the opposite shore, at the town of Prya, and formed a fort. With this reinforcement, it was deemed advisable not to wait the attack of the Malays, but to drive them away from the fort, and to attack the prows in Prya river. The fort was taken by assault, and most of the prows destroyed.

In consequence of these successes there was a treaty, by which it was stipulated, that the king of Quedah should receive six thousand dollars per annum: Mr. Light promising, at the same time, to recommend to the supreme government to grant the four thousand dollars previously applied for. This being acceded to by the supreme government, it has, from that period, been regularly paid.

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tual delivery of all slaves, debtors, and murderers; and the exclusion of all other European nations from settling in any part of Quedah.

In 1792, it was proposed to withdraw the settlement from Prince of Wales's Island to the Andamans; but, after two years trial at the latter place, the climate and situation not proving so favourable as was expected, the artificers and convicts were sent to Prince of Wales's Island.

On the 21st of October, 1794, Mr. Light died, and was succeeded by the first civil assistant, Mr. Mannington; this gentleman, on account of ill health, was obliged to resign, and proceed to Bengal, where he died.

Major Mackdonald was appointed his successor, and took charge in April, 1796, at a moment when the island was threatened with total destruction, by six large French frigates, fitted out at the Mauritius, for the express purpose of plundering and destroying the settlement. These frigates fell in with his majesty's ships the Victorious and Arrogant, by whom they were so roughly treated, as to be obliged to bear up for Batavia, and relinquish all thoughts of their intended enterprise.

The increasing prosperity of the Island was decidedly proved, in the year 1797, when the Bengal and Madras portion of the expedition, against the Manillas, rendezvoused here for a month, to the number of upwards of five thousand Europeans, beside a considerable body of Native troops, who were abundantly, and daily, supplied with fresh meat and vegetables. Much was certainly due to the

In February, 1800, Sir George Leith, Bart. was nominated lieutenant-governor of this island, and its dependencies; and, on the 20th of April following, arrived there and took charge of the government.

This island is situated in the straits of Malacca, the N. E. point 5o 25s N. L. 100° 19s E. L. It is separated from the Quedah shore, on the Malay Peninsula, by a narrow strait; and is so happily placed, and so well defended by the countries which surround it, that a gale of wind has never been felt there. Sumatra is to the southward and westward; the large mountainous islands, called the Laddas, and the high land of Quedah, to the northward; the mountains, which run through the Malay Peninsula, effectually protect it on the east. Violent squalls are occasionally experienced; but they rarely continue for more than an hour. The climate is unquestionably the finest in India; the seasons are not marked with such precision as in other parts of Asia (indeed no one year can be said to resemble another); but this very irregularity probably contributes much to the pleasantness of the climate. With the exception of January and February, which are the dry, hot months, the island is rarely, few days together, without rain, which produces a constant verdure; and these frequent showers cool the air, and moderate the heat, which would otherwise be intense. The heaviest rains fall about November

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and December, when they frequently continue twenty-four hours without intermission. Dry seasons rarely occur; but instances have been known, when no rain has fallen for near five months. Although the days are frequently very hot, the nights are generally very cool and pleasant; as there are not more than ten nights in the year which can be considered as oppressive; a comfort not experienced in any other part of India. The flag-staff hill, nearly the highest on the island, is estimated to rise 2500 feet above the level of the sea. The thermometer never rises above 78°, seldom more than 74°, and falls to 66o, while, on the plain, it ranges from 76° to 90°. The best time for a residence on the bill is during the dry season, when the plains are parched, dusty, and disagreeable; at this period, especi ally when the air on the hill is clear, keen, and free from damp and fog, which, at other seasons, occasionally render a residence on the hill unpleasant. The distance from the town to the foot of the hills is five miles; from thence to the flag-staff three more. On the flag-staff hill there is a bungalow, for the lieutenant-governor, and another on a hill close to it, for the accommodation of convalescents. The view from the flag-staff hill is uncommonly grand and extensive; the Laddas to the N. W. and Pulo Dinding to the southward, each 70 miles distant, are perfectly visible in clear weather. In April, 1790, and in August, 1802, there were two shocks of an earthquake felt, but no damage was done by either.

The island is an irregular, foursided figure, computed to contain

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nearly 160 square miles; the north side being longest, and the south the shortest. Much of the north, and nearly the whole of the east and south sides, are in a state of cultivation. On the west, there is a considerable bay, but too much exposed during the whole of the S. W. monsoon, to render it convenient for ships to lay there. Through the centre of the island, from N. to S. is a range of lofty hills, which decrease in magnitude as they approach the southward. On the east side, the country is, in general, low, as it is on the north, but rises gradually as you advance into the interior. The utmost extent of what may be considered level ground, from the sea to the mountains, is about four miles in-a direct line; this is to be understood of what is already cleared. The great western bay will, when cleared, certainly yield as great, if not a greater, extent of level ground; great advantages will arise to the settlement, in general, from this extensive tract being brought into cultivation, which nothing has hitherto prevented, but the real danger attending the undertaking, from the pirates that infest the bay. The soil is various, generally light, black mould, mixed with gravel, clay, and, in many parts, sandy. The whole island was, for ages, covered with an immense forest; there was every where a fine vegetable mould, formed by the decayed leaves, which, as the woods were cleared, and the surface exposed to the weather, in a considerable degree disappeared, particularly upon the point, which is now entirely sand. Forming a garden here is attended with much labour, as the manure soon sinks through. A fine soft grass fortu* L

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nately grows, which relieves the eye, that would otherwise suffer from the strong light of the sun; this soil is contined to the point, for, as you advance into the country, it becomes fit for every kind of cultivation. Excellent water is procured by sinking wells on the point.

GEORGE TOWN is extensive, bounded on the north, and the east, by the sea; on the south by an inlet of the sea, improperly called Prangui river, and on the west, by the high road. The streets are spacious, and cross each other at right angles. Sir George Leith, immediately after his arrival, applied himself to remove some stagnant pools, that were in the principal streets, which he had properly raised and drained; and an offensive mud bank, which extended the whole length of Beach Street, he had divided into small lots, and sold, by the committee appointed to superintend the making of streets, upon condition of the purchaser enclosing their respective portions by a stone wall, filling up the interval, and building houses thereon.

The public roads are wide, and extend many miles round the town; those immediately in its vicinity are planted with trees. There are several good bridges over the rivers, which were built by the company's artificers, and the Bengal convicts: the latter are employed in making bricks, under the inspection of an European brickmaker. The markets are well supplied with fish of various kinds, and of excellent quality; poultry of all kinds; pork; grain of every description; and a great variety of fine vegetables and fruits. Beef and veal are not of good

quality; sheep are imported from Bengal and the coast. Goat mutton can be procured from the Malay Peninsula, and Sumatra : When of a proper age the meat is very good: Milk, butter, and bread are very dear, the two former not in great plenty.

On the north-east angle stands the fort, in which are barracks for the European artillery, the arsenal, magazine, and military storehouses, on a small and inadequate scale: The fort is ill built; and incapable of defence from its size and construction. The sea, for some time past, has been making alarming encroachments on the north face of the fort, and along the Esplanade, for upwards of a mile in that direction; some mode of preventing this devastation is become indispensably necessary, to prevent the town from being in time washed away. The harbour is formed by the narrow strait which divides the north side of the island from the Quedah shore; is capacious, and, every where affords good anchorage for the largest ships. At first view the harbour appears much exposed to the north-west, where it is entirely open to the sea, which would certainly roll in with great violence, were it not prevcated by an extensive flat at the entrance of the harbour; this Eat extends from Quedah shore to the islard, and is nearly two miles in bread, upon which there is four fathoms at low water spring tides; thus the harbour may be considered a spacious bason, capable of containing the largest licets with per fect ease and safety; the princip entrance is from the north-west. There is also a very fine channd to the southward, with sufficient water for a 74 gun ship, and

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