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Raffles himself was a proliferate writer of letters. The collection of his correspondences with many people in the Empire is remarkably large. Many of these have been reproduced or quoted in his numerous biographies. Most recently, in 2014, Professor John Bastin, renowned authority on all things Raffles, edited a beautiful book containing hitherto unpublished letters between Raffles and the Governor-General of India, Francis, 1st Marquess of Hastings. (Raffles and Hastings: Private Exchanges Behind the Founding of Singapore)
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Correspondence A - Raffles to Marsden, dated 31 January 1819.
(William Marsden, 1754-1836, was an English orientalist and collector and a good friend of Raffles. This letter was penned just two days after Raffles set foot on Singapore for the very first time)
"Here am I at Singapore, true to my word, and in the enjoyment of all the pleasure which a footing on such classic ground must inspire. The lines of the old city, and of its defences, are still to be traced, and within its ramparts the British Union [flag] waves unmolested.... Most certainly the Dutch never had a factory in the island of Singapore; and it does not appear to me that their recent arrangements with a subordinate authority at Rhio can or ought to interfere with our permanent establishment here."
Correspondence B - Raffles to Adam, dated 13 February 1819.
(John Adam was the Chief Secretary of the Supreme Government at Fort William, Calcutta. Raffles wrote this official account of the founding on the day he arrived back at Penang from Singapore. )
"Sir.... I have now the satisfaction to report, for the information of the Most Noble the Governor General in Council... that a British Station commanding the Southern entrance of the Straits of Malacca, and combining extraordinary local advantages with a peculiarly admirable Geographical position, has been established at Singapore the ancient capital of the Kings of Johor....
This town which was founded in the 12th Century is situated on the Northern side of the Straits to which as well as to the Islands it has given its name, and at the bottom of a harbour which I believe is unrivalled in these Seas either with reference to its extent or to the Shelter and safety which it affords.
The Port of Rhio I have reason to believe will not bear any comparison with it on these points or in the more essential one of Geographical situation, as it lays in the direct route of our China Trade and all other Ships passing through the Straits - in the neighbourhood of the Town there is cleared ground sufficient for the immediate accomodation of our Settlement and Troops - The surface of the Country in the Vicinity and generally throughout the Island is elevated without being Mountainous, the Soil and the Water are excellent and I am justified by the concurrent opinion of all the Naval and Military Officers who accompanied the Mission in reporting it to be a Station admirably adapted in every essential circumstance for our proposed Establishment."
Correspondence C - Raffles to Hastings, dated 15 February 1819.
(The Governor General of India, Francis, 1st Marquess of Hastings, was a strong supporter of Raffles and his endeavours in the "EasternSeas") My Lord....It is much satisfaction that I now have the honour to inform your Lordship of the full accomplishment of the ulterior object of my Mission - a British Station has been established in the Straits of Singapore in the vicinity of Johor in a situation combining every advantage geographical and local which we could desire, and I have had the good fortune to effect the arrangement without immediate collision or interference with the Dutch authorities and on terms and conditions which I can with confidence submit for your Lordship's approbation and confirmation....
I have never lost sight of the high importance of the object to be attained for of the necessity of attaining it without collision - but it was impossible from the first not to foresee that in prosecution of the avowed policy of the Dutch they would attempt to dispute our right to any interference whatever in the Eastern Seas - They will probably appeal in the present case against our Establishment at Singapore, but I trust the grounds on which we maintain our rights in that Station will furnish a fair answer with which their arguments may be successfully combatted.
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Correspondence D - Raffles to the Duchess of Somerset, dated 22 February 1819.
"Follow me from Calcutta, within the Nicobar and Andaman Islands, to Prince of Wales Island [Penang], then accompany me down the Straits of Malacca, past the town of Malacca, and round the south-western point of the Peninsula. You will then enter what are called the Straits of Singapore, and in Marsden's map of Sumatra you will observe an island to the south of these Straits called Singapura; this is the spot, the site of the ancient maritime capital of the Malays, and within the walls of these fortifications, raised not less than six centuries ago, on which I have planted the British flag, where, I trust, it will long triumphantly wave."
Correspondence E - Raffles to Colonel Addenbrooke, dated 10 June 1819.
"Our object is not territory but trade, a great commercial emporium, and a fulcrum whence we may extend our influence politically, as circumstances may hereafter require. By taking immediate possession we put a negative to the Dutch claim of exclusion, and at the same time revive the drooping confidence of our allies and friends. One Free Port in these seas must eventually destroy the spell of Dutch monopoly; and what Malta is in the West, that may Singapore become in the East."
(The coat of arms of the British East India Company, for which Raffles worked)
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