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Internal Security in the Straits Settlements, 1826 – 1867

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

C. M. Turnbull (Rayner)
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Extract

When Penang, Malacca and Singapore were united to form the Presidency of the Straits Settlements in 1826, the police forces in all three stations were small and inadequate. Until 1857 none of the Straits Settlements had a full-time Commissioner of Police, and the Resident Councillors presided over police work, in addition to their duties as head of the executive government and judge in the Recorder's court in their respective settlements.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , March 1970 , pp. 37 - 53
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 1970

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References

1 “Notices of Singapore”, Journal of the Indian Archipelago, 1854, VIII, pp. 98–99Google Scholar, and 1855, IX, p. 449.

2 “Concerning the Tan Tae Hoey in Singapore”, trans. Braddell, T. from Hikayat Abdullah bin Abdullah Kadir Munshi, JIA, 1852, VI, pp. 553–554Google Scholar.

3 Buckley, C. B., An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore, 2 vols., Singapore, 1902; reprinted Kuala Lumpur, 1965, I, pp. 213–214Google Scholar.

4 Presentment of Grand Jury at May 1832 Assizes, quoted in Buckley, I. p. 224.

5 Buckley, I, p. 274.

6 Ibid., I, pp. 374–375.

7 Bonham to Bengal, 9 Aug. 1842, Straits Settlements Records (SSR), R 8.

8 Buckley, II, p. 743.

9 Read, W. H., Play and politics, London, 1901, p. 165Google Scholar.

10 Straits Times, 2 Sept. 1845 & 13 Jan. 1846; Thomson, J. T., Some Glimpses into life in the Far East, London, 1864, pp. 203–205Google Scholar; Buckley, II, p. 424.

11 Directors to India, 14 July 1857, in India to Blundell, 11 Sept. 1857, SSR, S 25, Item 251.

12 Straits Times (ST), 14 March 1846; Singapore Free Press (SFP), 19 March 1846; Marryat, F. S., Borneo and the Indian Archipelago, London, 1848, p. 217Google Scholar; Read, p. 93; Siang, Song Ong, One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore, London, 1923, reprinted Kuala Lumpur, 1966, pp. 70–72Google Scholar; Wynne, M. L., Triad and tabut, Singapore, 1941, p. 82Google Scholar; Comber, Leon, Chinese secret societies in Malaya: a survey of the Triad society from 1800 to 1900, New York & Singapore, 1959, pp. 69–71Google Scholar; Blythe, W. L., The Impact of Chinese secret societies in Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 1969, p. 67Google Scholar.

13 SFP 19 March 1846.

14 ST 1, 4 & 8 April 1846; SFP 2 April 1846; Comber, pp. 73–74

15 Recorder to Grand Jury, 13 April 1846, Preported in full in SFP 16 April 1846.

16 Presentment in ST 29 April 1846; SFP 30 April 1846.

17 ST 13 May 1846; SFP 14 May 1846.

18 Butterworth to Bengal, 16 Oct. 1846, SSR, R 13; SFP 15 Oct. & 12 Nov. 1846; ST 11 Nov. 1846.

19 ST 2 Dec. 1846; SFP 3 Dec. 1846.

20 Butterworth to Bengal, 12 & 16 Oct. 1846, SSR, R 13.

21 Thomson, , Some Glimpses, p. 210Google Scholar.

22 SFP 7 Dec. 1849.

23 Presentment in SFP 26 Sept. 1851.

24 ST 25 April 1854.

25 Blundell to Clerk to Indian Leg. Co., 5 Nov. 1858, SSR, R 35, p. 3.

26 ST 21 May 1859

27 Directors to India, 11 Aug., 1852, in India to Blundell, 21 Jan. 1853, SSR S 20, Item 11; Read, pp. 125–128

28 Butterworth to Bengal, 21 June 1848, SSR, R 17, pp. 65–66, quoted in Blythe p. 69.

29 SFP 19 April 1849.

30 SFP 3 Aug. 1849.

31 SFP 21 Sept. & 5 Oct. 1849; Butterworth to Bengal, 8 Oct. 1849, SSR, R. 19, p. 187.

32 Presentment of 26 Feb. 1851 in ST 4 March 1851.

33 SFP 29 March 1849.

34 Grand Jury presentments in SFP 19 April & 5 Oct. 1849.

35 SFP 21 July 1854.

36 SFP 1 Dec. 1854; Directors to India, 15 Oct. 1856 in India to Governor 15 Dec. 1856, SSR, S 23, Item 269.

37 SFP 17 July 1856; Municipal Cttee to Governor, 4 May 1857, SSR. W 24, Item 217; George Wahab to Governor, 9 July 1857, SSR, W 25, Item 299.

38 Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E. & Braddell, R., One Hundred years of Singapore, 2 vols., London, 1921, I, pp. 384–396Google Scholar; Winsley, T. M., A History of the Singapore Volunteer Corps, 1854–1937, Singapore, 1938, pp. 2–4Google Scholar.

39 Penang Gazette (PG), 4 & 18 April in SFP 16 April & 4 May 1846.

40 Recorder's charge and Jury presentment, PG 9 Aug. in SFP 21 Aug. 1856.

41 SFP 6 Jan. 1854 in Annual retrospect for 1853; SFP 11 Jan. 1855 in Annual retrospect for 1854; Province Wellesley Malays' memorial to Governor, 25 April 1857, SSR, W 24, Item 197.

42 SFP 21 Sept. 1849.

43 Annual retrospect for 1850 in SFP 3 Jan. 1851.

44 Annual retrospect for 1852 in SFP 14 Jan. 1853.

45 Blundell to India, 8 May 1852, 27 April 1853; India to Governor, 18 June 1852, SSR, S 19, Item 58, & 10 June 1853, SSR, S 20, Item 62; Directors to India, 9 Nov. 1853, in India to Butterworth, 13 Jan. 1854, SSR, S 21, Item 7.

46 India to Blundell, 22 July 1856, SSR, S 23, Item 154.

47 Blundell to R. C. Malacca, 13 Oct. 1856, SSR, U 32; Governor to India, 12 Jan. 1857, SSR, R 30, pp. 242–249, & 22 June 1857, SSR, R 31, pp. 226–229; India to Blundell, 24 April 1857, SSR, S 25, Item 110.

48 India to Blundell, 8 Aug. & 28 Nov. 1856, SSR, S 23, Items 167 & 245; Blundell to India, 15 Sept. 1856, SSR, R 30.

49 Proceedings of the Legislative Council of India, (Proc. Leg. Co. Ind.), 1856, II (1st series), 235, 243; copy in SSR, S 23, Item 79A.

50 India to Blundell, 8 Aug. & 28 Nov. 1856, SSR, S 23, Items 167 & 245; Blundell to India, 15 Sept. 1856, SSR, R 30.

51 Wahab to Governor, 10 Jan. 1857, SSR, W 24, Item 18.

52 R.C. Penang to Governor, 28 Feb. 1857, SSR, D 25, Item 47; Singapore Municipal Cttee to Governor, 28 April & 4 May 1857, SSR, W 24, Items 207 & 217; 9 & 10 June 1857, SSR, W 25, Items 266 & 267; Governor to Municipal Cttee, 19 May & 11 June 1857, SSR, V 23, pp. 1–2, 67–68; Wahab to Blundell, 19 May 1857, SSR, W 24, Item 231, & 9 & 18 July 1857, SSR, W 25, Items 299 & 306; Governor to Wahab, 11 & 13 July 1857, SSR V 23, pp. 100–101; SFP 2 July 1857.

53 SFP 5 March 1857; McCausland to Governor, 23 May 1857, SSR, W 24, Item 241.

54 Blundell to India, 18 May 1857, SSR, R 31, pp. 155–161; Blundell to R.C. S'pore 23 May 1857, SSR, U 33, pp. 117–118; Governor to Dunman, 23 May & 12 Oct. 1857, SSR, V 23, pp. 13 & 255; India to Governor, 14 Aug. 1857, SSR, 25, Item 231.

55 PG 23 May in SFP 11 June 1857; SFP 7 Jan. 1858, in Annual retrospect for 1857.

56 Blundell to India, 31 Jan. 1857, SSR, R 30, pp. 305–306.

57 Governor to Leg. Co. India, 28 July 1857, SSR, R 32, pp. 16–26.

58 Proc. Leg. Co. Ind., 22 Aug. 1857, III, 1857, p. 387.

59 Directors to India, 28 April 1858, Despatches to India and Bengal (Desp. bid. Beng.), Vol. 112.

60 S of S to India, 21 July 1859, Judicial Despatches to India (Jud. Ind.), Vol. 2

61 Blundell to India, 28 June & 4 Sept. 1858, SSR, R 33. pp. 141–144, 231–237, & 14 May 1859, SSR, R 35, pp. 292–293; India to Blundell, 21 Jan. 1859, National Archives of India. Public Consultations, (NAI Pub. Con.), 48–55.

62 Governor to India, 12 Jan. 1857, SSR, R 30, pp. 242–249; India to Governor, 24 April 1857, SSR, S 25, Item 110.

63 Singapore Municipal Cttee to Blundell, 3 Feb. & 16 March 1857, SSR, W 24, Items 73 & 150.

64 R.C. Penang to Governor, 11 April 1857, SSR, DD 25, Item 78; Governor to Chairman Penang Muncipal Cttee, 13 April 1857, SSR, V 22, pp. 254–255; Penang Municipal Cttee to Blundell, 16 Feb. 1858, SSR, W 26, Item 70 & 9 July 1858, SSR, W 27, Item 208.

65 Tinker, H., The foundations of local self-government in India, Pakistan and Burma, London, 1954, p. 38Google Scholar.

66 For instance, India to Governor, 26 Jan. 1855, SSR, S 22, Item 51; India to Blundell, 8 March 1856, SSR, S 23, Item 64.

67 Chief Engineer to Governor, 6 Jan. 1859, SSR, W 29, Item 6.

68 Blundell to R.C. Malacca, 5 May 1859, SSR, U 38, pp. 63–64, & 28 Feb. 1863, SSR, U 45, p. 243; Governor to Singapore Municipal Cttee, 17 Jan. 1860, SSR, V 29, p. 166; Governor to Penang Municipal Cttee, 1 Feb. 1860, SSR, V 9, pp. 210–211; Cavenagh to India, 21 May 1860, SSR, R 37, pp. 30–36; India to Cavenagh, 29 May & 11 Aug. 1860, SSR, S 28, Items 119 & 167; Governor to R.C. Penang, 23 July 1860, SSR, U 41, pp. 68–69; C.P. Singapore to Governor, 23 Dec. 1863, SSR, W 48, Item 404; Singapore Municipal Cttee to Governor, 2 Feb. 1864, SSR, W 49, Item 83; SFP 17 Jan. in Annual retrospect for 1860.

69 Governor to India, 1 May 1865, SSR, R 46, pp. 19–30, & 8 June 1865, SSR, R 46, pp. 42–43.

70 Governor to R.C. Malacca, 28 Feb. 1863, SSR, U 45, p. 243.

70 Governor to India, 1 May 1865, SSR, R 46, pp. 24–26 & 29–30.

72 e.g. Governor to Singapore Municipal Cttee, 17 Jan. 1860, SSR, V 29, p. 166; Governor to Penang Municipal Cttee, 1 Feb. 1860, SSR, V 29, pp. 210–211.

73 In 1865 the cost of the police amounted to:

(Governor to India, 1 May 1865, SSR, R 46)

74 Dunman to Governor, 5 May 1858, SSR, W 26, Item 137.

75 R.C. Penang to Blundell, 22 May 1857, SSR, DD 25, Item 115.

76 PG 27 Feb. & 6 March in SFP 11 & 18 March 1858.

77 R.C. Penang to Blundell, 23 June 1858, SSR, DD 28, Item 136; Blundell to India, 28 June 1858, SSR, R 33, pp. 141–144.

78 Governor to Penang Municipal Cttee, 2 Feb. & 15 March 1858, SSR, V 24, pp. 94–95, 176–178; Penang Municipal Cttee to Blundell, 16 Feb. 1858, SSR, W 26, Item 70, & 9 July 1858, SSR, W 27, Item 208; R.C. Penang to Governor, 30 July 1858, SSR, DD 28, Item 165.

79 Blundell to Penang Municipal Cttee, 28 July 1858, SSR, V 25, pp. 35–40.

80 R.C. Penang to Blundell, 23 June 1858, SSR, DD 28, Item 136.

81 Penang Police Investigation (P.P.I.) Oct. 1859, Jeremiah's evidence, p. 26.

82 R.C. Penang to Governor, 17 July & 24 Sept. 1858, SSR. DD 28, Items 151½ & 203.

83 Cavenagh to Dunman, 24 & 29 Dec. 1859, SSR, V 28, pp. 24–27 & 32.

83 Cavenagh to India, 17 Feb. & 21 March 1860, SSR, R 36, pp. 121–125, 183–194; Governor to India, 16 Oct. 1865, SSR, R 44, pp. 245–247; Cavenagh, Orfeur, Reminiscences of an Indian official, London, 1884, p. 285Google Scholar.

85 Cavenagh to India, 21 May 1860, SSR, R 37, pp. 19–27.

86 Dunman to Governor, 1 June 1859, SSR, W 30, Item 273.

87 C.P. Singapore to Governor, 1 June 1859, SSR, W 30, Item 273, & 30 May 1862, SSR, W 42, Item 203: Cavenagh to Leg. Co. India, 18 Oct. 1860, SSR, R 38, pp. 52–56; SFP 13 Aug. 1857; ST 20 Dec. 1865.

88 Annual report on the administration of the S.S. for 1859/60.

89 Annual report on the administration of the S.S. for 1861/62.

90 Cavenagh to India, 21 May 1860, SSR, R 37, pp. 19–34.

91 Cavenagh, Reminiscences, p. 285.

92 Cavenagh to R.C. Singapore, 17 July 1861, SSR, U 43, p. 107.

93 Governor to Leg. Co. India, 22 March 1860, SSR, R 36, pp. 194–195, & 18 Oct. 1860, SSR, R 28, pp. 52–56; C.P. S'pore to Governor, 12 July 1860, SSR, W 35, Item 31, & 30 May 1862, SSR, W 42, Item 203 & 30 July 1862, SSR, W 43, Item 61, & 10 May 1863, SSR, W 46, Item 292: Act III of 1863; Annual report on the administration of the Straits Settlements for 1862/63, p. 2.

94 SFP 18 Jan. 1866 in Annual retrospect for 1865.

95 Petition to Cavenagh, 12 Feb. 1864, SSR, W 49, Item 114.

96 Master Attendent to Governor, 15 Feb. 1864, SSR, W 49, Item 120.

97 Governor to Secs, to Govt. Western, Southern Australia & Victoria 2 March 1863, SSR, V 37, p. 52; Chief Sec. Melbourne to Governor, 24 April 1863, SSR, W 46, Item 247.

98 Annual report on the administration of the S.S. for 1863/64.

99 Man to Cavenagh, 10 April 1861, SSR, DD 33, Item 32.

100 ST 17 March 1862.

101 ST 18 June 1864.

102 Governor to R.C. Singapore, 22 Feb. 1861, SSR, U 42, p. 131.

103 R. Braddell, 100 Years, I, p.257.

104 Buckley, II, pp. 446–448; Thomson, Some Glimpses, pp. 203–204.

105 Act XXXIV of 1852; India to Blundell, 21 May 1852, SSR, S 19, Item 49, & 29 April & 14 Oct. 1853, SSR, S 20, Items 44 & 98.

106 C.P. Singapore to Governor, 16 May 1859, SSR, W 30, Item 245.

107 Ibid.

108 R.C. Penang to Governor, 23 June 1858, SSR, DD 28, Item 136.

109 Ibid.

110 Cameron, John, Our tropical possessions in Malayan India, London, 1865, pp. 219–224Google Scholar.

111 Governor to C.P.s Penang, Singapore & Malacca, 12 April 1860, SSR, V 31, p. 45.

112 SFP 5, 19 & 26 July, 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 Aug. 1860, 3 Jan. & 9 May 1861; Buckley, I, p. 145.

113 SFP 10 Jan. 1861 in Annual retrospect for 1860.

114 Cameron, p. 226.

115 McCausland to Blundell, 29 Jan. 1858, SSR, W 26, Item 40.

116 Cavenagh to India, 25 Feb. 1861, SSR, R 38, pp. 262–269.

117 Ibid.

118 India to Governor, 20 April 1861, SSR, X 21.

119 Robertson (offg. C.P. S'pore) to Governor, 30 May 1862, SSR, W 42, Item 203; Annual report on the administration of the S.S. for 1861/62.

120 Robertson to Governor, 30 May 1862, SSR, W 42, Item 203.

121 ST 7 June & 23 Aug. 1862; SFP 15 Jan. 1863 in Annual retrospect for 1862.

122 Act V of 1844.

123 Dunman to Governor, 10 May 1863, SSR, W 46, Item 292, & 25 May 1864, SSR, W 50, Item 338.

124 C.P. S'pore to Governor, 19 Feb. 1863, SSR, W 45, Item 123; Governor to C.P. S'pore, 20 Feb. 1863, SSR, V 37, pp. 16–21; Vaughan to Governor, 24 Feb. 1863, SSR, W 45, Item 131; Governor to Vaughan, 24 Feb. 1863, SSR, V 37, pp. 36–37.

125 R.C. Penang to Governor, 23 June 1858, SSR, DD 28, Item 136; PG 11 April in SFP 30 April 1857.

126 R.C. Penang to Governor, 23 June 1858, SSR, D 28, Item 136.

127 R.C. Penang to Governor, 24 June 1861, SSR, DD 34, Item 82. Annual report on the administration of the Straits Settlements for 1861/62; SFP 23 Jan. 1862 in Annual retrospect for 1861.

128 R.C. Penang to Governor, 24 June 1861, SSR, DD 34, Item 82.

129 Annual report on the administration of the S.S. for 1862/63.

130 Penang Argus, 4 Feb. 1864 in SFP 18 Feb. 1864.

131 ST 8 Feb. 1867.

132 SFP 18 Jan. 1866 in Annual retrospect for 1865.

133 ST 19 Jan. 1867.

134 Braddell, R., 100 Years, I, p. 265Google Scholar.

135 Kyshe, J.W.N., Cases heard and determined in H.M. Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements, 1808–84, 3 vols., Singapore, 1885, I, lxxxix–xcGoogle Scholar.

136 ST 15 April 1846.

137 Recorder to Governor, 23 May 1857, SSR, W 24, Item 241.

138 SFP 26 Sept. 1851.

139 Penang Grand Jury's presentment, 15 Nov. 1858, & Recorder's reply in R.C. Penang to Governor, 1 Dec. 1858, SSR, DD 28, Item 239.

140 Dunman to Governor, 1 June 1859, SSR, W 30, Item 273.

141 Cavenagh to India, 8 May 1860, SSR, R 36, pp. 312–315; India to Cavenagh, 23 June 1860, SSR, S 28, Item 140.

142 Annual report on the administration of the S.S. for 1861/62.

143 Plunket (Ag. C.P. S'pore) to Governor, 12 July 1860, SSR, W 35, Item 31; Robertson (Ag. C.P. S'pore) to Governor, 30 May 1862, SSR, W 42, Item 203; Dunman to R.C. S'pore, 23 June 1864, SSR, W 50, Item 437.

144 Cavenagh to India, 21 Aug. 1862, SSR, R 44, pp. 31–34; C.P. S'pore to Governor, 24 March 1863, SSR, W 45, Item 178; Governor to C.P. S'pore, 27 March 1863, SSR, V 37, pp. 99–100; Governor to R.C. Penang, 6 April 1863, SSR, U 46, p. 12.

145 Governor to India, 13 March 1865, SSR, R 44, pp. 209–213.

146 C.P. S'pore to Governor, 19 Jan. 1863, SSR, W 45, Item 43, & 3 Feb. 1864, SSR, W 49, Item 87.

147 C.P. S'pore to Governor, 23 Dec. 1863, SSR, W 48, Item 404.

148 C.P. S'pore to R.C. S'pore, 19 Dec. 1863, SSR, W 48, Item 398; C.P. S'pore to Governor, 11 Jan, 1864, SSR, W 49, Item 29.

149 R.c. Penang to Governor, 28 Jan. & 7 Feb. 1861, SSR, DD 33, Items 8 & 11.

150 C.P. S'pore to Governor, 22 July 1862, SSR, W 43, Item 42.

151 C.P. S'pore to Governor, 18 Aug. 1862, SSR W 43, Item 99; Senior Surgeon to R.C. S'pore, 27 Aug. 1862, SSR, W 43, Item 119; Dunman to R.C. S'pore, 27 June 1863, SSR, W 47, Item 52.

152 Police magistrate S'pore to Governor, 23 Nov. 1858, SSR, W 28, Item 428.

153 S'pore police magistrate to Governor, 30 Nov. 1863, SSR, W 48, Item 360.

154 S'pore police magistrate to Governor, 3 Dec. 1860, SSR, W 36

155 S'pore police magistrate to Governor, 30 Nov. 1863, SSR, W 48, Item 360.

156 SFP 3 & 10 Jan. 1861 & 23 Jan. 1862.

157 Guthrie & others to S of S for Colonies, 20 April 1861, PP, 1862, XL, (H of C) 259, p. 62.

158 Gavenagh to India, 15 March 1860, SSR, R 36, pp. 168–169.

159 SFP 9 Aug. 1860.

160 Annual report on the administration of the S.S. for 1862/63.

161 Governor to Rajah of Kedah, 15 April 1861, SSR, V 33, pp. 189–192, Governor to India, 15 Oct. 1864, SSR, R 41, pp. 268–271; Annual report on the administration of the S.S. for 1861/62; PG 21 June in SFP 18 July 1861.

162 Dunman to R.C. S'pore, 23 June 1864, SSR, W 50, Item 437.

163 SFP 25 April 1851; Dunman to Governor, 10 May 1863, SSR, W 46, Item 292, & 25 May 1864, SSR, W 50, Item 338.

164 Dunman to Governor, 25 May 1864, SSR, W 50, Item 338.

165 Blundell to India, 12 Aug. 1859, SSR, X 18; Offg. C.P. S'pore to Governor, 4 July 1862, SSR, W 43, Item 6.

166 SFP 12 Jan. 1865 in Annual retrospect for 1864; SFP 18 Jan. 1866, in Annual retrospect for 1865; Dunman to R.C. S'pore, 23 June 1864, SSR, W 50, Item 437; Municipal Cttee to Governor, 16 May 1862, SSR, W 42, Item 172; Governor to Municipal Cttee, 31 May 1862, SSR, V 35, pp. 218–219.

167 Recorder to Cavenagh, 10 May 1861, SSR, W 38, Item 244; Cavenagh to India, 18 July 1861, SSR, R 39, pp. 181–182.

168 Cavenagh, , Report on the progress of the Straits Settlements from 1859/60 to 1866/67, pp. 5–6Google Scholar.