tlement of the Dutch where there was a semblance
of free trade, became, by means of it, a great
and flourishing city, while every other establishment
belonging to Holland was ruined by being
deprived of it. Manilla affords another example,
so that we may see that the worst governments of
Europe are superior to the best governments of Asia,
when they only forbear from interrupting the natural
effects of European institutions, and the usual
course of commerce and colonization, by vain attempts
at regulation. Perhaps the proudest example
of the success of European establishments;
formed in the Archipelago, is that of the little
settlement of Penang, or Prince of Wales Island;
already quoted. This is a small spot of barren
soil, having a good harbour, but too far to the
west, or, in other words, too remote from the most
populous and productiye parts of the Archipelago,
and entirely out of the way of the easiest and safest
avenue, the Straits of Sunda. It was found without
people, yet such was its rapid prosperity, that
in twenty years it contained as many thousand
inhabitants, and if, in the latter period of its history,
it had not been managed injudiciously, and
the principles on which it was founded abandoned,
its success might have gone on in the same ratio
for many years.
With respect to the administration of such a
colony, as now projected, a few general hints only
can be given. There ought to exist the most un,-
10
EUROPEAN NATIONS. 269
bounded freedom of commerce and settlement to
persons of all nations and religions. It need hardly
be insisted, that the latter implies a right of private
property in the soil, so unjustly and absurdly
withheld from our countrymen in Tndia, for without
it the settlers would be no better than disreputable
vagrants, having no attachment to the land, nor
to the government that afforded them protection.
To establish, in all respects, a free government on a
representative system, will be found, perhaps, impracticable
with the motley population, » of which
such a colony would consist. To a representative
body, however, the right of imposing taxes must
be left, and, if the representatives are chosen alike
from all the classes of inhabitants—if the elective
franchise be confined to those who, by long residence,
have acquired the right of naturalization,
and to persons of considerable estate, no danger
from turbulence or anarchy can be apprehended.
A pure and impartial administration of a code of
laws suited to the state of such a colony, and adapted
to the peculiar character of its varied population,
will form the most important branch of its administration.
With respect to the duty of the chief magistrate,
• a , Penang, it is reckoned that there are twenty-two languages
spoken, aud at Batavia there are many more.