improve their intellectual powers seems to be the most effectual remedy. They will duly appreciate the benefit conferred; and while it must inevitably tend to attach them more closely to us, we shall find our recompense in the stability of their future authority, and the general security and good order which must be the result.

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There are, however, some results of a more distant and speculative nature, which it is impossible to pass over unnoticed. These relate more particularly to the eventual abolition of slavery the modification of their more objectionable civil institutions, particularly those relating to debts and marriages and the discontinuance of the horrid practices of cannibalism and man-hunting, but too prevalent among some of the more barbarous tribes, as the Battas and Alfoors.

It is almost unnecessary to state, that slavery is not only tolerated and acknowledged by the Malay law; but, until recently, it was openly encouraged by the chief European authority in these seas. Batavia, for the last two centuries, has been the principal and fatal mart to which the majority were carried; and the islands of Bali, Celebes, and Nias, are the countries whence the supplies were principally procured. Many thousands of the victims of this lawless traffic were annually obtained in much the same manner as on the coast of Africa, and the trade has always been a very profitable one, and the principal support of piracy. While the British were in possession of Java, the act of parliament declaring the trade felony on the part of its own subjects, was made a colonial law; this prohibition does not appear to have been repealed, and much benefit may be anticipated from the Batavian government not sanctioning the practice by its authority. But when we consider the extent and varied interests of the Archipelago- the number of slaves still in Java—and the right which every Mahomedan exercises, according to his ability, of converting or reducing to slavery every unbeliever he meets with the extent of the population still unconverted-and the sanction given to slavery by the Malay custom, we can only look for the complete remedy of the evil, by the extension of our influence among the native states, and the effects which a better education may produce on the chiefs.

Throughout the greater part of the Eastern states, the Mahomedan law has never been adopted in its full extent. In some it has been blended with the original customs and institutions, and in others not introduced at all. The laws

regarding debts and marriages are peculiarly illustrative of this; and however, in principle, they may have been applicable to a former state of society, are now, in practice, found to be in many places highly oppressive and injurious to the increase of population. This fact is fully exemplified in the vicinity of Bencoolen, where a large portion of the population is reduced to a state little better than that of actual slavery, on account of debts; and fully one-fourth of the marriageable females remain in a state of celibacy, from the obstacles which their customs oppose to marriage. The former arises from the custom which gives the creditor an unlimited right over the services of the debtor, for any sum, however small in many cases, the family and relations of the debtor are further liable, in the same manner. In the case of marriage, it may be observed, that the daughters are considered to form a part of the property of the father; and are only to be purchased from him by the suitor, at a price exceeding the usual means of the men. The effects of education may be expected to be felt in the gradual modification and improvement of these institutions, especially if aided by our influence and example. However attached the natives may be to the principles on which these institutions are founded, experience has proved that they are by no means unwilling to modify them, in practice, on conviction that they are injurious in tendency. In a recent instance, they readily agreed to lower the price paid for wives, on the advantage of such a measure being urged and explained to them.

On the subject of the barbarous practices alluded to as common among the wilder tribes, it may be sufficient for the present purpose to state, that the Battas, a numerous people having a language and written character peculiar to themselves, and inhabiting a large portion of the northern part of Sumatra, are universally addicted to the horrid practice of devouring the flesh of their enemies whom they take in battle; and that many tribes of the Dayaks of Borneo, and the Alfoors of the further East, are addicted to the practice of man-hunting, solely for the purpose of presenting the bleeding head as an offering to their mistresses. A man is considered honorable according to the number of heads he has thus procured, and, by the custom of the country, such an offering is an indispensable preliminary to marriage. It is not to be expected that our schools will have any direct or immediate influence on people where such practices are prevalent, but indirectly and eventually, as the chiefs of the more civilized states in their neighbourhood acquire power

and stability, they may be expected gradually to be brought under their influence, and subjected to the restraints of a better state of society.

From this it will appear how much more extensive are the advantages to be obtained from educating the higher classes, to whom alone we can look for effectually promoting the progress of improvement among the lower orders, and for extending the benefits of civilization to the barbarous tribes, who would otherwise be entirely beyond the sphere of our influence, than could be obtained from any scheme which should reverse the order; and commence instruction from the bottom, rather than the top of the scale. In every country the lights of knowledge and improvement have commenced with the higher orders of society, and have been diffused from thence downwards. No plan can be expected to succeed, which shall reverse this order, and attempt to propagate them in an opposite direction, and more especially in countries where the influence of the chiefs, from the nature of the government, must always be considerable.

In affording to such of the Chinese as are settled in the islands a participation in the benefits of this institution, the richer classes are particularly adverted to. Many of these, if not possessed of the advantages of birth, have raised themselves, by their talents, to opulence and a respectable rank in society. These men, at present, frequently send their sons to China for education, for want of an institution of this nature, which would supersede the necessity. A recent establishment of the kind has been formed at Malacca, under the superintendance of an enlightened missionary; and a branch of it is already extended to Singapore. It has been attended with considerable success, but must necessarily be limited in its operation, by its more immediate and direct connexion with the object of religious conversion. The rapid acquisition of the Chinese language, which has been the consequence of this establishment, and the numerous tracts which have issued from its press in that language, give the institution much interest; and the means which have thus been afforded of opening what may be termed a literary intercourse with this peculiar people, are gradually increasing. The advantage of extending the plan on a broader and more general principle, is acknowledged by those under whom it is conducted; and they may be expected, if not to combine their labours with the plan now proposed, at least to give it all the aid in their power. The expense of this branch of the institution will, probably, be borne principally by the Chinese themselves, who are

wealthy enough to do so, and are sufficiently aware of the advantages of education.

Having now shown the extent and objects of the proposed institution, and the field presented for its operation, and pointed out some of the advantages which may be expected to result, it will be sufficient, in conclusion, to remark, that the progress of every plan of improvement, on the basis of educa tion, must be slow and gradual; its effects are silent and unobtrusive, and the present generation will, probably, pass away before they are fully felt and appreciated. Few nations have made much advance in civilization by their own unassisted endeavours, and none have risen suddenly from barbarism to refinement. The experience of the world informs us, that education affords the only means of effecting any considerable amelioration, or of expanding the powers of the human mind. In estimating the results of any scheme of the kind, the advantages must always be, in a great measure, speculative; and dependant on the concurrence of a variety of circumstances, which cannot be foreseen. This is admitted to apply, with its full force, to the institution in question; but when it is considered, that education affords the only reasonable and efficient means of improving the condition of those who are so much lower than ourselves in the scale of civilization; that the want of this improvement is no where more sensibly felt than in the field before us; and that the proposed plan has the double object of obtaining information ourselves, and affording instruction to others; it will be allowed to be, at least, calculated to assist in objects, which are not only important to our national interests, but honorable and consistent with our national character. The outlay proposed is moderate, when considered even with reference to the immediate advantages, to say nothing of those which are of a more remote and speculative nature, One single family of rank, raised into importance and energy by means of the proposed institution, may abundantly repay our labour, by the establishment of a better order of society in its neighbourhood-by the example it may set and by the resources of the country it may develope. We are not plodding on a barren soil; and while the capacity of the people for improvement is acknowledged, the inexhaustible riches of the country are no less universally admitted.

If we consider also, that it is, in a great measure, to the influence of Europeans, and to the ascendancy they have acquired in these seas, that the decline of the people in wealth and civilization is to be ascribed; and that the same causes have contributed to take away the means of instruc

tion they formerly possessed, it is almost an act of duty and justice to endeavour to repair the injury done them. The British influence in these seas is already hailed as bringing freedom to commerce, and support to the independence of the native states; and shall we not also afford them the means of reaping the fruits of these blessings? Of what use will it be to protect the persons, and raise the wealth and independence of these people, if we do not also cultivate and expand their minds in the same proportion? Besides the inducements of humanity-besides the consideration of what is due to our national character, shall we not best preserve the tranquillity of these countries, and the freedom and safety of our own intercourse, by improving their moral and intellectual condition? shall we not bind them to us by the firmest of all ties, and build an empire on the rock of opinion, where we neither wish nor seek for it on any other principle?

It may be urged, that the institution here proposed is too limited in its extent, and too inadequate in its means, to embrace the vastness of the objects contemplated. It may be said, is the improvement of so many millions of the human race to be effected, and the light of knowledge diffused over such extensive regions by means so simple? The objection is, in some respects, just; an establishment on a much more extended scale would certainly have been desirable, but many obstacles have presented themselves to the immediate adoption of any very expensive plan. The object has been to bring it to the very lowest scale consistent with efficiency, in order to avoid the chance of failure were too much attempted in the beginning. Voluntary endowments are what such institutions must depend on for support, but it has appeared unadvisable to commence a plan of this kind in a remote quarter of the world, where its advantages are not yet fully comprehended, on any uncertain calculation which might risk its success. A centre, or nucleus, is wanting, which shall be placed on a footing beyond the reach of contingencies, or accidents; and the support of government is necessary, in the first instance, to give stability and security to the infant institution: this once established, there can be little doubt of its extension, in proportion as the benefits become more and more apparent. The noblest institutions of mankind have arisen from small beginnings, and where the principles are sound, and the benefits of unequivocal application, such a commencement is, perhaps, better than one of more boastful pretensions. The object, at present, has been, with the least pretension,