fixed salary, to abandon their claims to the former harsh method of raising their incomes, whilst they were still intrusted, under proper surveillance, with the administration of the laws, which were also new-modelled and rendered more equitable, torture being abolished, and the instruments burnt in the public square. The Chinese farmers of revenue, employed under the Dutch, who possessed peculiar ingenuity in squeezing the natives, were either removed, or their conduct narrowly inspected by the British residents*. In Java there is no interruption to the course of vegetation. The spring is eternal; and it is quite usual on the same day to see them sowing in one field, the second in half blossom, and reaping in the

* Sir T. Raffles, in his elaborate work on Java, says, "that whenever the Chinese formed extensive settlements "in Java, the native inhabitants had no alternative but "that of abandoning the district, or of becoming slaves "of the soil. Their monopolizing spirit was often

even pernicious to the produce, as may be seen at this ❝day in the immediate vicinity of Batavia, where all the "public markets are farmed by them, and the degeneracy "and poverty of the lower classes are proverbial."

third. But with all these advantages of soil and climate the people had been driven to relinquish their native villages, and even to destroy the trees which the cruel impolicy of the whites compelled them to cultivate, equally against their interest and their inclination.

In the first settlement of colonies, it is notorious that enormities were committed by all Europeans on the aborigines of the country; but without flattering our amour propre national, this unconciliatory and overbearing system seems to have been far less practised by us than by other nations, if we may judge from the comparative personal security with which a Briton roams every where at large. Previous to our possession of Java, (when travelling became even more safe than in England), no Dutchman ever ventured to undertake a journey among the natives without a guard. The same is the case with the Portuguese and the original Brazilians, as well as with the Spaniards at Manilla, and throughout the whole island of Luconia.

With the Javanese harsh and rigorous

measures seem, and indeed have been clearly proved to be, as unnecessary as they are unjustifiable, for few people bear a milder, more docile, or inoffensive character. They are a very distinct race from the Malays of the coasts, not only speaking a different language, but are anxious not to be considered the same people or confounded with them. Lord Minto, who was personally at Java at the period of its falling into our possession, made the following observations on the existing state of affairs, and the alterations he judged necessary:

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Contingents of rice, and, indeed, of "other productions, have been hitherto required of the cultivators, by government, at an arbitrary rate; this also, is a vicious system, to be abandoned as "soon as possible. The system of contingents did not arise from the mere "solicitude for the people, but was a mea

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sure alone of finance and control, to "enable government to derive a revenue "from a high price imposed on the con

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sumer, and to keep the whole body of

"the people dependent on its pleasure "for subsistence. I recommend a radical "reform in this branch to the serious and

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early attention of government. The principle of encouraging industry in the "cultivation and improvement of lands,

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by creating an interest in the effort and "fruits of that industry, can be expected " in Java only by a fundamental change "of the whole system of landed property "and tenure. A wide field, but a some"what distant one, is open to this great " and interesting improvement; the dis"cussion of the subject, however, must "necessarily be delayed till the investiga"tion it requires is more complete. I "shall transmit such thoughts as I have "entertained, and such hopes as I have

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indulged, in this grand object of ame"lioration; but I am to request the aid of "all the information, and all the lights, "that this island can afford. On this branch, nothing must be done that is

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not mature, because the change is too "extensive to be suddenly or ignorantly "attempted. But fixed and immutable

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principles of the human character, and "of human association, assure me of ultimate, and, I hope, not remote, success, "in views that are consonant with every "motive of action that operates on man, "and are justified by the practice and

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experience of every flourishing country "of the world."

The wisdom and sound policy of these liberal and enlightened views have been fully proved by the increasing happiness and prosperity of the colony, from the day they were practically adopted, up to the period of the transfer of the island; and that the same system should be continued under the restored government appears to be the decided opinion of the wisest and most clear-sighted of the Dutch colonists; as well for its obvious justice and humanity, as from a conviction of its superior efficacy in every other respect.

At the same time measures were taken to abolish slavery, for the continuance of which, in Java, there appeared not even the plea of expediency. The farther importation of slaves was forbidden, (for they were