The western trade of Singapore comprehends that with Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, the island of Ceylon, and Arabia ; with the Cape or Good Hope, Mauritius, and Australia; and with Europe and America. The commerce carried on with Calcutta is the most valuable. The commerce with Madras has been on the decline for several years, British manufactures having superseded the Madras piece-goods which formed the principal article of trade with that place. The commerce with Bombay is more important. The trade with Arabia is carried on by vessels which sail annually with Mohammedan pilgrims, who assemble at Singapore from Java and the neighbouring Malayan states. The trade with the United States is inconsiderable. The trade with Continental Europe is principally carried on by vessels under the French, Belgian, Hamburg, Bremen, and Danish flags.
The commerce of Singapore with Great Britain is of considerable ' amount. In 1853 the declared value of the goods exported from Great Britain to Singapore was 595,5881. The principal articles imported into Great Britain from Singapore are—caoutchouc, gum, gutta-percha, hides, mace, nutmegs, pepper, mother-of-pearl, oils, raw silk, sago, tin, and tortoise-shell The affairs of the settlement are administered by a governor, assisted by a council of several salaried members. A Recorder's Court has been established in Singapore. The revenue is raised from government rents, dwa, and fine., and from an excise ou pork, opium, and home made spirit.. The total income for the year ending 30th April, 1852, was about 40,0001. The expenditure was 21,1101., exclusive of the expenses for the military and convicts.
the alto of the present British settlement formerly stood the capital of a Malay kingdom, the city of Singhapfins (the ' Lion's and Sir Stamford Raffles was able in 1819 to trace the outer lines of the old city. It was next the capital of the kingdom
of Malacca. This town was taken In 1252 by a king of Java, and the residence of the king was transferred to the town of Malacca, which was then founded. After that event the town seems gradually to have decayed, and the country to have been abandoned. It was then a part of the kingdom of Jahore, which had been so reduced by internal discord that some of the superior officers had become lndepeudont. One of them, the Tumungong, or chief justice, had got possession of the island of Singapore and the adjacent country, and from him the British obtained in 1819 permission to build a factory on the south shore of the island. Soon afterwards a person who had some claim to the throne of Jahore came to the British settlement, and received a small pension. From this person, who was afterwards king of Jahore, and the Tumungong, the British obtained in 1821 the sovereignty and fee-simple of the island, as well as of all the seas, straits, and islands, for the sum of 60,000 Spanish dollars, and an annuity of 24,000 Spanish dollars for their natural lives. In 1826 Singapore was placed under the provincial government of the Straits Settlement, which was fixed on Penang, or Prince of Wales Island. In 1851, by an order of the directors of the East India Company, Singapore, Malacca, and Prince of Wales Island, were detached from the presidency of Bengal, and constituted a separate government.