1819 Singapore Treaty

by Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, Sultan Hussein Shah

Treaty of Friendship and Alliance concluded between the Honble Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles Kt. Lieutenant Governor of Fort Marlborough and its Dependencies Agent to the Most Noble Francis Marquis of Hastings Governor General of India &c &c &c for the Honble English East India Company on the one hand and their Highnesses Sultan Hussein Muhammed Shah Sultan of Johor and Datoo Tumungong Sree Maharajah Abdul Rahmun Chief of Singapoora and its Dependencies on the other part.

Article 1

The preliminary articles of agreement entered into on the 30^th January 1819, by the Honble Sir Stamford Raffles on the part of the English East India Company and by Datoo Tumungong Sree Maharajah Abdul Rahman Chief of Singapoora and its Dependencies, for himself and for Sultan Hussein Mahummed Shah Sultan of Johor is hereby entirely approved, ratified and confirmed by His Highness the aforesaid Sultan Mahummeed Shah.

Article 2^nd

In the furtherance of the objects contemplated in the said Preliminary Agreement; and in compensation of any and all the advantages which may be foregone now or hereafter by His Highness Sultan Hussein Mahummed Shah Sultan of Johor, in consequence of the stipulations of this Treaty; The Honble English East India Company agree and engage to pay to His aforesaid Highness the sum of Spanish Dollars Five Thousand annually; for and during the time that the said Company may, by virtue of this Treaty, maintain a Factory or Factories on any part of His Highness’ hereditary Dominions, and the said Company further agree to afford their protection to His Highness aforesaid as long as he may continue to reside in the immediate vicinity of the places subject to their authority. It is however clearly explained to, and understood by His Highness, that the English Government in entering into this Alliance and in thus engaging to afford protection to His Highness is to be considered in no way bound to interfere with the internal politics of his States or engaged to assert or maintain the authority of His Highness by force of Arms.

Article 3

His Highness Datoo Tumungong Sree Maha Rajah Abdul Rahman Chief of Singapoora and its Dependencies having by Preliminary Articles of Agreement entered into on the 30th of January 1819 granted his full permission to the Honble English East India Company to establish a Factory or Factories at Singapoora or on any other part of His Highness Dominions And, the said Company having in recompense and in return for the fair grant settled on His Highness the yearly sum of Spanish Dollars Three Thousand and having received His Highness into their Alliance and protection; all and every part of the said preliminary articles is hereby confirmed.

Article 4

His Highness the Sultan Hussein Mahumeed Shah Sultan of Johor and His Highness Datoo Tumungong Sree Maha Rajah Abdul Rahman Chief of Singapoora engage and agree to aid and assist the Honble English East India Company against all Enemies that may assail the Factory or Factories of the said Company established or to be established in the Dominions of their said Highnesses respectively.

Article 5

His Highness the Sultan Hussein Mahummud Shah Sultan of Johor and His Highness Datoo Tumungong Sree Maharajah Abdul Rahman Chief of Singapoora, agree, promise and bind themselves their Heirs and Successors, that for as long time since as the Honble the English East India Company shall continue to hold a Factory or Factories on any part of the dominion subject to the authority of their Highnesses aforesaid and shall continue to afford to their Highnesses support and protection, they their said Highnesses will not enter into any Treaty with any other Nation of will not admit or consent to the Settlement in any part of their Dominions of any other Power European or American.

Article 6

All persons belonging to the English Factory or Factories or who shall hereafter desire to place themselves under the protection of its Flag shall be duly Registered and considered as subject to British authority.

Article 7

The mode of administering justice to the Native Population shall be subject to future discussion and arrangement between the contracting parties, as this will necessarily, in a great measure, depend on the laws and usages of the various tribes who may be expected to settle in the vicinity of the English Factory.

Article 8

The port of Singapoora is to be considered under the immediate protection and subject to the Regulation of the British Authorities.

Article 9

With regard to the Duties which it may hereafter be deemed necessary to levy on Goods, Merchandize, Boats or Vessels, His Highness Datoo Tumungong Sree Maharajah Abdul Rahman is to be entitled to a moiety or full half of all the amounts collected from native Vessels. The expenses of the Port and the collection of Duties to be defrayed by the British Government.

Done and concluded at Singapoora this 6^th day of February in the year of Our Lord 1819, answering to the 11^th day of the Month Rubbeilakhir and year of the Heijera 1234.