Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrai9101882roya).pdf/324

 Soon after Malacca was finally ceded to us by the Dutch (1825); and when the shiftings and changes thus came to an end, the numer- ons experiments theretofore made resulted in the existing form of united Colony, as finally settled in person by Lord (1827).

The next period is one of 10 years (1827 to 1867), in which the Colony remained an Indian dependency, but was left to develop quietly upon its own resources: with some pecuniary aid, though on a more economical scale than formerly, from the Indian Government; nor has any great break been made by the transfer, under Act of Parliament, to Colonial Office rule in April 1867: which, though a momentous change, well deserving of the trouble that was taken in bringing it about, has not disturbed the continuity of our recent history.

The prosperity of the Colony since then, and the increased importance of its administration, comprising as it now does the three Natives Stalos taken under our protection in 1874, can be gathered from a comparison of the Revenues to be administered in 1868 and those estimated for the current year:—

The Census returns shew an increase in the population of the Colony alone, during about the same period, from 273,000 (in 1866) to 423,884 (in 1881).