Guide to the Colonial Office records relating to Malay Straits Settlement (as filmed by the AJCP)

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M446-M458

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: 2019

Collection Summary

Title
Colonial Office: Malay Straits (as filmed by the AJCP)
Date Range
1871 - 1898
Collection Number
M446-M458
Extent
189 items
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Australian Joint Copying Project
Sponsor
The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) online portal was created with the assistance of the Australian Public Service Modernisation Fund, 2017-2020. The National Library of Australia gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the other foundation AJCP partners, the State Library of New South Wales and The National Archives of the UK, and all other organisations which supported the work of the AJCP, the world's most extensive collaborative copying project, operating from 1948 to 1997.

Introduction

Scope and Contents

Extracts relating to the protected Malay States (Native States) from the Public Record Office classes CO 273, CO 537 and CO 809. These are confidential and open dispatches from the Governor of the Straits Settlements to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, together with enclosures, Colonial Office minutes, and draft replies from the Colonial Office to the Governor 1874-1896. In addition, there is correspondence between the Colonial Office and other government departments (e.g. War Office, Admiralty). Mainly one volume of miscellaneous correspondence for each year, chiefly from individuals or non-official organisations.

CO 273/84-218: confidential dispatches from the Governor of the Straits Settlements to the Colonial Office including enclosures and Colonial Office minutes relating to the Native States, 1876-1896.

CO 273/76-223: Selected pieces from CO 273 comprising dispatches from the Governor of Straits Settlements, sometimes with enclosures, and letters from offices and individuals relating to the Native States 1874-1896. Almost all these documents are accompanied by the Colonial Office minutes and draft replies to the Governor's dispatch or correspondence.

Tables of contents from each volume CO 273/9-223, CO 537/45-48 and CO 809/1-44. As tables of contents were not available for CO 273/9-74, a typewritten list was compiled showing only confidential and open dispatches relating to the Native States of the Malay Peninsula. CO 537/45-48 'Supplementary Dispatches' from the Governor of the Straits Settlements to the Secretary of State, with enclosures, Colonial Office minutes, and draft replies 1873-1896. CO 809/1-44 Confidential prints containing printed copies of correspondence dealing mostly with the Native States, prepared for inclusion in the House of Commons Papers. They contain most, but not all, of the dispatches in the CO 273 series, but without the Colonial Office minutes.

Conditions Governing Access

Available for Access.

Conditions Governing Use

Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.

Preferred Citation

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Archival History

Material selectively filmed at the Public Record Office, London, as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project, 1961 (AJCP Reels: M446-M458). Original microfilm digitised as part of the AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.

In 2003 the Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, London merged with the Historical Manuscripts Commission to form the National Archives.

For a short period (1958-1965) the geographical boundaries of the Australian Joint Copying Project were extended to encompass Malaya, Borneo, Indonesia and the Philippines. A researcher at the Australian National University had arranged the microfilming of selected Colonial Office records, in particular CO 273, relating to the Malay States in the period 1871-1898. It was decided to incorporate copies of this film in the Miscellaneous Series of the Australian Joint Copying Project. Several years later, the Public Record Office refilmed CO. in its entirety (1838-1946).

Existence and Location of Originals

National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England.

For further information see National Archives. [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/]

Existence and Location of Copies

The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8053467] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.

Administrative History

The Straits Settlements, comprising Prince of Wales Island (Penang), Malacca and Singapore, were established in 1826 as a presidency of the East India Company. Singapore became the seat of government in 1832, with resident councillors administering Prince of Wales Island and Malacca. They remained under the control of the East India Company until it was dissolved in 1857 and were then placed under the India Office. In 1867 they became a Crown colony.

In 1874, at the direction of the Colonial Office, the Governor of the Straits Settlements appointed Residents to the Malay states of Perak, Selangor and Negri Sembilan. The agreement with the Perak chiefs of 20 January 1874 specified that the Resident was to be accredited to the Sultan's court and his advice was to be sought and acted upon on all matters other than those touching on Malay religion and customs. In 1887 a similar treaty was signed with the Sultan of Pahang. In July 1896 the rulers of the four protected states accepted a Treaty of Federation, which provided for a Resident-General responsible to the High Commissioner (the Governor of the Straits Settlements). Certain departments were unified under federal heads, such as the Judicial Commissioner, Attorney-General, Commandant and Chief Commissioner of Police.

Governors of the Straits Settlements
1867-1873
Sir Harry Ord
1873-1875
Sir Andrew Clarke
1875-1877
Sir William Jervois
1877-1879
Sir William Robinson
1880-1887
Sir Frederick Weld
1887-1893
Sir Cecil Smith
1894-1899
Sir Charles Mitchell

Finding-aid Notes

This finding aid is a revised online version of the original finding aid prepared by the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP), published by the National Library of Australia in 2019. The original AJCP finding aids were unpublished typescripts or photocopies available from libraries that held copies of the original microfilm.

Dates used in this finding aid refer to the date range of the records selected for filming rather than to the date range of the Series or Files.

Subjects

Australia; Borneo; Brunei; Clarke, Sir Andrew; Dutch East Indies; Falkland Islands; Fiji; Gilbert and Ellice Islands; Great Britain: Colonial Office; Great Britain: Public Record Office; Hong Kong; Honours; Johore, Malaysia; Kedah, Malaysia; Labuan, Borneo; Malaya; Mauritius; Negri Sembilan, Malaysia; Nelson, Robert; New Hebrides;; Pahang, Malaya; Papua New Guinea; Perak, Malaysia; Sarawak, Malaysia; Selangor, Malaysia; Seychelles Islands; Solomon Islands; Straits Settlements; Sungei Ujong, Malaysia; Trengganu, Malaysia; Western Pacific High Commission

Bibliography

Originally cited in Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook. Part 8: Miscellaneous (M) Series. Third Edition, published 1998. Entry 198, pp74-75.

Item Descriptions

Series. Colonial Office: Records relating to the Straits Settlements, 1871 - 1898

189 items

The bulk of the records filmed form part of CO 273, but selections from other Colonial Office classes were also filmed. The records were filmed selectively, focussing on the relations between the Straits Settlements and the Malay states of Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang. Consequently, many pieces were not filmed at all and, with one or two possible exceptions, none of the pieces copied were filmed completely.

Archival History

Originally filmed on AJCP reels M446-M458.

Subseries CO 273. Straits Settlements original correspondence, 1871 - 1898

166 items

Filmed selectively.

Despatches, May 1876 - August 1876 (File 84)
Despatches, October 1876 - December 1876 (File 85)
Despatches, January 1882 - March 1882 (File 113)
Despatches, April 1882 - May 1882 (File 114)
Despatches, June 1884 - July 1884 (File 128)
Despatches, October 1884 - December 1884 (File 130)
Despatches, April 1885 - June 1885 (File 134)
Despatches, July 1885 - September 1885 (File 135)
Despatches, January 1886 - April 1886 (File 139)
Despatches, May 1886 - August 1886 (File 140)
Despatches, September 1886 - December 1886 (File 141)
Despatches, January 1887 - March 1887 (File 143)
Despatches, April 1887 (File 144)
Despatches, May 1887 - July 1887 (File 145)
Despatches, October 1887 - November 1887 (File 148)
Despatches, January 1888 - February 1888 (File 151)
Despatches, March 1888 - May 1888 (File 152)
Despatches, July 1888 - September 1888 (File 154)
Despatches, October 1888 - November 1888 (File 155)
Despatches, December 1888 (File 156)
Despatches, January 1889 (File 158)
Despatches, March 1889 - April 1889 (File 159)
Despatches, May 1889 - July 1889 (File 160)
Despatches, November 1889 - December 1889 (File 162)
Despatches, September 1890 - October 1890 (File 168)
Despatches, November 1890 - December 1890 (File 169)
Despatches, January 1881 - March 1881 (File 172)
Despatches, April 1891 - June 1891 (File 173)
Despatches, January 1892 - March 1892 (File 179)
Despatches, September 1892 - November 1892 (File 183)
Despatches, September 1892 - November 1892 (File 188)
Despatches, January 1894 - April 1894 (File 194)
Despatches, May 1894 (File 195)
Despatches, June 1894 - July 1894 (File 196)
Despatches, August 1894 - September 1894 (File 197)
Despatches, October 1894 - November 1894 (File 198)
Despatches, December 1894 (File 199)
Despatches, January 1885 - March 1885 (File 202)
Despatches, April 1885 - 17 May 1885 (File 203)
Despatches, November 1895 - December 1895 (File 207)
Despatches, January 1896 - February 1896 (File 212)
Despatches, March 1896 (File 213)
Despatches, September 1896 (File 217)
Despatches, October 1896 - November 1896 (File 218)
Offices and Individuals, 1879 (File 101)
Despatches, August 1880 - October 1880 (File 104)
Despatches, May 1871 - June 1871 (File 47)
Despatches, 1874 (File 76)
Offices, 1874 (File 77)
Offices (Home, War and Miscellaneous) and individuals, January 1875 - March 1875 (File 78)
Despatches, April 1875 - June 1875 (File 79)
Despatches, April 1875 - June 1875 (File 80)
Despatches, November 1875 (File 81)
Offices and Individuals, 1875 (File 82)
Despatches, May 1876 - September 1876 (File 84)
Despatches, October 1876 - December 1876 (File 85)
Offices and Individuals, 1876 (File 89)
Despatches, January 1877 - March 1877 (File 90)
Despatches, April 1878 - November 1878 (File 91)
Despatches, January 1878 - May 1878 (File 93)
Despatches, June 1878 - July 1878 (File 94)
Despatches, August 1878 (File 95)
Despatches, September 1878 - December 1878 (File 96)
Offices and individuals, 1878 (File 97)
Despatches, January 1879 - April 1879 (File 98)
Despatches, May 1879 - August 1879 (File 99)
Despatches, September 1879 - December 1879 (File 100)
Despatches, offices and individuals, 1879 (File 101)
Despatches, January 1880 - March 1880 (File 102)
Despatches, April 1880 - July 1880 (File 103)
Despatches, August 1880 - October 1880 (File 104)
Despatches, November 1880 - December 1880 (File 105)
Offices and individuals, 1880 (File 106)
Despatches, January 1881 - March 1881 (File 107)
Offices (Foreign, Home, War and Miscellaneous) and individuals, 1881 (File 112)
Despatches, January 1882 - March 1882 (File 113)
Despatches, April 1882 - May 1882 (File 114)
Despatches, June 1882 - August 1882 (File 115)
Despatches, September 1882 - November 1882 (File 116)
Despatches and individuals, 1882 (File 117)
Despatches, January 1883 - March 1883 (File 119)
Despatches, April 1883 - May 1883 (File 120)
Despatches, June 1883 - July 1883 (File 121)
Despatches, August 1883 - October 1883 (File 122)
Despatches, November 1883 - December 1883 (File 123)
Despatches, January 1884 - March 1884 (File 126)
Despatches, April 1884 - May 1884 (File 127)
Despatches, June 1884 - July 1884 (File 128)
Despatches, October 1884 - December 1884 (File 130)
Offices, 1884 (File 131)
Offices (Home, War and Miscellaneous) and individuals, 1884 (File 132)
Despatches, January 1885 - March 1885 (File 133)
Despatches, April 1885 - June 1885 (File 134)
Despatches, July 1885 - September 1885 (File 135)
Despatches, October 1885 - December 1885 (File 136)
Offices, 1885 (File 137)
Offices (Miscellaneous) and individuals, 1885 (File 138)
Despatches, January 1886 - April 1886 (File 139)
Despatches, May 1886 - August 1886 (File 140)
Despatches, September 1886 - December 1886 (File 141)
Offices and individuals, 1886 (File 142)
Despatches, January 1887 - March 1887 (File 143)
Despatches, May 1887 - June 1887 (File 145)
Despatches, August 1887 - September 1887 (File 146)
Despatches, October 1887 - November 1887 (File 148)
Despatches, Offices and individuals, 1887 (File 149)
Despatches, October 1886 - April 1887 (File 144)
Despatches, January 1888 - February 1888 (File 151)
Despatches, March 1888 - May 1888 (File 152)
Despatches, July 1888 - September 1888 (File 154)
Despatches, October 1888 - November 1888 (File 155)
Despatches and Offices, 1888 (File 156)
Offices (Miscellaneous) and individuals, 1888 (File 157)
Despatches, January 1888 - February 1888 (File 158)
Despatches, March 1889 - April 1889 (File 159)
Despatches, May 1889 - July 1889 (File 160)
Despatches, August 1889 - October 1889 (File 161)
Despatches, November 1889 - December 1889 (File 162)
Miscellaneous offices and individuals, 1889 (File 164)
Despatches, April 1890 - July 1890 (File 166)
Despatches, August 1890 (File 167)
Despatches, September 1890 - October 1890 (File 168)
Despatches, November 1890 - December 1890 (File 169)
Miscellaneous offices and individuals, 1890 (File 171)
Despatches, January 1891 - March 1891 (File 172)
Despatches, April 1891 - June 1891 (File 173)
Despatches, July 1891 - August 1891 (File 174)
Despatches, September 1891 - November 1891 (File 176)
Despatches, December 1891 (File 177)
Offices (War and Miscellaneous) and individuals, 1891 (File 178)
Despatches, January 1892 - March 1892 (File 179)
Despatches, April 1892 - May 1892 (File 180)
Despatches, July 1892 - August 1892 (File 182)
Despatches, September 1892 - November 1892 (File 183)
Despatches, December 1892 (File 184)
Miscellaneous offices and individuals, 1892 (File 185)
Despatches, January 1893 - March 1893 (File 186)
Despatches, April 1893 - May 1893 (File 187)
Despatches, June 1893 - July 1893 (File 188)
Despatches, August 1893 - October 1893 (File 189)
Despatches, November 1893 - December 1893 (File 190)
Offices, 1893 (File 191)
Individuals G-Z, 1893 (File 193)
Despatches, January 1894 - April 1894 (File 194)
Despatches, May 1894 (File 195)
Despatches, June 1894 - July 1894 (File 196)
Despatches, August 1894 - September 1894 (File 197)
Despatches, October 1894 - November 1894 (File 198)
Despatches and Offices, 1894 (File 199)
Individuals, 1894 (File 201)
Despatches, January 1895 - March 1895 (File 202)
Despatches, April 1895 - 17 May 1895 (File 203)
Despatches, 18 May 1895 - June 1895 (File 204)
Despatches, July 1895 - August 1895 (File 205)
Despatches, September 1895 - October 1895 (File 206)
Despatches, November 1895 - December 1895 (File 207)
Individuals E-Z, 1895 (File 211)
Despatches, January 1896 - February 1896 (File 212)
Despatches, March 1896 (File 213)
Despatches, June 1896 (File 215)
Despatches, October 1896 - November 1896 (File 218)
Offices (Foreign and War), 1896 (File 221)
Miscellaneous offices and individuals I-Y, 1896 (File 223)
List of confidential and open despatches relating to the Native States in pieces 9-74 (typescript) (File)
Contents pages (manuscript) of pieces CO 273/75-204,206-7, 211-23, 1874 - 1896 (File)
Contents pages of pieces CO 273/205, 208-10 (manuscript), 1895 (File)

Subseries CO 447. Sungei Ujong Sessional Papers, 1883 - 1893

1 item

Filmed selectively.

State Council proceedings, 1883 - 1893 (File 1)

Subseries CO 469. Selangor Government Gazettes, 1890 - 1895

5 items

Filmed selectively.

Government Gazette, 1890 - 1891 (File 1)
Government Gazette, 1892 (File 2)
Government Gazette, 1893 (File 3)
Government Gazette, 1894 (File 4)
Government Gazette, 1895 (File 5)

Subseries CO 537. Supplementary original correspondence, 1873 - 1898

4 items

Filmed selectively.

Straits Settlements, 1873 - 1884 (File 45)
Straits Settlements, 1885 (File 46)
Straits Settlements, 1889 - 1893 (File 47)
Straits Settlements, 1894 - 1898 (File 48)

Subseries CO 809. Confidential Print: Eastern, January 1872 - July 1896

13 items

Filmed selectively.

Archival History

CO 809 was later transferred to CO 882.

Affairs of certain native states in the Malay Peninsula: correspondence, January 1872 - September 1874 (File 1)
Affairs of Malay Peninsula: further correspondence, November 1874 - July 1875 (File 5)
Affairs of certain native states in the Malay Peninsula: further correspondence, July 1875 - February 1876 (File 6)
Affairs of certain native states in the Malay Peninsula: further correspondence, February 1876 - June 1876 (File 7)
Affairs of certain native states in the Malay Peninsula: further correspondence, February 1876 - November 1876 (File 10)
Affairs of certain native states in the Malay Peninsula: further correspondence, November 1876 - March 1877 (File 15)
Instructions to British residents, and Malay States, June 1878 - November 1878 (File 18)
Mr Swettenham's tour through the Protected Native States, 6 March 1879 (File 19)
Appointment of British Residents in Malay States: memorandum by Mr Ebden, 22 October 1879 (File 22)
Memorandum of agreement with Sultan of Johore as to opium farms, 1885 (File 30)
Opium farms: general questions, 1885 (File 31)
Colonial military contribution: despatch to Governor, 13 December 1889 (File 35)
Consumption of opium: correspondence, March 1883 (File 44)

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