Inaugural Issue of Straits Times (1835) Acknowledges Pinang Gazette And Other Penang Papers

SINGAPORE. Thursday, 8th October, 1835. In giving our first number to the Public we think it a fitting occasion, and no inappropriate part of our present task, to take a retrospect of the various Newspapers which have preceded us in the Straits Settlements, since the first establishment of British Authority at Prince of Wales Island, not certainly so much with the intention either to review their labours, or decide upon their respective merits, as merely to enumerate their names and sketch their several histories. In acknowledgement of the claims of seniority, we commence with the papers of Prince of Wales Island. The first Newspaper published in that Settlement was called the "Prince of Wales Island Gazette." This paper appears to have existed during a term of 22 years before its discontinuance in August 1827, when, in consequence of some remarks contained in a former number relating to the Siamese Treaty, it was put down by Government, altho' the offensive number had passed the Censor unquestioned - the first but not the only similar exercise of power by our late ruling authorities which we shall here have to record. A new paper was [unreadable] of appearing under the name of the "Pinang Register and Miscellany," the first number of which was published on the 22nd of August in the same year. It was printed once a fortnight, and was conducted with considerable ability and industry - it entertained liberal views and espoused popular [unreadable] altho' the Editor appears to have inn [unreadable] measure advocated the wisdom of [unreadable] restrictions to which the Indian [unreadable] selected. It was doomed [unreadable] istence and in [unreadable] cession by the "Government Gazette, Prince of Wales Island, Singapore and Malacca," which issued its first number on the 25th Oct. 1828, and was published weekly. As its name betokens, it arose under the immediate patronage of Government of which it was the official organ. The Editorship was confided to a Military Gentleman of, we believe, admitted ability and acquirements; but a Government atmosphere does not appear to have been favourable to their just exercise and development; and the Editor does not seem to have been seconded in his efforts by any great display of the "latent talent" of Pinang which he had taken some pains to evoke. Deprived of the sunshine of authority, this paper closed its short career on the 3rd. July 1830; [unreadable] Government which had brought it into [unreadable] abolished. Between the termination of [unreadable] and the establishment of any succeeding [unreadable] in Pinang an interval occurred of [unreadable] than three years duration, it [unreadable] the 20th. July 1833 that a [unreadable] Prince of Wales Island Gazette" [unreadable] appearance, a paper which still [unreadable] be published weekly, and closes the [unreadable] journals of that end of the Straits. [unreadable] known to most of our readers [unreadable] British Settlement un- [unreadable] and it was not long [unreadable] newspaper called the [unreadable] which was first published [unreadable] September 1826. This was very [unreadable] the first Newspaper ever published in that venerable Colony, it was printed once a fortnight at the Mission Press attached to the Anglo-Chinese College, and under considerable difficulties and with humble pretensions figured respectably until it close in October 1829. The strenuous and unshrinking zeal with which the Editor had for some time exposed the system of slavery still prevailing in that settlement, attracted about that time the particular resentment of Government, which to effect the suppression of the Observer, had recourse to a system of intimidation and other acts of petty tyranny as utterly contemptible as they were finally effective. Singapore, like Malacca, numbers only one Newspaper, altho' unlike it in its fortunes as in many other respects. It is now nearly thirteen years since the Singapore Chronicle was first published, and it was then, and has since continued the only Newspaper printed in the Island. Its earlier numbers were appreciated for their interesting accounts of the natural resources of the Islands and countries of the Archipelago and for the knowledge they evince of their commercial and political history, and of the manners and customs of their inhabitants. It was for several years after its first appearance published only once a fortnight and printed on a quartro sheet, but in 1830 it began to issue weekly on an extended scale, and for some time after continued to be valued on account of its important commercial details and other interesting matter. With the Singapore Chronicle we complete the notice of allourpredecessors in the Straits. It would appear from the foregoing sketch that if Journalism had not retrograded within late years among the Straits communities it does not seem to have advanced, and if not on the score of activity, at least on that of intelligence and ability, we are compelled to say the present state of the Straits press must sustain a disadvantageous comparison with earlier times. We now come to speak of ourselves; a task with which we will affect no reluctance, as on the present occasion we know it will be looked for, and being according to established custom becomes therefore a species of duty. Of the causes and motives which originated the publication of this Newspaper in a community so limited as this, we have spoken in our Prospectus; and if what we have written there and above fails to shew that we are not [to] be considered "too many," the reception which has attended our call for Public support, here as elsewhere, is, we believe, rather conclusive evidence that it is thought "we're wanted." Something, however, may yet remain to be said as to the manner in which we intend to vindicate and maintain our claims to public favor; but for that purpose we do not think it necessary to set out with pompous announcements of any kind, or to make any of those fine promises which so frequently remain debtors to the performances that follow, which so often "Come like Truth, and disappear like dreams." It will be our main object in this paper to make it the vehicle of useful and accurate information relating to the trade of this port, and to discuss questions more or less intimately connecting themselves with its commercial interests or [unreadable] the general prosperity of the Settlement, And in the [unreadable] we [unreadable] correct [unreadable] most [unreadable] of the colony. [unreadable] legislative measure at [unreadable] upon the [unreadable] and policy of our Indian Government [unreadable] calculated to influence [unreadable] commercial or local interests for good [unreadable] of course part of our plan, [unreadable] shall have frequent occasion [unreadable] attention of our readers to [unreadable] and fiscal regulations of [unreadable] which have so long shewed [unreadable] late hostiley on our [unreadable] such other subjects [unreadable] largely from Europe News, to mingle in European politics,to discuss the state of parties, or laud the qualifications of Ministers or the virtues of the opposition; but in making it our province to eschew such subjects as these, it will not be to the exclusion of any interesting portion of late European intelligence. It now, we believe, only remains for us to assure the public that ready insertion will be given to all communications from correspondents on such questions which for fitting subkects of public discussion, when divested of mere personalities, and conceived in a spirit of fairness and candour. In subordination to these principles our columns will always be open to entire freedom of discussion and enquiry. Tags: #HistoryOfPenang #StraitsTimes #PinangGazetteAndStraitsChronicle #PrinceOfWalesIslandGazette Notes: Print unreadable where paper is torn or damaged. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1835-1869), 8 October 1835, Page 2