Incoming Correspondence: Batavia / Java

The missions in Java, at Batavia and Amboyna, were set up during a brief period of British rule which came about as a result of the Anglo-Dutch Java War (1810-1811). In 1816, the British returned Java and other East Indian possessions to the Dutch as part of the accord ending the Napoleonic Wars. St...

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Order number: CWM/LMS/Ultra Ganges. Batavia/Java/Incoming correspondence/Box 1
Date(s) of creation: 1814-1843
Level: Sub-Series
Format: Archive           
URL: https://digital.soas.ac.uk/AA00001359/00016

Order number: CWM/LMS/Ultra Ganges. Batavia/Java/Incoming correspondence/Box 1
Summary: The missions in Java, at Batavia and Amboyna, were set up during a brief period of British rule which came about as a result of the Anglo-Dutch Java War (1810-1811). In 1816, the British returned Java and other East Indian possessions to the Dutch as part of the accord ending the Napoleonic Wars. Stamford Raffles, subsequently founder of Singapore, encouraged the missionaries. Raffles’s Dutch successor, governor Baron van der Kapellen, also displayed positive goodwill to the mission. The LMS mission to Batavia [now known as Jakarta] began with the arrival of John Supper in 1814. Other missionary correspondents are John Slater, Walter Medhurst and William Young. Always seen as a step on the way to China, correspondence reflects developments in China as well as the work in Java. Concern is also expressed for the efforts of Samuel Dyer in Melaka to develop Chinese printing fonts. Some missionary journeys reached major towns including Serabang and Surabaya. Good relations were maintained with the Dutch Reformed Church who were recognized as ‘gate-keepers’ for mission enterprise in the Dutch East Indies. At the same time there was also contact with William Carey’s Baptist mission at Serampore.
Extent: 1 box
Access status: Open
Language: English
Finding aids: A detailed list of Incoming Correspondence covering letters from Batavia 1814-1843 (G1), is available for consultation in the Special Collections Reading Room, SOAS Library. A digitised copy of this list is available on SOAS Digital Collections - URL link in this catalogue record.
Copies: Batavia Letters have been digitised. Digital copies can be seen on the SOAS Digital Library. See URL links in item-level records.
Format: Archive