PENANG - MANUSCRIPT TESTIMONIAL FOR THE RECORDER, 1866 A striking testimonial addressed to 'The ...

PENANG - MANUSCRIPT TESTIMONIAL FOR THE RECORDER, 1866 A striking testimonial addressed to 'The Honorable [sic] Sir Peter Benson Maxwell, Knight, Recorder of Prince Wales' Island [Penang 'from the Undersigned Chinese, Muhamedan, and Hindoo Inhabitants of Penang' in appreciation of his ten years of service on the Island, on 5 sheets of vellum (joined), ink, with upwards of 500 names in a variety of languages in 5 columns, ruled in red, heavy dusting to lower margin (affecting final 7 lines of names), 2890 x 755mm., 8 September 1866; together with 5 other documents relating to Benson Maxwell's Colonial judicial services, including the Letters Patents appointing him chief justice of the Straits Settlements in 1867, and Recorder in Singapore in 1866, and a testimonial from the Grand Jurors of Singapore in 1871 (6) Footnotes: A testimonial paying tribute to the Peter Benson Maxwell (1817–1893) for his ten years of service as recorder of Penang, an office 'very difficult to be efficiently performed in this Island, where the inhabitants are of such various races comprising Europeans, Chinese, Chulias, Chetties, Malays, Siamese, Burmese, Achinese and others, whose languages, religious habits and customs differ widely', and praising the his introduction 'of important changes in the practice of the court' (the abolition of the office of sealer of the Court, the appointment of 'the higher classes of society' to the Petit Jury, the introduction of the Insolvent Debtors Act, etc.), and his spreading awareness of judicial rights amongst those 'in ignorance of the English language'. It is signed by representatives of many ethnicities. After his service as recorder of Penang (1856–66) Sir Peter Benson Maxwell was the chief justice of the Straits Settlements from 1867 to 1871, also serving as recorder to Singapore (1866–71) He published two legal works related to his work in the Straits, An introduction to the duties of police in the settlement of Prince of Wales Island, Singapore and Malacca (1866) and On the Interpretation of Statutes (1875). For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing