Extract from Charles Burton Buckley's An Anecdotal History of Old Times in Singapore 1819-1867, pp. 122-123.
ON 12th January, 1823, Sir Stamford Raffles wrote that he had selected a spot for the College he intended to establish. He had proposed to the Sultan and Tumongong that their sons should be sent to Calcutta for education, but they would not consent, so he decided to establish a school in Singapore. From a pamphlet printed at the Mission Press at Malacca in 1823 it is seen that a meeting was held at Raffles' House on Government Hill on 1st April when a very long and able minute, written by Sir Stamford Raffles, from which sentences have been often quoted, was read, in which he stated that there were three objects hi view. (1) To educate the sons of the higher order of natives and others. (2) To afford means of instruction in the native languages to such of the Company's servants and others as may desire it. (3) To collect the scattered literature and traditions of the country with whatever may illustrate their (sic) laws and customs, and to publish and circulate in a correct form the most important of these, with such other works as may be calculated to raise the character of the institution and to be useful and instructive to the people.
A long paper written by Dr. Morrison was then read, suggesting the scheme for removing the Anglo-Chinese College from Malacca and uniting it with the Institution in Singapore. The Rev. R. S. Hutchings, who was the Chaplain at Penang, then spoke, and after him Dr. Morrison. These speeches were all reprinted in a pamphlet in Singapore in 1838, with the annual report of the Institution Free School. The officers were nominated, including the principal inhabitants, and among the Patrons was William Wilberforce, M.P. of England.
On 15th April the first meeting of the Trustees was held, Mr. J. A. Maxwell being the Honorary Secretary and A. L. Johnston & Co. the Honorary Treasurers. The subscriptions had amounted to $17,495; being $9,670 for the Institution generally, ?'$1,075 for the Scientific Department, and $6,750 for the Malayan College. The Anglo-Chinese College house at Malacca was intended to be sold, and $4,000 was included in the above amount as its probable proceeds, the East India Company contributing $4,000, Raffles $2,000, Dr. Morrison $1,200, Colonial Farquhar $1,000, the Sultan and Tumongong $1,000 each, and Lady Raffles $400. The other subscribers were Mr. Bonham, F. G-. Bernard, Captain Davis, Captain Flint, D. A. Eraser, G. Gordon, Thomas Howard, Lieut. L. N. Hull, Rev. R. S. Hutchings, Lieut. Jackson, A. L. Johnston, the Malay College, J, A. Maxwell, G. Mackenzie, Dr. Montgomerie, D. S. Napier, Charles Scott, and Rev. G. H. Thomson. A monthly subscription of $300 had been promised by Government for the schools, and $25 yearly for the library. Lieutenant Jackson made a plan and estimate of the proposed building, which he said could be constructed in twelve months, this was approved, and $15,000 was voted for the purpose.
The building was then erected. It was not a well-constructed building, the roof especially being unskilfully erected, which caused frequent expense. It was originally built in the form of a cross and a wing was subsequently added at each arm. The addition and the three-storied wing at the Brass Bassa Road end were not erected until 1875, at the entire cost of the Government. Abdullah gives a short account of the laying of the foundation stone, which was attended by all the Europeans and the Native Chiefs and Malays; some money (he says a golden rupee, probably a sovereign) was put by Raffles, and $80 by the Europeans, under the door; a salute was fired, and Raffles named the building. Abdullah says that during the progress of its erection three Chinese fell from the scaffolding and were killed.
On 20th May, 1823, Raffles wrote a long despatch to the Governor-General at Bengal, calling attention to the advantage and propriety of educating the natives who came to Singapore. He said that all were in favour of it, but some wanted it delayed until the question of the permanency of the Settlement was decided with the Dutch. But as Dr. Morrison had arrived from China, and there was a question of moving the Anglo-Chinese College from Malacca now that place was under the Dutch, quick measures had been necessary to take advantage of this. After much deliberation with Dr. Morrison and Mr. Hutchings, the Penang Chaplain, who was in Singapore, he had decided to remove the College to Singapore and unite it under the general designation of the Singapore Institution, to be connected with branch schools in the Chinese and Malay languages, with a library and museum, as means admitted. He also said that he had appropriated for the use of the Institution .and schools an advantageous allotment of ground near the town, and had endowed each of the Departments with 500 acres of uncleared ground on the usual terms. On 6th November the Governor-General wrote in reply that he did not approve of haste, and it would have been better if sanction had been asked before promising the grants of money; because Singapore was not settled yet. The scheme for removing the Anglo-Chinese College to Singapore fell through and in the Free Press of 12th December,1839, it was spoken of as having proved a total failure, which had dwindled down into, if indeed it ever rose beyond, a small school, used merely as a dwelling house for the Principal. (122-123)