Page 243 - Malay sketches

XIX

JAMES WHEELER WOODFORD BIRCH

Such was our friend, formed on the
good old plan,
A true and brave and downright
honest man
WHITTIER

the 2nd November 1875, Mr. James
ON Wheeler Woodford British Resident
Birch,
of Perak, was assassinated by Malays at a place
called Pasir Salak on the Perak River. I propose
to describe why and how this murder was com-
mitted.
Mr. Birch began life as a midshipman in the
Royal Navy. He abandoned the sea for Govern-
ment employment in Ceylon, where he spent the
best years of his life, and was promoted to be Gov-
ernment Agent of the Eastern Province, one of the
highest positions in the Island. In 1870 Mr. Birch
was appointed Colonial Secretary of the Straits
Settlements, and when Major-General Sir Andrew
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