The Correspondence of Caspar Georg Carl Reinwardt - DWC - KNAW

Van Heiningen / 16
Undoubtedly the exploration of nature, carried out by English scientists in the
Dutch East Indies, prior to the moment in which the Dutch government regained
this archipelago, has been an inspiring example for those who wanted to create
a new scientific approach of the exploration of nature. (De Vriese, 3). One of
these naturalists was Thomas Horsfield, who, between 1802 and 1818, carried out
extensive zoological an botanical research on the island of Java. Horsfield collected
numerous zoological specimens and other objects of natural history, and prepared
these collections for shipment to England. (DeVriese, 74)
H.M. King Willem I was well aware of the enormous importance of the colonies
in the East and West Indies for the improvement of welfare of the Netherlands.
Furthermore he was convinced of the necessity of taking the benefactions of
western civilization to the East Indies.Anyhow, after all – in a contemporary view
– the enlargement of the natural and ethnographical sciences has largely and in
many aspects contributed to the prosperity of the inhabitants of these islands. (De
Vriese, 4)
In Amsterdam, as it has been the case in the rest of the Netherlands, as well as
abroad, Reinwardt was a very renowned scientist. In the view of Anton Reinhard
Falck, the Minister of the Interior, Reinwardt was the man, who was, more than
any other scientist, suited for the position, which the government had in mind with
respect to the scientific exploration of the East Indian Islands as well as to their
development and commercial exploitation. Not only was he skilled in the various
fields of science, he was also very perseverant and full of energy.
Late 1814 already, Reinwardt was invited by H.M. the King, through Minister
Falck,to leave for Batavia.Very soon after he had received this invitation,Reinwardt
answered that he was eagerly willing to accept this honourable appointment. He
expressed his feelings of gratitude and enthusiasm. (De Vriese, 26) On 15 January
1815 already, Reinwardt received a meticulously conceived and detailed description
of his various tasks. It turned out that he had to find the answers to numerous
questions in the fields of commerce,agriculture,geology and mineralogy,education,
healthcare, ethnography and technology. (De Vriese, 36). One of his major tasks
was to explore and to develop the agricultural and mineral resources, in order to
further the prosperity both of the Netherlands and of the native population of
the East Indian Islands. Naturally, priority had to be given to the furtherance of
national prosperity.