WCP3792

[1]¹

Burrator

25 Septr 1862.

My Dear Brooke²

I have now to reply to your two welcome letters of the 29 June & 11^th July. I am glad you thought them kindly written for so they were intended.

1st I could not "imply meanness" on your part, when I did not know what allowance you had made your brother— Now that I do know, I think you acted Liberally— I wished to make Charley³ comfortable, & thence the remark.

2[n]^d I think you will allow that I have given substantial support, & cordial encouragement to your measures since I left Sarawak; but my letters reflect my mind, and after the wrong & injustice of years I do not take a bright view of life. Your predictions of financial [2] failure I asked you to spare me, as being painful & useless they only prove you lack no such confidence in the prospect before you. You have written me that "the present government (of Sarawak) really depends upon your brother's & your own health" & that "both are very shakey"— ie in other words, that Sarawak is insecure, & depends upon a tenure as frail as human life! You sum up every discouragement in these few words, & I have always written in the same strain, not to discourage, but to keep ^{the facts} before you, & to inspire resolution to take the steps necessary to avert the calamity, you perceive so clearly, & which delay must bring upon Sarawak. What I consistently say is, that Sarawak has now time given her, by decisive development & her resources, to reach a commanding position, or by ^timely arrangement with a foreign nation, to avert the inevitable consequences of political isolation, inadequate means — want of credit, & the uncertainty of your [3] life. The position is full of danger & discouragement, ever to be borne in mind, & Sarawak is only to be saved by the timely precautions of a wise & united government— Sarawak is quiet & prosperous, but not safe, and in keeping this truth before you, it is not to discourage, but to induce you to act upon your own convictions. Let us endeavour by the means I have pointed out to develop the country, & let us end our political isolation if opportunity occur. Let us place Sarawak in safety at any price.

3rd — Be assured England is utterly indifferent to Sarawak— Her recognition (if given) will be a mere sham, & its value will be in the use we may make of it. Belgium is in earnest, but her views are narrow, if not worse. I enclose what I have written & here the matter may end unless the Duke of Brabant⁴ renews it. You are right to expect nothing.

[4] 4th — You tell me you had written to Lord Russell⁵ & upon reflection tore up the letter— I am glad of it. The relations with the British government have been broken off & I could not have allowed their restoration. A sovereign state can only act in one way under such circumstances. I will say nothing to hurt your feelings, but you are aware how strongly I feel upon this subject & I ask you to read the wh entire correspondence relating to it & then to tell me plainly whether you will act upon the instructions sent to your brother to which you have put your name and which convey the fixed policy of government.

5 — Kayan affairs are I fear taking an unfavourable turn, but I leave them in full reliance upon your judgement, & as you have taken a high handed course with Kum Nipa⁶ — & Pangerans Loya & Hassim I am quite ready to accept it as best under the circumstances. I will only remark that hostilities if prolonged will be very injurious [5] to the objects we are striving for & ^that the country needs rest. I beg you likewise to watch the effects of the exemption tax upon the minds of the people to whom it is not applied. Have you any party amongst the Kayans?

6 — Upon the best means of suppressing Piracy, it has been demonstrated that cruizing⁷ against the Lanuns does not check the evil, & that the occasional loss of a few prahus does not deter the other pirates more than the arrest of a few thieves will prevent the rest ^others from plundering— With a strong temptation, "better luck next time", is a favourite motto with these as with other criminals— The field is so extensive, the hiding places so numerous, & the means of evasion so easy, that few captures are made, & your cruizers worn out in a thankless service— On the contrary whenever the pirates have been attacked in their strongholds, or villages, the eradication of piracy has been complete; upon the simple principle that no man who knows he will bring down upon his own home the evils he inflicts upon the homes of others will pirate— The consequences are general & not particular— the fears of a whole community act to deter the few inclined to follow the pursuits. The Scouts affair [6] was unfortunate but I think M^c Pherson⁸ was right in the advice he gave— It used to be a standing rule in the navy that Lanun pirates were not to be boarded— Experience had proved the disastrous loss of life & frequent repulse which attended the practise. Piracy can be effectually suppressed if steps are taken. It was done in 1849 — [one crossed out word illeg.] ^by vigorous action & since undone by supineness & neglect. Sarawak must be content to drive these rascals off her coast & with a steam gun boat she can do this single handedly— England from very shame may be driven into taking some measures, but she is not in earnest to suppress piracy — or to act in any other way.

7 — M^r. Rodway⁹ of course is a gentleman & I hope will prove a useful officer— He was some time a Lieutenant of Volunteers & thence his proficiency in use of arms & drill. Mr Houghton¹⁰ has sailed.

8 — Will you send me the Christian & surname of the commander of the Badger— I should wish to give him a token in reward of his service— Take care of your gunboats & render them defensible in a calm

9 — One subject more & the business [7] portion of my letter will be done. I should like a good survey afresh to be made of the seam of coal seven feet thick discovered by Lt Coulson¹¹ up the Linga river, & near the Kaling Kang range of mountains. He always recommended that it should be worked spite of the difficulty of getting it aboard ship— Its quantity & quality undoubted & it would be a pity to forget its existence— The survey should have reference to the best means of bringing it down the rivers, as well as its actual locality dips— thickness & quality. I should like this done because some use should be made of it, & the obstacles which might deter the Borneo (Y[our] L[ordship][)] might not weigh with other & bolder men.— So ends my business — I am pleased to observe that you wrote in fair spirits & energy— St John¹² & Wallace are staying with me— S^t John will write you his conviction of the views & feeling of the British government towards Sarawak— I do believe the fall of our government would be regarded as a relief from an embarrassment[.] [8] I was sorry to hear of Stuart’s¹³ state of health, which evidently needs change of air for its restoration, but independently of this I think he should return home, for as he does not take to the life ^business he is wasting life, & delaying his start in some new career— Give him my love & say how glad I should be to see him at Burrator. W[illiam]. Paul¹⁴ I have better hope of as you spoke highly of him lately, & that easiness of temper is no bad quality properly directed— I think however that Hay¹⁵ as the more experienced & capable officer should be at Bintulu, which is the post of danger— Paul with Matusains¹⁶ help & occasional visits from Hay would do well enough at Muka. I have received a note from the Bishop of Labuan¹⁷ which I will answer— I have written strongly about him and you understand his offence which should prevent him being trusted again. The less he is mixed up with the government the better & there are other & more recent matters (which I may mention hereafter) to prove how untrustworthy he is— Miss Rocke¹⁸ will I suppose return or join the Mission— The £100 cheque I have received from Arthur¹⁹— The Lackington²⁰ party are in London[;] Charley seems to enjoy his life in England. Your Father²¹ has sold Berrow²² & given up [9]²³Lacington[sic]— Harrie²⁴ & Susan²⁵ will not be school mistresses— I should like to know some thing of Sheriff Musahor²⁶ & Patingi Gaffour²⁷— & Tuanku Annel²⁸— & some thing of the locality of your pending operations— Your guides & force & modes of attack— What inducements if any have you offered Hassim²⁹ & Loya³⁰ to leave the Kayans— Where do you propose placing them to [10] treat them well— give them their property— promise prosecution & they might leave the Kayans where no Malay likes to live. It is worth considering whether you might not make peace with the Kayans by temporising with these Pangerans³¹ til you are stronger & they have given fresh proofs of their enmity to government[.] I the<re>on[?] ask this hint as a course possible after Nipa departs. N.B. Do not forget the Copper [11] reported in Balanian & Tatau — the people are said to make ornaments of the antimony in Bintulu as seen by Burns³², a considerable distance up the river. My love to all & ever

Your affec^ted uncle | J Brooke³³ [signature]

J Brooke Brooke Esq