WCP7118

[1]

Burrator 8 Oct^r 1862

My dear Brooke

The news of Pangerans Loya¹ & Hassim² having left Bintulu (contained in your letter of 26 July) was most agreeable — You will be able to preserve Peace which is of the utmost importance & to conciliate the Kayans generally — Kum Nipa³ deserves all you gave him but I would permanently urge after the events that his punishment had been inflicted for the benefit of the other Kayans enjoying a free trade. I am not surprized at [2] your thinking Paul⁴ too young & inexperienced for the charge of Bintulu & this induced me to mention Hay⁵, as better fitted for the task. Paul taking Muka [Mukah] — I quite agree in what you say of John Channon's⁶ judgement in managing his crew — He should have command, of the New ^steam gunboat which I wish to be called the "Sedang Hati" or "Heart's Ease". The British government will neither give or sell a Gunboat to Sarawak & if they would do so they are nasty, slow tubs, not faithfully built, & with machinery half used up — Expensive vessels for one purpose — I always thought it had been decided to build a Steamer in Sarawak as soon as finances permitted — but if you think as you now say [3] that "you may make a mess of it" it should not be attempted. Let me know how you decide.

2 — We have probably been rather too quick in our search for minerals & so have excited suspicion — Better keep the question quiet for a time, & then offer a good reward for the discovery. Could you — not from any of the known seams of coal scrape out enough for your steamers?

3 — I return the abstract for Land regulations with one or two alterations I think advisable. — Sarawak as not in a confirmed position, should offer greater inducements than Malacca. Get Low⁷ to send the Labuan regulations & the mode of Registration, which is good & the Regulations in full [4] should be drawn up by a Lawyer — & pro forma be passed through the Council. If you feel any doubt, send them to me —

4 — I will keep this letter open til [sic] the last to give you any news of negociations [sic]. I hope you understand that I have nothing to do with them, though I wish my friends to exhaust Hope, & convince themselves of the total abandonment of Sarawak. The British gov[ernmen]^t began with propositions, they have been cooling down month by month, & we may expect to hear shortly of the Recognition of Sarawak being contrary to the British Constitution! Let nothing tempt you to act in Concert with the British Navy or communicate with British authorities — No one will rejoice more than I shall should the recognition be given.

5 I had an indignant letter from M^rs M^cDougall⁸ on the Statements made by S^t John⁹ in his book¹⁰ — She will perhaps shew¹¹ you my reply, and should [5] the Bishop¹² rush into Controversy, he will come out the worse for it — I have given good advice & wish him no harm, but he deliberately offended against me in a way no man forgives, & which has destroyed my confidence in him — He has bolstered up the Mission by false statements of his own influence & importance & the great difficulties he has to contend^with[?] against in consequence of the total want of support from the government, & my propagation of heterodox Doctrines! I wish him no harm however, but if he seeks to prop up his statements & conceal the real causes of the failure of the mission, the truth must out. Let him be quiet & he will have another chance to retrieve the past. I am sorry for M^rs M^cDougall but can do no more than give her good advice. [6] Your Lackington¹³ party are in London & at Wotton til the 11^th ins[tan]^t - Charlie¹⁴ seems to enjoy home life — he has a mare bought at Tattersalls¹⁵ for £20 — which has turned out well & your Father has just purchased at the same place a hunter for £9..9^s[?] — !! I have a brace of ponies (13 1/2 hands) which I drive & ride — I have too, four pony colts & fillies bred here — a pair rising two years & promises[?] well — I like Burrator as ^much more[?] as ever - Penty¹⁶ is valet & footman & his wife lives in the village — S^t John & Wallace paid me a visit of three weeks or a month — I enjoyed it but enjoy quiet more. My élevés [French: pupils] for Sarawak I am satisfied with — It pleases me to be doing any thing for the good of the country — The summer has been cold — game scarce — distress great — I shall make no offer to receive Garibaldi¹⁷ — he is headstrong without brains. [7] Good Bye & ever my dear Brooke[.]

Yours ever affect[ionate]^ly | J Brooke [signature]

J[ohn] Brooke Brooke Esq

Do not talk of using funds from the B. C. L.¹⁸ — M^rs Crymble¹⁹ has arrived and I have written to her to say she will receive a pension of 10^s[hillings] a week for her life or til the children²⁰ are 18 years of age[.]

turn over

[8] Please do not put the affair upon me again.

Do not forget you have requested S^t John to pitch in to the Mission on 9th Oct^r No news — M^r John Abel Smith²¹ is to see Lord Russell²² today at Woburn.