Letters to Charles C.T. Grant, Annie's brother, 1851-1863

Item

Shelfmark: MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 6, fols. 291-342

Held at the Weston Library

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Comprises:

(fols. 291-294) [from Sarawak, to Charles Grant in England], about St John's departure in the Pluto for the northeast coast; Bates's narrow escape, and the usefulness of this instance of 'piracy' to convince 'those stubborn people at home'; Crookshank's coconut plantations, and the building of the Rajah's house; good trade report; the treatment by the Pluto of a grounded Belgian vessel carrying antimony; the improvement of roads; and John Brooke Brooke's desire to marry during his visit to England in 1853, 19 Oct 1851
(fols. 295-296) from Sarawak, asking Charles Grant to buy cinnamon seed at Galle or Colombo, and referring to preparations to restrain the Sarebus (Saribas), and a great opportunity wasted by Steele of crushing a 'pirate' fleet, 15 Mar 1853
(fols. 297-298) [from Sarawak, signature torn off], to Charles Grant at Lundu [this and some subsequent letters are addressed to the 'Laird' (of Lundu)], about a Chinese debtor named Ah'go; the Rajah's absence at Mukah (Mukah), and Mrs McDougall's illness, n.d.
(fols. 299-300) from Sarawak, about sending a man to Lundu to assist Charles Grant with Chinese debtors; sales and price of opium; the failure of Chambers's attempt at a school at Linga; and the publishers' good opinion of the [Rajah's] letters, shortly to be published, 17 Sep 1853
(fols. 301-302) [from Sarawak], about a report from Brereton of a Dyak conspiracy to cut Steele off and for Kum Nipa to murder him; John Brooke Brooke's measures to counter this; the illnesses of Crookshank and both the Channons; and steps taken by England to defy a possible Russian invasion, 20 Sep 1853
(fols. 303-304) [from Sarawak], advising against the imposition of a [timber?] tax, and suggesting other methods of raising money; progress with the house, and plans for an expedition to Sakarran, 7 Oct 1853
(fols. 305-306) [from Sarawak], about imposing fines; details of a boat he wished to have built; the Rajah's plan for a few days at Peninjauh before going to Sakarran; and the Commission [of Inquiry] expected in Jan, and its probable outcome to 'cover the Rajah with glory', 15 Oct 1853
(fols. 307-308) [from Kuching], about the Rajah's good relations with the new Sultan of Brunei; hostile instructions received from the Governor General [of India] regarding the Commission; and the Rajah's resignation of his government appointments, n.d.
(fols. 309-312) from Kuching, about the Rajah's pleasure in staying at Peninjauh; his orders for two boats to be built at Lundu; increased sale of opium necessary to raise revenue; arrival of Kum Nipa at Kanowit without a force, and the probable falseness of the 'conspiracy' report (see fols. 301-302), 25 Oct 1853
(fols. 313-314) [from Sarawak], about the Rajah's orders concerning policy to be pursued, to 'hold things together' until the Commission had finished its work, particularly regarding the Chinese, 25 Nov 1853
(fols. 315-316) from Sarawak, about the departure of the Rajah, Charles [Johnson], and St John to Peninjauh, leaving John Brooke Brooke in charge; the appointment of the Commissioners; and advice to interfere as little as possible in domestic concerns and to 'make the population sensible that the presence of the European is a benefit to them', 10 Dec 1853
(fols. 317-318) [from Sarawak], about an order for 'Rotan Cygas'; the abortive attempt in Sakarran; news that Lord Ellesmere was to take up the Rajah's case in the House of Lords, backed by Lord Grey, and the possibility that the Commission would be quashed; and favourable reviews of the Rajah's book [his Private Letters], n.d.
(fols. 319-320) [from Sarawak], about Charles Grant's recovery [from smallpox]; the need to fight the Malayan (Malaysian) community of Sarebus (Saribas) as well as Rentap [a Sakarran chief], 4 Jun 1854
(fols. 321-322) from Sarawak, listing persons to be arrested on a charge of smuggling opium, 27 Mar 1855
(fols. 323-324) from the Omnibus off Sarawak, telling Charles Grant to man the boats at once and join him at Teluk Lerban where they awaited the Balignini fleet, 22 Apr 1855
(fols. 325-326) from Sarawak, about the Sheriff Musahore's defiance of the Rajah's orders, in going with 40 boats of Dyak people to Mukah (Mukah), and telling Charles Grant to man his two boats and join in the pursuit, 8 Jun 1855
(fols. 327-328) from Sarawak, about the end of the 'Muka business', and the movements of Sheriff Musahore and Macota, 17 Jun [1855]
(fols. 329-331) from Godstone; a note sent with a copy of a letter from Lord Derby to the Rajah referring to reports of Derby's reception of the Deputation [of merchants and MPs] and expressing appreciation of the Rajah's merits and motives, and a copy of the Rajah's reply, 4-6 Dec 1858
(fols. 332-336) from Belidah and Sarawak, to Charles Grant and his wife Matilda, about the forlorn state of their old home, and his visit to Peninjauh; his intention to move the Capital to the coast; plans for an audit of the revenue, and the dishonesty of the Treasurer, Clarke; the financial position; letters of condolence [on the death of his wife Julia], and news from Lord Elgin that Colonel Cavenagh was to visit Sarawak to 'take notes of us', 1 and 7 Sep 1862
(fols. 337-340) [from Sarawak], about Cavenagh's visit; the Borneo Company's increasing trade; preparation of a hotel for visitors brought from Singapore by the Rainbow; the Bishop as accoucheur; news of Robert [Hay] at Muka (Mukah); an offer of £100 a year to Charles Grant in recompense for commissions undertaken in England; the need for Cadets, preferably relatives of government officers; the building of the 'first real Fort', with details of its construction; and his hopes that the Rajah would stay quietly at Burrator and give up foreign negotiations, 2 Dec [1862]
(fols. 341-342) from Paris (marked 'important'), about his stormy meeting with the Rajah in Singapore and his brother Charles's 'awkward position'; and his own plans after reaching England, 5 Apr 1863.