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Letters to his eldest brother, John Brooke Brooke, 1859-1863

 Item
Shelfmark: MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 8, fols. 131-199
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Comprises:

  1. (fols. 131-136) letter from Sarawak (final page missing), to John Brooke Brooke en route for England, about the unsuitable appointment of Lawford to the government service, and the need for fewer but better qualified men; comments on Fox and Steele, Watson, Alderson, McIntosh, and Crymble; postponement of the plan for a new town at Moarra Tabas; activities of the Borneo Company, and its possible withdrawal because of the dangerous state of the country; and the progress of John Brooke Brooke's sons, as well as of his sago plantation, 4 and 8 Feb 1859
  2. (fols. 137-143) letter from Sarawak about his cruise along the coast and his action at Mukah concerning Pangerans Mathusein and Nipah; the Council's approval of this; the improved financial situation, and the raising of salaries of some officers; the expensive progress of the fort; a subscription raised to build a hospital, at the instigation of the Chinese; Duguid's opinion of the directors of the Borneo Company, and of the proposal to give up Sarawak to the Crown; a letter from St John regarding the situation in Mukah; criticism of Fox and Steele; and a testimonial for Bishop McDougall, 29 May-9 Jun 1859
  3. (fols. 144-147) letter from Sarawak about John Brooke Brooke's postponement of his return from England, Matilda Grant's care of his children, and plans for their future; letters from St John and the Sultan of Brunei about 'the Mukah business'; copper found on Satang, and the possibility that the island might be handed over to Charles Johnson Brooke by deed of gift; financial matters, including a debt of $500 to Ruppel and the payment of Charles Stuart's debt of £1,000; criticism of Bishop McDougall's disposition; the departure of traders from Brunei and Labuan; and remarks about Datus Bander and Hadji, 1 Jul 1859
  4. (fols. 148-153) letter from Sarawak about the murder at Kanowit of Fox and Steele by Si Kalei and Sawing; criticism of the attitude of the Datus (local leaders) in this connection; the traders' wish for protection; criticism of the fears of some Europeans; and plans for revenge of the murders, 16-22 Jul 1859
  5. (fols. 154-157) letter from Sarawak about antimony royalty from the Borneo Company; the settlement of Dr Corry's affair not concluded; the need for a doctor in Sarawak; sale of a farm; alterations to John Brooke Brooke's house; plans for the hospital; the quiet situation in Kanowit; and the burial of Fox and Steele, 4 Sep 1859
  6. (fols. 158-161) letter from Malta, to John Brooke Brooke in Sarawak, about Charles and Matilda Grant's departure for England; his own plans to visit Italy and France first; a comparison of Sir Charles Napier's policy with that of the Rajah; Low's visit to the Rajah; and his own wish that his sister Emma should join him in Italy, 17 Mar 1862
  7. (fols. 162-163) letter from White Lackington about his return to England direct from Malta; news of the family; the Rajah's plan to visit Paris with Miss Burdett Coutts; publication of St John's book (Life in the Forests of the Far East, May 1862); and Hope's appearance, progress, and plans for his future, 23 Apr 1862
  8. (fols. 164-166) letter from London about his sister Emma's poor health and his father's illness; his visits to Paris and to relations; the Rajah at Burrator, and his opinion of the British Government; the success of St John's book; his dislike of London and of the English climate; the death of Lord Canning; the American war; Penty's wish to return to Sarawak; an invitation from Miss Coutts to visit the [International] Exhibition; his reaction to his brother-in-law, Rev. Edmund Evelyn; and his longing to return to Sarawak, 18 Jun 1862
  9. (fols. 167-168) letter from Seaton about the death of John Brooke Brooke's wife Julia, and the success of his expedition against the 'pirates'; the visit of the Rajah and Charles Grant to Miss Burdett Coutts; his own decision not to marry but to devote his life to Sarawak; family affairs and illnesses; and a climbing adventure with Charles Grant; swords and uniforms for Sarawak (see also MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 16, fol. 127), 17 and 18 Jul 1862
  10. (fols. 169-170) letter from White Lackington about his happy ignorance concerning the negotiations with the British Government; and news of Sarawak received from Watson and Chambers about the Sarebus (Saribas)' bad harvest and other agricultural matters (see MSS. Pac. s. 83, Vol. 1, fols. 131-140, for typed copies of Watson's letters, 24 Mar-14 Nov 1862), 24 Jul 1862
  11. (fols. 171-172) letter from White Lackington about a visit from St John; the Rajah's disapproval of John Brooke Brooke's correspondence with the British authorities and his determination to keep the 'Policy of State' in his own hands; the success of St John's book, and the probable reaction of Bishop McDougall; advice against his sister Harriet going to Sarawak; Watson's news from Sakarang; and plans for an Italian trip, Sep 1862
  12. (fols. 173-174) letter from Hannington Hall about preparations for the wedding of Florence [Frebe]; John Brooke Brooke's unfounded fears of secrecy between the Rajah and Charles Johnson Brooke, and the latter's ignorance of the progress of negotiations; reactions from Sarawak to St John's account of the Mission; and a good report on the Dyak communities received from Chambers, 8 Oct 1862
  13. (fols. 175-178) letter from White Lackington about John Brooke Brooke's offer to send his sister Emma abroad for her health; news of the Grants, and his poor opinion of Alan Grant; John Brooke Brooke's good reports of the quiet state of Sarawak; wisdom of the Dutch administration of Java; the Rajah's surprise that John Brooke Brooke should take the Bishop's part in the controversy with St John; criticism of the Mission; Cavenagh's visit to Sarawak, and the possibility that it might become a summer resort for Singaporeans; family news, particularly of Hope; and his coming visit to Burrator, 2 Nov 1862
  14. (fols. 179-184) letter from White Lackington about the visits of St John and the Rajah, the latter's talk of the British Government's recognition of Sarawak as a sovereign state; St John's reply to the Bishop's remarks; criticism of the Bishop, Gomes, and, in particular, Chambers; advice that Mrs Penty should go to Sarawak to care for John Brooke Brooke's daughter [Agnes]; the Bishop's slanderous remarks about Fox; the Rajah's excellent health and spirits; Emma's wish to receive John Brooke Brooke's daughter, and her devotion to Hope; and news of the Grants, 23 and 24 Nov 1862
  15. (fols. 185-187) letter from White Lackington about the Chinese immigration scheme; Dutch administrative methods; plans to visit London with the Rajah, and a public dinner for him; St John's coming departure for Haiti, and a second edition of his book; Cavenagh's visit to Sarawak; Chambers's ridiculous behaviour; and Mr Bullock's reply to attacks on the Bishop's letter in The Guardian, mentioning John Brooke Brooke's letter in his favour, 30 Nov-3 Dec 1862
  16. (fols. 188-190) letter from Sarawak about sending books and other personal possessions to John Brooke Brooke by La Touche; Channon's return to England because of ill health; the strong sympathy felt for John Brooke Brooke in Sarawak; progress with the fort, and the need for more shipping; friendly meetings with the McDougalls, and their refusal to give up Agnes to Mrs Penty; plans to visit Sakarang in the Venus, then to Mukah and Bintulu; the possibility of a Kayan expedition; news of other government officers; instructions regarding horses at White Lackington; and news of many steamers expected, perhaps to make a demonstration on the Sumatra coast, 21-22 Mar 1863
  17. (fols. 191-192) letter from Sarawak (marked 'Private') about his cruise in Venus and the Rajah's action during his absence in disinheriting John Brooke Brooke before the Council; the Datu Bander's wish that this should be kept secret from the people, who had confidence in John Brooke Brooke; advice that he should remain quiet; Corbett's search for a wild goose, accompanied by the Rajah; and St John's pamphlet a 'crusher' for the Bishop, 28 Mar 1863
  18. (fols. 193-194) letter from Sarawak about the quiet state of affairs in Mukah and Bintulu, with references to Hay and Paul; news received of John Brooke Brooke's letter to Lord Russell about his rights, and the Rajah's anger; advice that John Brooke Brooke should take no action in England as the Rajah would then deny all claims in toto; Charles Johnson Brooke's own hopes that 'things will right themselves in time', and his view that it would be very unwise for John Brooke Brooke to go to law to try to establish his right to the Raj; and Charles Johnson Brooke's decision to attack the Kayans in May, 25 Apr 1863
  19. (fols. 195-199) letter from Sakarang, in reply to a 'severe' letter from John Brooke Brooke, and repudiating his accusations of being a dishonourable man and a false brother; his denial of any thought to rob John Brooke Brooke or his children, or to receive the title of Rajah Muda; Charles Johnson Brooke's pledge to the Rajah to obey him as Rajah of Sarawak; John Brooke Brooke's repeated changes of view, with extracts quoted from his letters to demonstrate this; and the Rajah in Singapore, about to return to England, 23 Jun 1863.

Dates

  • Creation: 1859-1863

Extent

69 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • English

Shelfmark

MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 8, fols. 131-199

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

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