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Letter from the Right Rev. Francis Thomas McDougall, Bishop of Labuan and Sarawak, chiefly to John Brooke Brooke, 1860-1886

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Shelfmark: MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 14, fols. 72-133
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From Sarawak, unless otherwise stated. Comprises:

(fols. 72-105) Letters to John Brooke Brooke, [1860]-[1864?]:

  1. (fols. 72-73) letter from Malta en route for England, giving reasons for not having met John Brooke Brooke in Malta; and the need for European support [of Sarawak] if the British Government failed to help, 12 Mar [1860]
  2. (fols. 74-75) letter from London about the purchase of a craft for Sarawak [S.S. Rainbow]; the Rajah's wish to 'settle the principles of action, in giving up the place' to John Brooke Brooke, and the abandonment of negotiations with France; news of Rev. F.C. and Mrs Johnson, the Nicholetts and Chambers; and his appreciation of the 'plate' presented by the European community of Sarawak, 25 May [1860]
  3. (fols. 76-79) letter from Dublin about the incident [at Muka (Mukah)], Governor Edwardes's prejudice against Sarawak and the Rajah, and McDougall's intention to send copies of the correspondence between John Brooke Brooke and Edwardes to the Colonial Office; the Rajah's recovery from his stroke; discussion with him about his supposed son George; his unsettled state of mind regarding Sarawak, and McDougall's advocacy of his handing over the government to John Brooke Brooke; and St John as the Rajah's 'alter Ego', 20 Aug [1860]
  4. (fols. 80-81) letter from Dublin about a letter from St John concerning his views on 'the Edwardes affair' and his hopes for appointment to Singapore; McDougall's jurisdiction to be extended over the Straits, and his intention to reside chiefly in Sarawak; his family affairs; and reports that the Rajah and Miss Coutts were 'thicker than ever', 19 Sep [1860]
  5. (fols. 82-83) letter from Dublin about the death of John Brooke Brooke's son Basil, advising him to send his second son Hope to England and to return home himself and marry Miss W[elstead], 7 Jan 1861
  6. (fols. 84-85) letter from London about visiting Hope Brooke at the Evelyns' home; the Rajah's improved health; and the McDougalls' meeting with 'George Brooke' and their disbelief in the Rajah's claim to be his father, 26 Dec [1861]
  7. (fols. 86-87) letter about criticism made of one of his clergy, and rebuking John Brooke Brooke's distrust, 2 Oct [1862?]
  8. (fols. 88-91) two letters about criticism of McDougall's treatment of his clergy, and St John's comments on the conduct of the Borneo Mission in his book [Life in the Forests of the Far East, 1862], n.d. and 5 Nov [1862]
  9. (fols. 92-93) letter about the Rajah's altered character and his malicious remarks to John Brooke Brooke concerning McDougall, n.d.
  10. (fols. 94-95) letter about [J.L.] Zehnder's recommendation of Jonghèhe for the title of Orang Kaya, 16 Dec [1862?]
  11. (fol. 96) letter about his indignation on reading John Brooke Brooke's account of his departure from Sarawak and the Rajah's behaviour, assuring him of support; and anxiety over Agnes's poor health, 8 Mar [1863]
  12. (fols. 97-98) letter about the Rajah's stay at Singapore with W.H. Read; the start of the Water Saw Mill at Santubong; the success of the Kyan expedition; news of the activities of Charles Johnson, Fitz Cruickshank and his brother, Watson, and Stuart [Johnson]; alterations to John Brooke Brooke's Fort for Arthur Crookshank, styled Resident of Sarawak; McDougall's efforts to persuade him and other officers to support John Brooke Brooke; the Rajah's insistence that John Brooke Brooke's letter asking to go home on leave and for an allowance of £500 p.a. constituted 'an act of submission'; Malay feeling in John Brooke Brooke's favour; Robert Hay's decision to retire, as well as Watson's; Agnes's improved health; and E.B. Evelyn's support for John Brooke Brooke, 20 Jul [1863?]
  13. (fols. 99-100) letter about plans to send Agnes home to England with Mrs Penty; McDougall's insistence to the Rajah on John Brooke Brooke's 'moral right'; weak support for him by Chambers and Alan [Grant]; and John Brooke Brooke's house to be given to Charles [Johnson] in exchange for his in England, [Aug and Sep 1863?]
  14. (fols. 101-103) letter about the Rajah's agreement to plans to send Agnes home with the Pentys; the sale of John Brooke Brooke's horse for his brother Charles; the Rajah's milder tone concerning John Brooke Brooke, and his friendly attitude towards McDougall; celebration of the 22nd anniversary of his Rajahship; Alan [Grant]'s uncomfortable situation in Sarawak; Robert Hay's decision not to sign the required pledge but to leave Sarawak, and the consequent loss to the country; Crookshank to go to China; the effect in Sarawak of John Brooke Brooke's pamphlet; and no report of British protection, 22 Sep [1863]
  15. (fols. 104-105) letter about disposal of John Brooke Brooke's personal property in Sarawak; the good progress made by the Mission; and McDougall's wish to start Missions at Sarebus (Saribas) and Kanowit, and the need for volunteers for the work, 26 Feb [1864?].

(fols. 106-109) Two letters to John Grant of Kilgraston, 1863 and 1864:

  1. (fols. 106-107) about Alan [Grant's] arrival and his 'unpleasant position' and uncertain future; Robert Hay's determination to resign from the Sarawak Service; the Rajah's return from Singapore, and his decision to remove John Brooke Brooke's baby Agnes from the McDougalls and send her to England with Mrs Penty, at John Brooke Brooke's expense; the Rajah's hostility to McDougall; the help given by Lady Augusta Bruce [Lady Lucy Grant's sister] regarding McDougall's translation to Singapore; his affection for Charles Grant; St John's 'lies' about McDougall unlikely to be repeated, 6 Aug [1863] (the date 1862 added in red ink is incorrect)
  2. (fols. 108-109) incomplete letter about Alan [Grant]'s acceptance of a post in India, on a tea plantation; Mrs McDougall's ill health, 13 Feb 1864.

(fols. 110-111) letter to Rev. E.B. Evelyn, thanking him for his support in connection with 'the St John affair'; St John's evil influence and his 'infidel propaganda' referring particularly to [Harry] Nicholetts and Fox; the unhappy state of affairs in Sarawak, with John Brooke Brooke's brother taking his name and place; the Rajah's unfavourable attitude towards McDougall; the help given by John Brooke Brooke to the missionaries, and the hopeful state of the Mission; the illness of the child Agnes Brooke, 9 Mar 1863

(fols. 112-127) Seven letters, from Winton and Winchester, to Charles Grant, 1875-1877; 1886:

  1. (fols. 112-115) letter about his own children, and his wife's care of Charles Brooke's baby [Charles Vyner Brooke]; news of Arthur Farquhar, Robert Hay, Alan and Alaric [Grant], Harvey, Helms, Admiral J. Spencer, Sir Rodney Mundy, and Paul Tidman, 15 May 1875
  2. (fols. 116-117) letter about the death of Lucy Feilding [née Grant], 25 Jan 1876
  3. (fols. 118-119) letter about Grant's enquiry relating to the dates of the deaths of Basil Brooke and John Brooke Brooke, 1 Aug 1876
  4. (fols. 120-123) two letters, about attacks by 'that reckless Calumniator Gladstone', relating to the 'old Rajah' and the Commission of Inquiry [of 1854], and St John's failure to 'vindicate his old patron's memory', 31 May and 1 Jul 1877
  5. (fols. 124-127) two letters, about news of his own family, and about Patrick Grant and plans for his schooling, 6 Jul and 22 Sep 1886
  6. (fols. 128-133) envelope inscribed 'Letters from Sarawak 1857' but containing only the 'Family Prayer' attributed to Bishop McDougall, n.d.

Dates

  • Creation: 1860-1886

Extent

62 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • English

Shelfmark

MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 14, fols. 72-133

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

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