Skip to main content

Letter from Mrs Harriette McDougall, wife of Bishop F.T. McDougall, to John Brooke Brooke, many undated, 1855-1864

 Item
Shelfmark: MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 14, fols. 134-210
Held at the Weston Library

Request
this

The letters were all written in Sarawak. Comprises:

  1. (fols. 134-135) letter about sorrow at John Brooke Brooke's departure for England, and the Rajah's kindness; her husband in Calcutta (Kolkata) [where he was consecrated Bishop of Labuan on 18 Oct 1855]; her hopes for John Brooke Brooke's marriage; and criticism of St John, 24 Oct [1855]
  2. (fols. 136-137) letter about John Brooke Brooke's arrival home and news of his family and Charles Grant; her husband's 'first charge'; and references to other clergy (Gomes, Chambers, Horsburgh, Koch), 28 Mar [1856]
  3. (fols. 138-139) letter addressed to 'The Rajah Mudah' [the title conferred on John Brooke Brooke in Sep 1861] and referring to his generous attitude to the Rajah who 'having eaten his cake wants still to have it back', 22 Feb [1862]
  4. (fols. 140-141) letter about John Brooke Brooke's baby [Agnes, placed in her care after the death of Julia Brooke, 9 May 1862], 31 Jul and 1 Aug [1862]
  5. (fol. 142) letter about John Brooke Brooke's note stating his disagreement with St John [regarding the latter's adverse comments on the Bishop and the conduct of the Mission contained in his book Life in the Forests of the Far East, 1862], [1862]
  6. (fols. 143-146) two letters about the loss of John Brooke Brooke's note; the Bishop accused of 'defaming' John Brooke Brooke and others when in England; Colonel Cavenagh's visit to Sarawak; and the Rajah's comments on the Dyak practice of taking heads, [1862]
  7. (fols. 147-148) letter about a misunderstanding concerning the Bishop's attitude to John Brooke Brooke in the presence of his staff, noting that John Brooke Brooke was 'Rajah only with that umbrella over your head' (marked passage); and the ill feeling existing between the Rajah and the Bishop, [1862?]
  8. (fols. 149-155) two letters about 'false impressions' of the part played by the Bishop in the Rainbow's attack on the 'pirates' [in May 1862], and Miss Coutts's reaction to this; accusations of his conduct towards his clergy; St John's former intimacy in the McDougall household, and her present feeling of 'disgust' for him, [1862?]
  9. (fols. 156-159) two letters about a passage to Singapore and wages for an Ayah; the Bishop's affection for John Brooke Brooke; the doctor's plan to stay with John Brooke Brooke, and a proposal that Agnes might live with him, [1862?]
  10. (fols. 160-163) letter about the attitude of the Rajah and John Brooke Brooke towards religious discussion; and the Bishop's alleged persecution of his clergy, [1862?]
  11. (fols. 164-167) two letters about the Bishop's suspicions of [Rev. W.H.] Gomes; the McDougalls' loss of faith in the 'old Rajah'; and letters to the Bishop from his clergy in contradiction of St John's accusations, 1 and 6 Nov [1862]
  12. (fols. 168-169) letter about the end of the misunderstanding between John Brooke Brooke and the McDougalls; the reserved manner that concealed John Brooke Brooke's kind heart; the McDougalls' warm affection for him, and their hopes that he would become Rajah in place of Sir James, 26 Dec 1862
  13. (fols. 170-171) two letters about Agnes's illness with abscesses, and John Brooke Brooke's 'ague'; and plans to take Agnes to Santubong, [late 1862 or early 1863]
  14. (fols. 172-173) letter about John Brooke Brooke's explanation of his 'rebellion', and the sympathy felt for him; and the Rajah's altered character; Agnes's recovery, [1863?]
  15. (fols. 174-175) letter about her satisfaction at John Brooke Brooke's amendment of a passage in his letter; her suggestion to her brother [Charles J. Bunyon] that it might be published, and her advice to him 'to be silent'; and Agnes's improving health, [1863?]
  16. (fol. 176) letter about her indignation and grief that John Brooke Brooke should leave Sarawak, the universal affection felt for him there and the wish that he should take the place of 'old Rajah', [Feb 1863]
  17. (fol. 177) letter about Agnes being with Bertha [Crookshank] at Santubong; and plans for the baby's future, 9 Mar [1863]
  18. (fols. 178-179) letter about the situation in Sarawak, the Rajah's denial of having abdicated in John Brooke Brooke's favour; advice to 'let the old man die in power' and then step into his place; Miss Coutts's attempts to prevent John Brooke Brooke's succession; advice to 'stop any open war'; and the Bishop's view that the Rajah 'makes out a very strong case' from John Brooke Brooke's letters, [1863]
  19. (fols. 180-185) letter about John Brooke Brooke's pictures hung in the McDougall's house; the packing of his other possessions (busts, books); ownership of the plate in Government House; John Brooke Brooke's letter of 1859 confirming that Miss Coutts's loan of £5,000 was free of interest; and Alan [Grant]'s departure for Calcutta (Kolkata), to become 'assistant overseer to a tea plantation', [1863]
  20. (fols. 186-191) letter about Agnes's progress; news of the Charles Grants in Scotland, and of Hope Brooke with the Evelyns; and plans for enlarging the school. A postscript in the Bishop's hand is about his travels in Sarawak, with mention of [J.L.] Zehnder and of Dr Cruickshank's problems with his alcoholic brother, 22 Jul [1863]
  21. (fols. 192-195) letter about a request for a copy of John Brooke Brooke's pamphlet; the Rajah their 'personal enemy' but still the rightful Rajah; Charles [Brooke]'s position being 'most painful'; Alan Grant's dilemma; Dr Cruickshank to go home to England; her own work as 'monthly nurse'; the Rajah's reference to Agnes as a 'political difficulty' in Sarawak, and plans for her return to England with the Pentys, 20 Aug [1863]
  22. (fols. 196-202) letter about John Brooke Brooke's pamphlet and the Rajah's reply to it; the fact that John Brooke Brooke was 'never really made the Rajah'; the Rajah's anger at the pamphlet, and the steps taken by him to prevent John Brooke Brooke's return to Sarawak (there is also a copy of this passage, fols. 201-202); Robert Hay's decision to leave Sarawak as the Rajah required him to agree to act against John Brooke Brooke 'if necessary'; the possibility that Sarawak might be 'sacrificed by the Rajah to some foreign power'; and plans for Agnes's return to England, 4 Sep [1863]
  23. (fols. 203-206) letter about her pleasure in the continued friendship between John Brooke Brooke and the McDougalls; news of the demolition of the old earthworks round the Residency, and new buildings and roads; progress of the Sugar Company; untrue pictures of Sarawak in the Illustrated News and elsewhere; references to Houghton, Crocker, Oliver St John, Mrs Chambers, the Abes, Zehnder, Charles Brooke (the Tuan Muda), the McDougall children, the Bunyons, and Agnes Brooke; Mr Koch to become curate at Lackington, [1864?]
  24. (fols. 207-210) letter from Harriette McDougall to Matilda Grant, about the latter's ill health and her care for John Brooke Brooke; the good effect of Santubong on Agnes's health; problems with the school; news of Miss Rocke and Alic [sic] Gomes; the Rajah's anger against John Brooke Brooke, whom he had called 'traitor'; her own anger at insults to John Brooke Brooke; her lack of sympathy with 'this small despotism', and hopes that the English Government might take over the country and 'be its salvation', 8 May [1863].

Dates

  • Creation: 1855-1864

Extent

77 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • English

Shelfmark

MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 14, fols. 134-210

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/weston
Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom

Physical Storage Information for Staff

Powered by ArchivesSpace | v4.1.1 | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms of use | New additions | Contact us