Letter from Oliver St John (nephew of Spenser St John) to Charles T.C. Grant, 1872-1885
Item
Shelfmark: MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 15, fols. 2-27
Held at the Weston Library
Comprises:
- (fols. 2-3) letter from Paku about having been placed in charge of that district, and introducing his predecessor Noel Denison, who wished to see Grant's writings concerning Upper Sarawak (see MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 13, fols. 190-237, for Denison's letters to Grant, 1874-1884), 20 Jun 1872
- (fols. 4-10) letter from Paku about the birth of his two children; his posts, first as Private Secretary to the Rajah (Charles Brooke), and later as Treasurer; accused of speaking ill of Mrs Brooke and consequently ostracised by the Rajah; his resignation, and later reinstatement in a subordinate post, at Paku (references to Crookshank, Houghton, Bishop McDougall, and Helms); his low opinion of the situation in Sarawak, the strength of the government, and the competence of the officers; adverse comments on the Treasurer, Innes; conditions in Upper Sarawak, and Belida abandoned; the diminished importance of coal and antimony, quicksilver at Tegora, and Chinese gold workings; the Land Dyaks (Bidayuh peoples)' remembrance of Grant; anxiety about the future of Sarawak in the event of the Rajah's death; and the decline in revenue and trade, 10 Jun 1874
- (fols. 11-15) letter from Paku about his 'fort'; his wife and children in England; references to Alan Grant, Bishop Chambers, Everett, Sinclair, Maxwell, Innes, Crocker, Stuart Johnson, Hope Brooke, and Denison; the different spirit among the officers from that present in former years; the neglect of the Land Dyaks (Bidayuh peoples); the Rajah's policy to get hold of Barram and Brunei; Chinese population figures; agricultural problems; and a request that Grant find him employment preferably in England, 21 Dec 1874
- (fols. 16-21) two letters, from Seaford and Southend, after he had been invalided home on leave; his attempts to find work; Charles Brooke's unpopularity with the Malayan (Malaysian) communities, and the poor quality of his officers; the dismissal of 'Fitz' Cruickshank from the Sarawak Service for drunkenness, replaced in the Rejang by Houghton; and St John on bad terms with his uncle Spenser, 15 Sep and 30 Dec 1875
- (fols. 22-23) letter from Southampton asking Grant to supply a reference for him to the Colonial Office, 20 Jul 1876
- (fols. 24-25) letter from Southampton about his probable but reluctant return to Sarawak, 18 Oct 1876
- (fols. 26-27) letter from London about his retirement from Sarawak on a pension; the prosperity of that country, and the Rajah's acquisition of more territory close to Brunei; and 'Fitz' Cruickshank's return to Sarawak, 24 Feb 1885.
Dates
- Creation: 1872-1885
Extent
26 Leaves
Language of Materials
- English
Shelfmark
MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 15, fols. 2-27
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk