The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-14 00:00:00

SIB, JAMES BROOKE AND BORNEO.

THE following petition of merchants, shipowners,
bankers, brokers, and others in the city of London
engaged and interested in commerce with China and
the East has been presented to Parliament, signed
by all the principal firms in the City :
That in the year 1842 Sir James Brooke obtained from
the late Sultan of Borneo a cession of the territory and
government of the country of Sarawak.
That the above cession was du:), notified to her Majesty's
Government at the time by Sir James Brooke's agent in
London.

That this cession was ratified by the people of Sarawak,
who contested the claims of the Sultans of Boraeo, and
before and since declared their independence.

That in 1853 the present and reigning Sultan of Borneo
confirmed in its fullest extent the gilt of his predecessor by
an absolute cession, subject only to the payment of 4,000
dollars on the demise of each Rajah of Sarawak.
That Sir James Brooke has ruled this country for
seventeen years with the knowledge and consent of the
Government of England ; that during this tine he has
maintained order and good government, repressed piracy,
and advanced trade ; that these facts were established
before a commission of inquiry which was held in 1854, by
order of her Mojesty's Government, to inquire into the
proceedings of Sir James lirooke.
That the Government of England, in 1845 and 1840,
vindicated Sir James Brooke's possession of Sarawak, tie•
daring it to have been acquired in the most open and
legitimate manner ; that they sought to advance the trade
of the nation by availing themselves of the relations of Sir
James Brooke with Sarawak ; and, further, with this object
in view they appointed Sir James Brooke to be the
Governor of Lauban, and Commissioner and Consul.
General to the independent chiefs of Borneo, having
previously aignifiee the approval of the Crown by the
honour conferred on Sir James lirooke.

That the Government of England, moreover, sanctioned
the hoisting of a Sarawak flag, in order to afford a recog-
nized permanency to that country.
That Sarawak, under the rule of Sir James Brooke, was
formally recognized by the President of the United States
of America, with the knowledge of the Government of
England, by the appointment of an envoy with powers to
negotiate a treaty, and by the formal salute of the flag of
Sarawak. Looking at these facts, to the blessings of good
government, the security of the high seas, the advance of
trade, and our political position, your petitioners represent
that the policy thus auspiciously commenced was consonant
with the high position of England and her beat interests
in the Eastern Archipelago.
That your petitioners allude to the accusations made
against Sir James Brooke, to the commission of inquiry,
and to the entire vindication of his character and measures,
only to express their regret that these painful discussions
should have led to the withdrawal of British protection
from Sarawak, and to the abandonment of the policy of
recognition formerly pursued.
That since MO the visits of her Majesty's vessels to
the north-west coast of Borneo have been discontinued,
and that Sarawak since 1854 has been left entirely to its
own resources.

That your petitioners deplore the injustice done to Sir
James Brooke and to the native population under his rule
by the abandonment of a policy dictated by wisdom and
foresight and affirmed by national sanctions and encourage-
ments, and they view with apprehension the consequences
which must ensue to British interests and to the national
character.

They regard the cause of civilization and Christianity,
u well as the position and influence of Great Britain in