The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-12 00:00:00

people to choose its own form of government.' Is
there anything astonishing in this ? Do not changes
of circumstances begetchangca of government ? ito
not nations progress from dependence to inde-
pendence ?" Sir James BROOKE, therefore,
now claims to " sport an independent monarchy;"
he claims now to be King of Sarawak by the
choice of the people, not by grant of the
SULTAN of BRUNE. And he maintains that his
claim has been allowed by England, and recognised
by other nations. " Mr. Hume is ignorant," he says,
" that Lord Jobs lltssest., as the Prime Minister,
knowing the position I held in Sarawak, thaiikcd
me in the name of her Ms.tEsTv's Government for
the services I had rendered to my native country;
that the tie'es hoisted at Sarawak was sanctioned as a
commercial flag by the English Government, which
had previously declared that it sought to avail
itself of ' ntq relatiwas' with that country. lie is
knorant that the PRESIDENT of the UNITED
PrATES addressed me ns ruler of Sarawak, proposinga
treaty of friendship and of commerce with America;
that Lord PALMERSTON, being previously informed,
tittered no objection to the contemplated treaty w hen
the subject was mentioned in Parliament; and, lastly,
that my position in Sarawak has been known and
tacitly acknowledged during the last ten years by
England and by the other countries of Europe."
The second statement in Sir JAMES Bnooees
letter to Mr. DeeNtatoNn, to which we would call
attention, relates to the part which the " independent
monarch" of Sarawak is about to take in the
politics of the island of Borneo with refe:coce
to the disputed succession to the throne of Brune :
"Mr. HUME still strives to prevent my exerting the
influence I possess to reconcile contending factiens,
or to place the worthiest candidate on the throne,':
and thus to save the sovereignty from extinction.
I am bound to the son of MUDA HASSIM by every
sentiment of honour. I would save him from the'
fate of his unhappy father; and I would teach him,
by precept and example, to govern his people justly."
In other words, Sir JAMES BROOKE goes out deter-
mined to dispossess the individual who actually has
got possession of the throne of lime, and to substi-
tute for him—he does not say a more capable candi-
date, but—one to whom, for his father's sake, he
(Sir Jsvtes) "is bound by every sentiment of
honour."
Let us now attempt to read, by the light of these
passages, the news from Borneo announced in the
House of Commons by Mr.llesrav DRUMMOND, and in
a letter in the Times. It will be kept in mind that the
rule of the Sultans of Brune formerly extended from
Brune southward to the southern frontier of Sarawak;
that Sarawak is now an independent principality,
over which Sir JAMES BROOKE claims to go-
vern by " the will of a free people r that
the territories on the river Sakarran and
Screbas (between Sarawak and Brune) are
either still subject to the Sultan of BRUNE, or gc-
verned by independent rajahs or sheiks, like Sir
JAMES BROOKE, " the choice of a free people." It
will also be kept in mind, that by the admission of
the letter writer in the Times three forts have been
erected, maintained, and garrisoned by the " inde-
pendent monarch" of Sarawak in these territories—
which whether still belonging to Brune, or become
independent like Sarawak, certainly do not belong to
the Rajah of the latter place—for the purpose of pre-
venting the inhabitants from going to sea.
From Mr. DRUMMOND and the letter writer in the
Times we learn that on the 3rd of February last a
icollision took place between the English gentlemen
in charge of the forts and a chief who resides in the
interior, at a place sonic 70 or 100 miles inland. The
origin and nature of the conflict are rather vaguely
stated, and er parte ; but it appears that the Eng-
lishmen had reason, or pretended to have, that the
native chief was preparing to force his way to the
sea, and to make war on all his countrymen who re-
fused to juin with him—that Messrs. BRERETON and
LEE, with what forces they could raise, proceeded
up the river and fortified a station about
seventy miles from the sea ; that two
of the native chiefs boats approaching,
were tired upon by these gentlemen, retreated,
and were pursued by them; that the forces under
Messrs. BRERETON and LEE in the pursuit came upon
the main body of the native Chiel's forces, and that a
conflict ensued, in which Mr. LEE was killed, Mr.
Ilitearruses boat sunk, and their followers killed or
obliged to fly.
Now it will be remembered that this is the first
conflict between the Anglo-Dyak Government of
Sarawak and the tribes of the bakarran and Screbas
since the affair of the Nemesis. Allowing the story
of Mr. DaeatmoNu and the letter writer in the Times
to be perfectly correct as far as it goes, the collision is
evidently only one of the first movements conse-
quent upon the disputed succession of Brune
'throughout the territories which belong, or have
once belonged, to that monarchy. The fight on the
Serebast is the first battle in the war of succession by
which the " independent monarch" of Sarawak is
to place the son of his friend MuDA HAMM on the
throne of Brune, and either re-subject to its sceptre
the tribes of the Screbas and Sakarran, or take them
under his own.

All this places this country in a very awkward
relation to north-western Borneo. SirJAmes BROOKE

is an accredited agent of the English crown,
and he is at the same time "independent mo-
narch" of Sarawak. It is neither the interest of
England to take part in the miserable feuds
of that insignificant and barbarous country.
But the accredited representative of England
there is determined to take part in them —his
officers have already taken part in them; and this'
accredited representative, if ordered by the British
Government to desist, may say, "I am acting not
as your representative, but in my own right as
an independent monarch.' " By his interference ho
must of necessity compromise the name of England,
and the Government of England cannot check or
prevent his interference.
The dilemma in which England has been placed
by appointing an "independent monarch" to repre-
sent and act for her in north-western Borneo is not
the only evil that must ensue from this anomalous
appointment. Will the Dutch or Spaniards believa
that the accredited representative of England in the
Eastern Archipelago acts without the approbation
and support of his Government ? Will the monarchs
of Siam and Cochin China believe it? Will the in-
dependent Princes of Sumatra and the Malay l'enin-
sula believe it? Our hybrid between a British envoy
and an "independent monarch" will involve us in
suspicions and misunderstandings, if not in actual
war, with every power in the Eastern Archipelago.
The effects of this upon our settlements at Singapore
and Hong Kong, and our whole commerce with
China and the islands of the Archipelago, cannot fail
to be detrimental in the extreme. This is a conside-
ration to which it is to be hoped men will lend an
ear who arc deaf to the tale of Borneau piracies and
i the means adopted to prevent them.

SCULPTURE FOR TIIR LONDON CORPORATION.-
Our readers are aware of the determination on the putt of
the corporation to commi.sion the production of a certain
number of atatues for the adornment of the Mansion•bouts
. .

—a determination for which they and their architect, Mr.
Banning, deserve the warm thanks of all whom interested
in the progress of the fine arts of this country. In carry-
ing out their intention, the corporation wisely avoided
competition ; they visited various studios, and then named
by ballot sic sculptors who should each be commissioned to
produce an idsal figure from one of the English poets. The
artists selected are Messrs. Bailey, M'Dowell, Foley, Lough,
Calder Marshall, and Thrupp ; and they have each
submitted a sketch in plaster of their di sign, one-fourth the
real size, which it to be svmewhat lamer than life. The
subjects are—following the same order as the names:—
" Bright Morning Star," Milton; " Leah," from Moore's
"Lives of the Angels:" " Egeria," from Byren's " Child°
Harold ;" Cumus, Oriselda, and a figure called the " Lion
Slayer," unappropriated. This last is to be withdrawn,
and a sutstitute provided. The statuettes for the most
put promise very well ; but, being little more than
sketches, everything will depend on the manner in which
they arc carried out, and for this, of eourve, the corpora-
tion depend on the reputation of the sculptors. We sin-
es-rely h pis that the result will prove satisfactory.—The
Builder.

SINGULAR AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT SUEFFIELD.—
An inquest was held before Thomas Badger, k: q., coroner
os Tuesday last, at the New Inn, Sheffield, touching the
death of James Johnson, [toed 26, a single man, lately em-
ployed by Mr. W. Bingham, steel manufacturer, Globe
Works, Sheffield, who cime to his death under somewhat
I singular circumstances. On Monday evening. the decossi d
walked into Messrs. Smith, Redfern, and Co.'s malt shed
in a state of intoxication, where he fell asleep. While lie
was asleep, a rafter in ill^ roof broke, and u great quan-
tity of malt fell in the sln d where the deceased was, and
smothered him. The d• ceased was not found until the
malt was removed, when, of course, he was qu.tc dead,
having been buried from tun to twelve inches deep in milt.
Verdict. " Found dead and accidentally smothered and suf-
fucated."—Derkishire Courier.