The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-03 00:00:00

MONDAY

DINNER TO SIR JAMES BROOKE.
A grand dinner was given on Friday at the Lon-
don Tavern, by a number of the leading merchants
of the city of London and others, to Sir James Brooke,
the Raja of Sarawak, as a testimony of their approba-
tion of his conduct as ruler of Borneo, and the islands of
the Eastern Archipelago. The chair was taken by Mr.
J. Crawfurd, of the Arm of Colvin, Crawfurd, and Co.,
East India merchants, supported by Admiral Sir Charles
Adam, Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, Mr. Baron Al-
derson, Sir James Law Lushington, Mr. Hankey, Go-
vernor of the Bank of England; Mr. Hubbard, Deputy-
Governor of the Bank; the Hon. Captain Keppell, Mr.
Montague Chambers, Q.C.; Mr. H. Drummond, M.P.;
Mr. Heedlam, M.P.; Mr. C. A. Christopher, M.P.; Mr.
Newdegate, M.P.; Captain Dalrymple Hay; M. W. B.
Bayley, E,I.C; Sir R. Jenkins, E 1.C.; Mr. J. H. Craw-
ford; Mr. H. T. Prinsep, E.1.C.; Admiral Sir James
Gordon; Rear-Admiral Renton Sharpe; Captain Far-
quhar; Mr. W. H. Piowden, M.P. E.LC.; Mr. J. H.
Astelt, E.LC; Mr. Cnarles Johnson; Rev. C. H. Brere-
len ; Mr. Robert Alexander; Mr. J. B. Powle; Mr. R.
Twining; Mr. J. Cattley, and about 240 gentlemen,
prie &pally connected with large mercantile firms in the
city.
The dinner, which comprised every delicacy of the
season, was most admirably served; and the wines,
being of the most recherche. description, gave universal
satisfaction.
Upon the reprove' of the cloth, grace was sung by Mr.
Turner, Mr. F. Smith, Mr. Genge, Master Bristow,
Master Solar, and the Misses Wells.
The CHAIRMAN then gave the health of " Her
Alrejesty the Qum" which was drunk with all the
honours.
To this followed the health of " His Royal High-
ness Prince Albert and the rest of the Royal Family.
The Cimitailic then gave the " Army and Navy':
If there was anything which would induce them to drink
that toast with greater enthusiasm than usual, it was to
be found in the fact that their respected guest, Sir
James Brooke, had first distinguished himselt in the
army—and had subsequently gained everlasting fame by
conjunction with the sister service.—
He would not further allude to Sir James as
his services would come better before them in connexion
with another toast.—(Cheers.) He would therefore give
them the " Army and Navy, coupled with the names of
Admiral Sir Charles Adam and Lieutenant-General Sir
(hCisheeeerrys.i3e; in
James Law Luahington," who had honoured the meet-
ing with their company.—(Cheers.)
Admiral Sir CHARLES ADAM returned thanks on
behalf of the navy, and stated that it was very many
years since he had the honour of serving in India ; but
he had served there long enough to feel that piracy was a
deep stain on the Indian seas. That piracy had hap-
pily been 'put an end to by their gallant guest, Sir
James Brooke.—(Cheers.) Whenever Sir James
Brooke had come into contact with the officers of her
Majesty's service, they had always acted together with
the utmost cordiality ; and though there had been too
much bloodshed, he was sure no one regretted that cir-
cumstance more than Sir James himself.—(Cheers.) At
the same time ho (Sir Charles Adam) was bound to
say that there were no other means of wiping out the
blot of piracy from the seas of the Eastern Archipelago
than those adopted by his Hon. and Gallant Friend.
Lieutenant-General Sir J. L. LIISHINGTON acknow-
ledged the compliment on behalf of the army, and bore
testimony to the gallantry and energy of their honoured
guest.
The CITAIRmais then rose and said that they had met
for the purpose of manifesting those grateful senti-
ments which he was sure were generally felt through-
out the community, and more especially of those per-
sons engaged in commerce, of the services of their dis-
tinguished guest, Sir James Brooke.—(Cheers.) He was
sure the gentleman present were aware how far Sir
James Brooke had promoted the moral influence
of this country, the extension of her commerce, and the
cause of civilization, and would allow him to convey to
that gentleman, as an answer to the calumnious charges
brought against him, their verdict of acquittal.—(Loud
cheers-) He felt that Sir James had been most unfairly
and ungenerously treated by some persons in this coun-
try, who had endeavoured to detract from his high cha-
racter for honour and integrity. When, however, he
looked around the table—when he looked at the list of
gentlemen present, comprising, as it did, a number of
Members of Parliament, and others he knew would have
been present but for the important business that evening
before the House of Commons—when he saw present a
number of military and naval officers of the highest re-
putation—some of the highest ornaments of the bench
and the bar—a number of gentlemen connected with
that distinguished corporation which had within its
hand the rule of a large empire (the East India
Company)—the representatives of a corporation of equal
character and standing (the Bank of England), and
the leading merchants of the oily of London—he
thought no better testimony could be borne to the
character for honour and integrity of Sir James Brooke
—(Cheers)—and that no better answer could be given
to the attacks upon him of interested persons, or of those
morbid grievance-mongers, who, relying upon the in-
formation of others, were slways ready to lend them-
selves to attack the character and reputation of public
men.—(Cheers.) It was to be deplored that parties
were to be found in the House of Commons to bring
under the notice of that House the conduct of officers
like Sir James, having difficult and arduous duties abroad,
when they bad no opportunity of defendieg themselves.
He did not complain of the conduct of public men being
brought under the notice of the House, but he did com-
plain of Hon. Members lending themselves to the grati-
fication of the private animosities of others, by bringing
forward attacks upon men who were devoting them-
selves to the utmost to promote the honour of their
country and the good of the public.—(Cheers.) He
would not carry them through the personal career of
Sir James Brooke from the time when he left this coun-
tryth e inD Ho
InB. 3cB 1 p butr.
li. ,
,h
pe p found
endnd i
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ht
eh
re 0 v
eg
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rss ofwh the
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aworksr
aodf
J. Brooke
cs.
himthathsisir dangersjatae had
honours,
dd
beenaatusautffiedciebnyt
ttwhojetchemnSovisirtn honourable and disinterested motives through-
out his extraordinary career.—(Cheers.) He did not
wish particularly to allude to the extraordinary influence
enjoyed by Sir James Brooke in that part of the world
in which he had cast his lot to serve, but he felt that
the time would come when the most important advan-
tages would accrue to tho commerce and influence of
England, from her connexion with that part of the
world.—(Cheers.)
felt that Sir James Brooke had
cjudgment and prudence in all his
transactions
to adopt the coarse he bad
was placed.—( C h e e r s . ) H e
ursued, from the extraordi-
nary
held in his hand a letter from a naval officer, fully atreld d
with—
(e
positionth hieel
l e
ir a Borneo,
s .
) which utmost
Re
and that he had been compelled h
e
con-
firming his opinion of Sir James. That officer had been
lately engaged in surveying one of the islands of the
Eastern Archipelago, with only six hands, when he was
suddenly confronted by as many
armed Malays. Upon the
officer telling their chief that they were Englishmen, he
asked him if they knew Mr. Brooke, and upon his reply-
inge
Thatany
idn icnes
placedhthotetaseht: rsthmhaeerammt jail: ehd, saidthe
influence
h i 8 that
in
en"
obtained
raoeionki
ened
perfecti
by
y verysir g
safety.o good,"
d James,
upon the shoulder of the officer, to
ih a man to be sacrificed Brooke, who had thus made the English name honoured
and respected, and risked them if they would be dis-
charging their duty, if
ed theyat allowed
riateheafchaarfaecwterdios-f
s
(Cheers.) If they wanted any
ataptptohienrtetdeatiitandainvidyiunals—
favour of the character of Sir
James, it would oe found in the excellent letter of the
the Church Missionary Society,
svikhsihaohphoatdCbaelecnutrta to
ead in
the House of Commons by the
Hon. Member for isi
—evecastle4. In whatever position Sir
James might in future be laced—whether as the inde-
pendent ruler of Borneo, or as her Majesty's represen-
tativep
in the government of the islands, he felt that they
were bound,
as British merchants, to express their
integrita..._(Cheers.) He did not wish
ap-
proval of that
,gentle
man's conduct, and their sense of
his honour and
to say anything harsh of those Members of the House of
Commons who had taken part against their Hon. and
Gallant Friend, but it had given him great pleasure to
have the opportunity of attending in the House, and
voting against the proposed inquiry into his conduct,—
e
(Cheers.) He had
-ow great pleasure in proposing the
health of Sir James
Brooke, with long life and pros-
perity to him.—(Cheers.)
Sir JAMES BRoogE
cheers, which lasted some minutes. When silence was
somewhat restored, Sir James proceeded to address the
company, and stated that it anything could entrance the
pleasure with which e
ne regarded the manifestation of
rose to return thanks amidst loud
ho felt utterly unworthy
feeling with which
would be found in the manner in which their respected
chairman had been pleased to propose his health. He
did not pretend to be possessed of that species of pride
which aped e he had just been honoured, it
elinsility—he would not humble himself
that they laieh,.
is i exalt him—he would not' say that
ven-
tured to believe that there was something in his own
because they
feelings and Position that was honourable to English-
men.—( e \
-Ch-ersq Deeply sensible as he was of the ex-
pression of opinionas that, he could not
of their regard; but he
of such a meeting
but feel that it was the more important and valuable,
conduct teas
history and conduct as they affected the interests
be madee
of this count • T . (Loud cheers); and
country and of cm isation—
it was a proof
had looked at and considered his public
to convince hire of the fact, that truth and justice would
to him, if anything were wanted
always prevail over any slanderous attacks which might
—(Cheers.) The approval by the gentlemen present of
his against the character of an honest public man.
approved by
sought, by slanderous misrepresentations, to blast his
reputation, and in so doing had injured their own,—
no light- condemnation of those who had
(Cheers.) it was but little more than four years since
that he was the idol of a spurious popularity, and for
more than three he had been the object, happily
not the victim,years
prodigy of misrepresentation, and it was satis-
factory to him that night to find that his conduct was
cilium of London. He had had both praise and blame
lavished n.
so large and intelligent a body of the mer-
uponhim with ne sparing hand, and he had been
accused of every crime from murder to merchandise.—
(Cheers and laughter.) He had been held up as a
of Perfection and cast down as a monster of
iniquity.—(Cheers and laughter.) Such were the extremes
fl
oe
u,
people delighted in. Hackneyed politicians had used
their best exertions to cast a slur upon his character,
but their efforts to tamper with his character and public
morals had sunk like water to the lowest and dirtiest
v enl.—(Ctice act as
rs)
rholi
He regretted the course that had been
Pursued, and that Members of Parliament should be
d to a to the vines of others, or
scavengers
that could h.
invented.—(Cbeers.) He regretted that
to become the cesspool of every foul and vile slander
the House of Commons should be made the vehicle of
bringing forward
year—that
be took men should
found so ignorant of all that place
as to demand an inquiry into matters patent to all the
world—that the deadly enemies of a man could be al-
lowed to pervert all tne such charges year after
principles of justice which de-
clared that trial should precede oondemnation—(Cheers)
-and Ma, of that commandment of God, " Thou :halt