The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-30 00:00:00

iQlTiefljfl rn.

LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1847.

Incidentally we have already had occasion to men-
tion the indefatigable labours and brilliant but blood-
less achievements of his Excellency JAMES BROOKE,
Raja of Sarawak, Governor of Labuan, and official
representative of her Britannic MAJESTY in the island
of Borneo. The presentation of the freedom of the
city of London, enclosed in a gold box, accompanied
by the acclamations of the Court of Common Council,
and the deserved panegyric of the civic Chamberlain,
affords a favourable opportunity for reverting to the
distinguished career of this illustrious Englishman.
Nine years have elapsed since a private gentleman
embarked from the shores of this country in a yacht
called the Royalist—a schooner of inconsiderable bur-
den, manned by a mere handful of mariners—on a
scientific expedition to tha Asiatic Archipelago. At
the first his project was simply the advancement of
human knowledge by gratuitous researches into the
geographical position, the botanical productions,
the zoological occupants, or the mineral re-
sources of those rich but in a great mea-
sure unexplored dominions. Like Sir JOSEPH
Bares, he had a disposition which thirsted for the
development of natural philosophy through the in-
strumentality of the science of navigation. And
with this intellectual aspiration was doubtless com-
bined a vague :intention to emulate the commercial
enterprize, if not the diplomatic sagacity, evinced by
Sir STAMFORD RAFFLES. Such was the indefinite
scheme which conducted a gentleman of good for-
tune and healthful intelligence to the fertile plains of
Borneo. The schooner sailed; it reached the coast
of that superb island; Mr. BROOKE, with scarcely a
dozen companions, disembarked, and the vision, evoked
by a generous but indecisive ambition, resolved itself
into a magnificent reality. Instead of striving to
acquire the celebrity of an ichthyologist, Mr. BROOKE
resolved, with GOD'S blessing to elevate himself to
the dignity of an Apostle of Civilization. His
aim was no longer that of corresponding with
the Royal Society, but that of correspond-
ing with the holiest principles of humanity
and the primal dogmas of religion. Nine years
have elapsed since this noble project was first con-
ceived and this sublime resolution first formed, and
Within that period the advantages of good govern-
ment axle the Divine revelations of Christianity have
been explained to 4 race until then scarcely emerged
from barbarity.
Unassisted, and almost unnoticed, this spontaneous
regenerator of his fellow-creatures has been enabled
to infuse into the rudeness oftdhe Asiatic islanders a
portion of that intelligence an
conduced so much to the happinessrnrality which has
Unassisted, and almost unnoticed,
he of Europeans.
wasen enabled to
conquer the opposition of a benighted, and to
overcome those numerous and formidable otlest lions
which invariably impede the progress of a liberator.
Without the dove of MOHAMMED, the nymph
of NUM A, or the attendant demon of SOCRATES; he
was enabled to commence the diffusion among an
ignorant multitude of the truths of religion, law,
and philosophy. For the natural instincts of morality
are thte basis of the Christian Evangel ; the natural
axioms of equity are the seeds of legislation ; and the
simplest of the doctrines of utility and right con.
stitute the g€rm or the foundation of philosophic
wisdom. These hunianizing instincts, axioms, and
doctrines have found in Mr. BROOKE an earnest
interpreter for the Bornese. In the course of a few
summers he has planted the standard of Christianity
and civil;zition in the Asiatic .Archipelago; and he
has so plantdd it, that it can only be uprooted by
some unforeseen and preternatural catastrophe. Not
only have these benefits been assured by the ardour
of this most d.;s:nterested philanthropist, but an in-
: lculable advantage has been conferred upon com.