The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-14 00:00:00

EPRIcE SD.

< -
THE FISHMONGERS' COMPANY
AND THE- RAJA OF SARA WAR.
The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers gave a
grand banquet yesterday evening, on the occasion of
presenting the freedom of the guild to Mr. Brooke,
the Raja of Sarawak, but in consequence of illness
the distinguished guest was unable to be present. The
banquet took place in Fishmongers' Hall, and was of
an unusually splendid and reeherche character. About
one hundred gentlemen sat down to table. G. T.Ni-
cholion, Esq., the second warden, presided, and was
supported on the right by S. G. Bonham, Esq., the
Governor of Hong Kong, Captain Bethune, R.N.,
G. R. Porter, Esq., J. M'Gregor, M.P., 6ir John
Campbell, Mr. Wise, &c.; on the left by Mr. Napier,
Lieutenant-Governor of Labuan,'Capt. Mundy, R.N.,
Mr. Gregson, M.P., Rev. Mr. Brereton, Mr. Gar-
rard, Mr. Gladeton, Mr. Wallace, &c.
The usual loyal toasts having been given,
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Army and Navy."
Sir J. CAMPBELL returned thanks on behalf of the
army, and took occasion, in his capacity, both as a
British officer and as one connected with the Oriental
Steam-packet Company, to express his high sense of
the important services rendered to this country by
Mr. Brooke, and of the singular loyalty, devotion
and disinterestedness which he had displayed in all his
proceedings.
Captain BRTHUNR acknowledged the toast on behalf
of the navy, and said that he had the advantage of
having been associated with Mr. Brooke on many
occasions of great difficulty and danger, and he always
found the same prudence in forming his views, and
the same firmness in carrying them into execution.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast, quoted
an extract from one of Mr. Brooke's letters, in which
he said, " I hear that the Whigs are coming into
power, and, therefore, we may hope ;" and alluded
to the aid so promptly given by the present Govern-
ment in carrying out the views of that gentleman.
He begged to propose " Her Majesty's Ministers ;"
and he would couple with the toast The health of
Mr. G. R. Porter.' —(Cheers.)
Mr. PORTER responded to the toast, and said, that
disclaiming as he did all party spirit, and almost all
party predilections, still he could say that her Ma-
jesty's Ministers bad ever been most anxious indeed
to promote the trade of this country in every possible
manner; and he knew that there was nothing which
could encourage that trade which did not receive from
them the most anxious attention.
The CHAIRMAN proposed in suitable terms the
health of Mr. Brooke, and coupled with the toast the
name of Mr. Napier, a gentleman who was so inti-
mately connected with the events that had taken
place in Labuan, where he was now appointed deputy-
governor.
Mr. NAPIER returned thanks, and expressed the
deep regret which Mr. Brooke felt in being unable to
attend on that interesting occasion. He expressed his
conviction that in a few years the eastern seas would,
through the efforts of Mr. Brooke, be as free from
piracy as the seas surrounding the British islands,
and alluded to the important fact of all the British
settlements in that part of the world, including
Penang, Singapore, and Labuan, having been esta-
blished by peaceful means alone. He had only to
add, in regard to Mr. Brooke, that if the gentlemen
present had an opportunity of knowing him per-
sonally, he would be admired, respected, and beloved
by all.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the health of Mr.
Bonham, the Governor of Hong Kong.
Mr. Bosiness returned thanks, and expressed a hope
that by the adoption of a peaceable course on his part,
and on the part of those who would act with him, he
would be able to promote the prosperity of the colony
to which he had been appointed.
The CHAIRMAN next gave the health of Mr. Drink-
water Bethune, member of council.
Mr. BETHUNE returned thanks.
The next toast was " Mr. Garrard, prime warden
of the Goldsmiths' Company."
Mr. GARRARD returned thanks.
Mr. PORTER proposed " The Health of the Chair-
man."

The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and gave "Mr.
M‘Gregor and the Members of the House. of Com-
mons.'
Mr. It'GREGOR returned thanks, and dwelt at some
length on the important services rendered by indivi-
duals, unaided by Governments, in extending com-
merce and civilization over the world.
Mr. GREGSON also responded to the toast.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed " The Health of
Mr. Wise," a gentleman who had most ably seconded
Mr. Brooke in all his undertakings.
Mr. WISH returned thanks. He alluded to the
assistance afforded by her Majesty's present Govern-
ment to the settlement at Labuan. For four years
and a half he had been urged on by his honourable
friend, Mr. M'Gregor, under the most discouraging
circumstances, to persevere in his representations to
the late Government; but the dogged obstinacy of
one Minister, the apathy of another, or the cautious
timidity of a third, rendered all his efforts unavail-
ing, until at length fortunately the Whigs came in,
or else he believed both Mr. Brooke and himself
would have been wearing wigs before anything
would have been done.—(Laughter). since then,
however, every suggestion had been attended to and
every want supplied, by Earl Grey and the admirable
Under-Secretary, Mr. Hawes, and nothing could
be more flattering than the mode in which the new
colony had been launched before the world.
The CHAIRMAN next gave " The Health of the
Rev.'Mr. Brereton. and the success of the Borneo
mission."

Mr. BRERBTON returned thanks, and said he would
beg leave to read to the company an extract from a
letter from Mr. Brooke to Mr. Roussell, his repre-
sentative at Sarawak, in order to show the manner in
which the missionaries who had gone out there were
likely to be received, and the manner in which the
mission would be conducted. It was as follows :
" I have likewise to apprise you that lOU sterling
will be placed to your credit by the Sarawak mission,
which is for the purpose of providing materials for a
dwelling for the three clergymen, their wives, and
families. You had better provide balian posts, planks,
beams, joists, &c., &c., for a house similar to the new
Coast -house, and subsequently, if further accommoda-
tion be wanting, it can be joined on. You can get
ready everything for a cooking-room, and com-
fortable servants accommodation. When the mis-
sion first arrives, the upper part of the
Coast-house can be given to them for a residence.
I need scarcely recommend these gentlemen to the
kindness and consideration of our small community,
for I am sure you will all be most ready to do them
every good office with cheerfulness. The harmony
and charity of the European community must tend
to impress the natives with favourable ideas of our
moral superiority. In speaking of the mission to the
natives, the Malays do not make its advent a formal
or new matter ; dwell on the superior safety of the
country from their presence—the advantages to be
derived to the sick and the wounded, to the poor and
the oppressed ; speak of their goodness and their
charity, their skill in medicine, their chemical know-
ledge, their willingness to live under and obey thel
laws of the country, their desire to support myself
and and the Datus, &c., ice. Do. not make a set speech
all this, but let it drop out
. in converstaaltetnract ma
to time, as a subject which.
hdoje
ootsitimoneddtole alvgarilath
does not
Should
com-
manding attention,
. butthwh
oftheir religion,h
t the natives on account
it iatn3.o,ff;of
and
du perceive the
their religion unless they ask us to do so. Be very
soft with the Hadgis soothe them, for they must
become our instruments. All the Datus, Nacodas,
Hadgis, &c., and all the Europeans, will go to school
if they like, each to learn the language of the other.
Will you let all at Sarawak hear my wishes on this
subject. lam sure they will be glad to act as I
advise, and I will only repeat, be kind to those gen-
tlemen—render them every assistance, and let there.
be nothing frigid or school-like on their coming. Wet
must pave the way for them to gain the affection of
the natives, and trust to their discretion and judg-
ment so to temper their seal as to prevent even tl
faintest chance of uncharitable feelings arising be-
tween the Christian and Mahommedan communitiess.
No hatred is like the hatred theological, and if the
odium theologicum be once roused, farewell our hopes
of improvement, and farewell to the peace we have
heretofore enjoyed. Ido not, however, fear; and the
cause is so good and so sacred, that we must risk even
our peace to forward it."
The company then separated.