The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-11 00:00:00

recognition give the necessary security to the en-
terprise of the great capitalists in the eastern trade,
there is no doubt but the pearl shell fisheries would
be developed and attention paid to the cultivation
of such articles as coffee, cotton, indigo, black and
white pepper, &c., for which thq climate of Borneo
is admirably suited. It is highly important to the
trade of this country that every encouragement
should be given to increase the supplies of these
articles, and it seems to us desirable to prevent, so
far as we can, any adverse or ill-considered move-
ment on the part of her Majesty's Government, cal-
culated to withdraw the protection and security of
the British flag from this important settlement.
We may state, moreover, from private advices, that
Sarawak is ready to take any number of convicts
from India, which would be a relief to the govern-
ment, as the Andamans can receive but a small
number, while in Sarawak their work would be
available, and attended with comparatively
slight expense. It is said that this movement
will receive some opposition from those who are
prepardd to attack the conduct and proceedings
of Sir James Brooke in establishing himself at Sara-
wak, but we think, and believe we think rightly,
that this point should not be allowed to interfere
with the consideration of the commercial impor-
tance of the settlement, and with the great desir-
ability of securing it not only. to English commerce,
but also from the enterprising activity of Dutch
traders." Mr. Wright went on to say that he
thought they could not overrate the importance of
the question. He believed that this country was
destined to develop the natural resources of Borneo,
as well as its religious and intellectual power. The
monopolising spirit of the Dutch in the Eastern
Archipelago ought to make the English Govern-
ment and people act with caution ere they sacrificed
any hold they now possessed in that region. At
Singapore everything was free in accordance with
our advanced ideas as to commerce, but at Java and
the other Dutch settlements the most narrow spirit
prevailed, as well as slavery and forced work.
Every article of British merchandise had to pay an
import duty of 10 per cent. (Mr. Fletcher : Thirty-
five per cent.) Looking at the importance of
Borneo, in a commercial sense, but more especially
as a station for English shipping, he felt that the
question was as important a one as the chamber
could take into consideration. He admitted that
he looked upon Sir James Brooke as a nineteenth
century buccaneer • but even if they
.disapproved of
some of his acts, this ought not to influence their
opinion of a matter which had an important bear-
ing on the interests of civilisation. If a few
thousand pounds would get rid of him—for it was
certainly an anomalous thing to find an English-
man a Rajah—probably the money would be well
spent.
Mr. T. C. SALT maintained that as a question of
morality they ought to maintain the settlement at
Borneo. There has been nothing but rapine and
piracy in those seas for 200 years, and English
power was the only thing which would put it down.
If it were a mere trading question he should have
the greatest contempt for it, unless it had a bear-
ing on civilisation. He should move as an amend-
ment that a sub-committee be appointed to inquire
into the subject and report.
This was seconded by Mr. J. STURGE, and Mr.
Muntz withdrew his proposition in its favour.
Mr. S. S. LLOYD said the question stood thus.
Here was a colony of our countrymen in possession
of a certain tract of country. Whether they were
so rightly or wongly, there they were, with Mr.
Muntz's special horror, a bishop, alive and kicking
for the last twelve years. (Laughter.) They were
bound to assume that every Englishman was a just
and honest man, until they found him to be other-
wise. Sir James Brooke had been exonerated by a
Government commission, and he had been honoured
by her Majesty; and therefore upon Mr. Sturge
and those who thought protection should be with.
drawn lay the onus probandi to show cause. He
(Mr. Lloyd) did not agree with Mr. Muntz about
the impolicy or anti-Christianity of our taking pos-
sesion of territory in other parts of the world. If
this was true, the United States were the greatest
sinners alive. The Indians of Florida, Texas, and
California were having their throats cut in turn for
the sake of territory. But in this case there was no
blood to be shed. The question was simply whether
a body. of our countrymen, having formed a settle-
ment in the Eastern Archipelago, and having asked
us to cover "them with the British flag, were to be
left without the protection they asked.
Mr. STURGE asked how many Englishmen were
at Sarawak ? His impression was that there were
about a dozen.

Mr. LLOYD—They were sufficient to put down an
insurrection got up by several thousand Chinese.
Mr. FLErcHER—And out of the " dozen" Euro-
peans thirty were killed.
Mr. WRIGHT moved, as an amendment, "That
a memorial from this chamber be sent to
Government, praying for preliminary inquiry into
the advantages likely to result to civilisation
and commerce from taking possession of Sarawak.
and how far such possession can be taken in equity
to Sir James Brooke and the Sultan and natives of
Borneo."
Mr. BROWETT seconded this motion at some
length. He showed that the conduct of Sir James
Brooke had been approved, after discussion in the
House of Commons, by a majority of 230 to 19; and
in reference to the advantages of granting protec-
tion to Sarawak, admitted that in his eyes the great
point was its convenience as a naval station. He
believed Sir James had been a benefit to society.
After some remarks from Mr. Robottom as to the
natural resources of Borneo, and from Mr. Lloyd
in favour of the chamber coming to an opinion of its
own on the facts, the Chairman closed the debate
by admitting that he saw no reason why this coun-
try might not purchase Sir J. Brooke's right, if it
were likely to be advantageous, seeing that posses-
sion of the country had not been obtained by un-
justifiable means.
On a division, Mr. Wright's amendment was car-
ried, and the proceedings then closed with a vote
of thanks to the chairman.

MR. J. CLAY, M.P., ON FRIENDLY

SOCIETIES:

On Friday evening Mr. J. Clay, M.P., attended
a party of about 190 members and visitors of the
James Clay Lodge of the Order of Ancient Druids,
at the Whittington and Cat, Castle-row, Hull. Mr.
Warriner, the Chief Druid of the lodge, presided,
having on his right Mr. Clay, who, at a lodge held
the same evening at the Blue Bell, Market-place,
had been " made ' a Druid.

After the usual loyal toasts, the CHAIRMAN, in a
brief historical speech, proposed "The healthpfJames
Clay, Esq., and the Lodge," which was received
with much applause and drunk with honours.
Mr. CLAY, in acknowledging, the compliment,
said politics were very well in their place, butthere
were other subjects quite as much worthy of atten-
tion, and amongst those subjects he knew of few
more interesting, especially to the working classes,
than the history and the knowledge of the spirit of
societies such as this, which have so great an influ-
ence on the happiness of the people. What did the
friendly societies of this country mean ? The
friendly societies of this country constituted one of
the most remarkable, monuments of the providence
and foresight of the people which the history of the
world affords. They meant an institution in which
probably one-third of all the people of England and
Wales were deeply interested ; because the members
alone of these societies exceeded two millions, and
almost all, or at least the greater portion, of those
members had famil;es. It by no means, therefore,
appeared an exaggeration to say that one-third of
the whole population of the United Kingdom were
interested in the good conduct and success of those
societies. They meant further, that a sum of up-
wards of £9,000,000 sterling had been collected by
tnese societies to lie (Usti-MU-Lea specially uu objects
of charity ; they meant that a sum of more than one
million annually was dispensed by these societies in
the relief of the aged and the sick. These few
figures justified him in what he had said, viz., that
these societies appeared a monument of the goodness
and forethought of our people, such as was wholly,
unprecedented in the history of the world. As to
the Druids' society, he most cordially agreed with
the chairman, that it would be for the best interests
of such a society to be enrolled. (Cheers.) Without
enrolment there was no security from frauds, and
uo security for the permanence of their charitable
intentions. Another benefit from enrolment was
that it compelled the society to have its rules sub-
mitted to the examination of a thoroughly educated
and practical actuary, who must certify that the
scale of contribution and of distribution was such
as would ensure that those contributions would
be adequate for the return of the money in
the time of sickness and old age—thus giving
to these societies the elements of permanence.
There was no fear of these societies in general not
answering for 10 or 15 years, but it was when
societies became 30 years of age that their funds
were most severely tested, and it was most essential
that the members should know that their funds
would be forthcoming for the charitable objects for
which they were now bestowing their money and
their time. Again by enrolment, these funds were
limited to be distributed in no other way but for
the charitable purposes for which they were con-
tributed. Beyond all this there was connected
with these societies a fund—an excellent and beau-
tiful feature for which no compulsory payments
were ever made, but resting entirely upon their
voluntary offerings—viz., a fund for the support of
their widows and orphans. (Cheers.) He felt
quite sure, from the way that remark had been re-
ceived, that branch of the society would be encou-
raged and go on to prosperity. He proposed to
himself the pleasure of making the first contribu-