The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-01 00:00:00

THEATR
he -ROY AL, DRURY-LANE.—Unde
Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W
Harrison.
THIS .EVENING, IL TROVATORE. Miss L.
G over,
Miss Susan Tyne, Miss M. Prescott, Mr. Ferdinand
Mr. J. G. Patey, anCondd uctMr. W. Ilarrison.
or—Mr. Alfred Mellon.
To conclude with a new Ballet Divertissement, LA FLEUIt
D'AMO UR : Mesdlles. L. Michelet, Morlacchi, and Pasquale.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
L-11) Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean.
THIS RVENING will be presented Shakspere's Tragedy of
MACBETH.
Macbeth Mr. C. Kean ; Lady Macbeth, Mrs. C. Kean.
Preceded by a new Farce, in one act, entitled
THIRTY-THREE NEXT BIRTHDAY.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
TILTS EVENING will be performed THE RIVALS.
Mr. Buckstone and Miss Reynolds.
A new Spanish Ballet, THE INFLUENCE OF GRACE,
in which Perea Nena will appear.
With WHITEBAIT AT GREENWICH. John Small, by
Sir Wm. Don, Bart.
And ANY PORT IN A STORM. •

Commenee at 7.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE
Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, THE LITTLE SAVAGE.
After which THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE.
WOOING IN JEST AND LOVING IN EARNEST
Miss Swanborough.
And THE BONNIE FISH WIFE.
Commence at 7 o'clock.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE,
Westminster-road.
Sole Lessee, Mr. William Cooke.
By Special Desire, for Five Nights longer.
THIS EVENING, and during the week, will be presented
Shakapere's Tragedy of KING RICHARD THE THIRD ;
or, The Death of White Surrey, reproduced with all its origi-
nal splendid effects. The Duke of Gloater, Mr. Holloway ;
Richmond, Mr. 11. Phillips.
Followed by SCENES IN THE ARENA, and a variety
of inimitable feats of Equitation by those talented artistes,
Madame Blanche, Miss Emily Cooke, Madame Fleurette, Mr.
W. Cooke, Mr. Runnels, Mr. W. Cooke, jun., &c.
On Saturday next will be produced, for the first time, a new
grand Spectacle, with most peculiar effects, entitled LIFE
IN THE EAST ; or, The Sepoy Revolt, embracing the entire
strength of-this vast Hippodramatic Temple.
No fees to box-keepers. The art of riding taught.
Commence at seven.
Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips.

CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.—
Proprietor—C. MORTON.
The public is most respectfully informed that the FINE
ARTS GALLERY, in connection with the above Hall, IS NOW
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 12
o'clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec-
tion of 'Pictures, by Ancient and Modern Masters and is also
devoted to Art productions generally. The Proprietor feels
he may confidently assert that, viewed altogether, the exist-
ing Music Hall, the New Fine Arts Gallery, and the recently
added Ante-Hall, will present an attraction which, whether
as regards the architectural beauty of the structures them-
selves, or the varied and hitherto unattempted combinations
within, will be found to be wholly without parallel in the
Kingdom.
The MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT commences as usual at
Seven o'clock.

THE WEATHER.—Surr Orricr, DEC. 1.

THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.

•
49—highest since noon yesterday.
47—lowest this morning and during the night.
48—this day at noon.

BAROMETER-29.83.
WIND, North-Westerly; light, with fine weather.

THE SUN.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1858.

We regret to find, from the answer given by Lord
DERBY to the numerous and influential deputation
which waited on him yesterday in reference to the
propriety of retaining the State of Sarawak under
the protectorate of the British Government, that
his Lordship's opinion, and that of his colleagues,
had been, and was, up to the present moment,
adverse to any of the propositions which had been
put forward by, or on behalf of, Sir JAMES BROOKE.
Fortunately, however, this is not a final decision,
and although the Premier may not at present think
it ,6 likely that any of the propositions would be
accepted," yet, as he has expressed his
readiness to take into consideration any sug-
gestion that may be made to him by
gentlemen of experience and knowledge, we may
earnestly hope that the many important advan-
tages
"looming in the future," from the possession
of Sarawak, now more valuable than ever from our
new relations with China, Japan, &c., will turn the
scale, and that theinterests, and, we may almost add,
the prestige of Great Britain may not be sacrificed in
the Eastern seas. It is, unfortunately, but too
notorious that there are many hungry expectants
only too anxious to struggle for the possession of
the territory—the value whereof they can
fully appreciate, should it be abandoned by
England and surrendered to their tender
mercies: In hostile or even neutral hands
it might become " a thorn in the side of British
commerce." The Dutch system of exclusive deal-
ing or monopoly would be fatal to our interest, and
it would scarcely be better should it fall into the
hands of Russia or the United States, or, indeed,
of any other Power desirous of obtaining " a local
habitation and a name" in these waters.
Lord DERBY declared that Sir JAMES BROOKE
had "no claim upon the Government in respect of
what he had d'z.ne for his own purposes and objects,"
that " his was a half political and half commercial
speculation," and that " it must be a matter of pure
balance of the advantages or disadvantages of
taking or not taking this as a settlement, even sup-
posing, under the terms of his engagement, Sir
JAMES BROOKE had the power to make over the
sovereignty without the consent of the Sultan of
Borneo." We cannot take quite so restricted a
view of the matter. We cannot forget the chival-
rous courage and disinterested magnanimity dis-
played by Sir JAMES BROOKE from the very begin.
ning of his career, when, for the sake of humanity

in general, and Great Britain in particular, he en-
gaged in a dangerous and expensive contest, risking
his life and fortune in a very doubtful contest. His
conduct was, indeed, beyond all praise. It gained
respect and honour for the British name, and the
entire nation has benefited by the prestige thus
acquired, The romantic incidents of his extra-
ordinary career, combined with the fact that a
British subject had become, to all intents and pur-
poses, an independant Sovereign,were not only the
admiration of the nation, but of the Government.
He received honour and distinction, and the in-
fluence which he had obtained in Borneo was
turned to advantage by our Government. There
can be but little doubt that his energetic
proceedings, and the manner in which he destroyed

the pirates that had been the scourge of the sur-
rounding districts, greatly advanced the honour of
England, and rendered the different nations more
ready to deal with her than they would preciously
have been. However, as gratitude is scarcely to be
anticipated from governments or corporations,
and
is seldom, if ever, connected with political events,
we must be contented to take a limited view of the
subject, and argue it on public and general grounds.
The possession of Sarawak is doubly important,
as well for the value it may be while in our hands
as for the detriment it may occasion if in the hands
of an opponent. It commands the Chinese Seas,
and might be used for purposes either offensive or
defensive of our trade. It possesses immenso
scams of coal, which can be worked at a trilling
expense, and will supply, on the most reasonable
terms, a necessary article to the steamers that may
be navigating in that quarter. It would also
be an important, indeed an indispensable, sta-

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