The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, 'LONDON) WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 29, 1 Sis 7.

when some 200 of the Chinese section of tile

Borneo-population (having secretly armed them-
selves) stealthily descaided the river as far as the

town of Kuchin, anrl—sun%lunaing it —made
sudden and desperate nocturual assault ou that

seat of the British Rajah's Gs)vernment. So ad-
mirably was this murderous adventure contrived,

at the moment when the attack commenced

inhabitants were one and all slumbering.

The

bloody work of the insurgent Kungsi began

ended for that night without one chance of
being in any way impeded, without the slightest
possibility of rousing among the assailed even a

and

" show" of retaliation.

The two Forts (one

above and the other below Kuchin, and both of

;hem together only garrisoned by a dozen men)

were at once seized by the Chinese insurgents.

The dwellings of the English residents and autho-
rities were simultaneously assailed. A magistrate's
house (that of Mr. CaooKsHANK) being broken
into, the occupant's wife was savagely wounded—

so savagely that upon the following morning she

was discovered all but dead in an adjacent

ungle. Mr. NICHOLETS, a guest in the RAJan's

household was murdered and his corpse burnt in
the ruins of Sir JAMESBROOKE'S residence. Mr.

WELLINGTON, one of the company's employees, was
also assassinated, and after assassination was de

capitated 1 Mr. MIDDLEToN, a settler at Kuchin,

had his house set in flames and two of his children
destroyed in the conflagration. His Excellency
himself contrived to elude the grasp of tie das-

tardly midnight cutthroats who were in search of
him, by an escape, as the phrase runs, almost
miraculous—certainly one very desperate Al ex-
traordinary. A few days previously, feeling in-
disposed, Sir JAMES meditated, it appears, an
excursion for change of air on the Sadong River
as far as Simunjang. His departure delayed,
however, by unforseen circunast ',noes, the R A JAIt
was now compelled by this abrupt nocturnal on-

slaught upou'his dwelling-house to pass through a
bath-room into the outer darkness : and by swim-
ming across a creek, near his residence, effected a
safe retreat to a contiguous Malay village. kean-
while—the flames spreading at Kuchin, the mur-
ders multiplying, the Treasury being sacked, the
Government property being either deAroyed or
purloined.

Such was the rebellious outrage perpetrated by
those 200 insurgent Kungsi or Chine,o during
that terrible midnight attack of the 17th-18th
February, upon the scat or headquarters of Sir
JAMES BROOKE'S Government.

Its origin—is easily traceable. The Chinese
section of the inhabitants of Borneo--a division
of the population numbering about 4,000 or
5,000 altogether—had always chafed and fretted
under the Rajah's authority from the very date
of the first establishment of his Administration.
They were evidently inflamed at last b this
sudden revolutionary and sanguinary outbreak
by the intelligence received of the atrocities
then recently perpetrated by their ce-barbarians
and fellow-cOuutrymen at Canton, and Whampoa,
and Hong Kong upon the local English Residents.
They determiued (as our Gallic neighbours have
it) to evidence in a very signal manner their
sympathetic fraternisation with YEE( and the other
Miscreant-" Celestials." To accomplish this the
most effectually they resolved upon putting to
death the whole of the British Political Authori-
ties, from the Rajah himself downwards to the
most humble of his official subordinates. Hence
the inhuman midnight attack—with fire and
sword—of the memorable 171.11-18th February.
But the R-►jah's Retaliation for this
Atrocity ? It was delayed, but it was
only When it came it was terri-
ble—it was complete and overwhelming. Having
returned a few days afterwards to Kuchin, to the
amazement of the Chinese, who had fully counted
upon his destruction, ho was again compelled to
beat a retreat, by reason of a total inadequacy to
contend with the superior numbers of the rebel-
marauders—retiring, however, not by any means
so precipitately as upon the furmer occasion, and
taking with him, upon this his second withdrawal
before them, the whole of the surviving Earo-
peens. Thereupon, he moved forward at once
towards Liuga—meeting, however, on his way
thither, a steamer (auspiciously Galled af,er him-
self, "The Sir James Brooke") fresh from Silage.-
pore. The Rajah returned on board that steamer
to Kuchin swept the Chinese Ruffians out
of the town they had only captared by a
bloody surprise—and Then, with the aid of the
neighbouring Malays and commenced the
deadly and terrible work of Retribution. A Re-
tribution, we repeat, the most complete and over-
whelming ! Everywhere the Chinese wore pur-
sued and shot down by the Maltys, the Dyaks, and
the British. The vengeance paused not until the
ruffian horde was all but aunihilated. Uati. Sir
JAMES BROOKE was able to write with appalling
brevity, " There is not a rooftree to cover their
dastard heads in the country." Until he could
add to this statement, "Out of a population of
from 4,000 to 5,000 not more than 2,000 have
escaped, and half this number is c composed of
women and children." And so crushing out
under his spurred heel a seed flame of rebellion
against British Rule that might otherwise have
spread in those eastern regions into one disastrous
conflagration, .the gallant English Knight has,
we repeat, by this latest and perhaps greatest of
his many remarkable achievements, sot the
seal to his heroic reputation. He has done
more lie has signally proved, at a time
in every way most opportune, that the
murderous 'weapons of a horde of Chinese Bar-
barians, are but so many reeds and daggers of
lath when opposed to the iron will of one daunt-
less and resolute Englishman.
How now about the miserable peace-at-any-
price principles of the so-called (but we exult to
know the erroneously so-called) Political School of
Manchester ? Had the policy of that bungling
and really despicable school been in vogue at Sa-
rawak—in what plight, at this moment, would
have been the representatives of British rule
at Borneo—and not only at Borneo, but
far and wide throughout the Great Eastern
Archipelago ? Away with the last shred
and vestige of tolerance for the craven phan-
tasies of this miserable mock philanthropy. It is
to daring and valorous Englielimen like Sir JANES
BROOKE, and not to any of these drivelling
Arcadians-in-Broadcloth that the nation must look
in the middle of this Nineteenth century for the
maintenance of our imperial glory and supremacy.

Ecce iterum Crispinus We have once more
intelligence of the notorious." Transit." Intelli-
gence which can surprise no person in any degree
acquainted with her antecedents. It is the second
time within the current month that this unfortu-
nate ship has served "t) point a moral and adorn
a tale"—the second time that the public has had
occasion to comment on the gross mismanagement
of those who originally selected such a vessel for
so arduous and important a duty as conveying a
largo body of troops and stores to China—and
who, notwithstanding her first failure, persevered,
in reckless defiance of the voice of public opinion,
in keeping her to the task for which she was
clearly and palpatly incompetent !
It was on Tuesthy, the 7th ice., that she

steamed from Portsmouth, having on board 800

officers and men, whose services were urgently
required at the earliest moment possible—the
letters and correspondence—all in fact that consti-
tutes a mail, besides ammunition, shot, shells, &c.

She was carrying the personnel and materiel of war,

with instructions from the Home Government,

,he.early arrival whereof would necessarily greatly

affect the satisfactory arrangement of the new
Eastern difficulty. The following day, within
less than 24 hours, the first break down took

place. The transport, conveying eight hundred
gallant men, eager for the opportunities of acquir-
ing distinction, returned to Spithead "almost in

a sinking state." The general feeling was,—
is well it is no worse"—that our gallant soldiers
were only subjected to annoyance, but that their
lives were still spared to render important ser-
vices to their country. All that was required was
that they should be able to proceed with the least
possible delay to their destination, so that their
absence might not damage our interests in Chins,

." It

cause ha presumed to talk iu most innocent ,

strains at South Molt m of the Whig Reforms he
had laelpad to obtain, and of the possibility of
some crumbs being yet to be picked up which fell
from the table iu 1632.
But now all at once Reform is a Parliamentary
necessity. Nobody wants it, it is true, but this
is because every one expects Parliament to attend
to it ! No one wants it, and yet we have chosen
members who are eitpectecl to look to it ! Rather
Delphic reasoning, to be sure. However, we
gladly pass by the temper in which the Times
turns round; indeed, its reluctance to give up its
old Palmerstouian programme only shows that the
new one is a necessity, not a choice. It is rather
promising to see that a journal which, to the last,
when wanting a task to keep the " large majority"
steady and sober, could find nothing better than
some old husky law reforms, now owns that these
are not enough. It is expected that Parliament
and PALMERSTON should take up Reform, and
take it up they must. Such is now the order
from Printing-house-square to PALMERSTON, or—

vice versa.
The terror of the would-be-still party is the
Sybil's leaves. A large working Liberal majority
and peace will compel something. Why, if it
were only for a little stimulus and excitement,
now we have no war, no great tariff reductions, and
ao Corn-law repeal to talk of, we must have a
Reform Bill. This seems now to be the great
fear. Leave it a little longer, and so glaring are
the inequalities of constituencies, and the injustice
of the present franchise, that it is but leaving a
stock iu trade for political agitators if Reform be
longer delayed. There's the League, out of work;
their old agitation is done with for ever, and as,
to do them justice, they have always been staunch
Reformers, what better can they do than com-
mence a Reform agitation ? They could do it
consistently. What would become of " well-con-
••iidered" Reform, of " judicious " Reform, of
Edinburgh, Review, and of Times Reform, if the
unadorned eloquence of Mr. COBDEN', and the
impassioned eloquence of Mr. BRIGHT, were let
,00se among the constituencies again T This seethe
zo be the dreaded thing just now, and not with-
out reason. We understand Mr. MILNER. GIBSON'
neans to give his business-like energies to the
Ballot Society. We welcome his help there, and
it will tell.
We are told by the Times that next Session is
the more convenient season. Of course. But pro-
bably Mr. BERXELEY will not wait on the conve-
aionce of Lord PALarERSTON and his journals.
Neither will Mr. LOCKZ KIN*. Lord JOHN
RUSSELL too—he will not prefer to push on the
question this Session, but then, he may be com-
pelled to do it. He cannot wait to be outbid.
fie will not like to be anticipated in his own de-
partment. The motions of others will oblige both
isim and Lord PA.LMERSTON to speak out a little ;
each, too, will ba on his own good behaviour before
the country, and must at least give us his draft
Reform Bill this Session. At present the offers
)f the Ministerial organ are meagre enough. Not
A single word respecting the Ballot ; too vulgar
radicalism that, for leading journals even to speak
if, fit only for BENTIISMS, and GROTZS, and
AOLBSWORTHS, and Colonel THOMPSONS, and the
rest of the noisy inconsiderat3 herd. No ; a
franchise extended to all the educated classes ;
some forty boroughs cashiered ; a few big towns
enfranchised, and a batch of minority meniliers in-
troduced as a compensating drag on the enlarged
constituencies, and that will do ! It will satisfy
the country. Wield it ? Let the Premier try
it on.

HEALTH OP THE DUCHESS OF GLOU-

CESTER.

The following bulletin was issued this morning :
" Gloucester House, April 29, 9 a.m.
"Her Royal Highness tbe Duchess of Gloucester
f. 3 more feeble to-day than her Royal Highness
was yesterday.
(Signed) "F. HAWKINS, M.D.
" ROBERT. FERGUSON, M.D.
" E. H. HILLS."

T
m IEI T
LA I

PERSIA.
MARSEILLES, ArIIL 28.

The intelligence of the Treaty of Peace between
lingland and Pei sia arrived at Bagdad on the 27th

of March.

FRANCE.
PARIS, TITESDAY EVENING.
The Duke de Cambaceres, grand master of the
ceremonies, has addressed to the foreign ambassa•
dors, the ministers, and high dignitaries of the
State, the programme which has been adopted re-
lative to the reception of the Grand Duke Constan-
tine at Marseilles, and Paris. After describing the
honours to be paid him at the two former cities,
and statirr, that at the railway stations of all the
towns in which the Prince may stop on his way
from Marseilles to Paris, the prefect and the gene-
ral commanding the department shall, with a de-
tachment of troops, be waiting to receive him, the
programme thus sets forth what is to be done at
Paris :--
" On his arrival in Paris, which will take place
in the afternoon of Thursday, 30th' April, the
Grand Duke will be received at the railway station
by Prince Napoleon who will a:Tompany him to
the Palace of the Tuileries. Two battalions of in-
fantry, one of them of the Imperial Guard, the
other of the line, are to be drawn up under arms
in the court-yard of the Paris terms. Court car-
riages, with an escort of cavalry of the Imperial
Guard, will await to conduct him and his
suite to the Palace of the Tuileries, where apart-
ments will be prepared for him. On all the line
of the cortege the soldiers in the guard-houses are
to present arms, and the drums to be tt a salute ;
at the Tuileries the ordinary guard of the Palace
will render to H.I.H. the honours due to the
princes of the Imperial family. On his arrival at
the Palace will be received at the foot of the
staircase of the Pavilion de l'Elorloge by the Grand.
Master of the Ceremonies and the Grand Chamber-
lain. The Eaiperor will wait at the top of the
staircase to receive H.1.H.; his Majesty will after-
wards conduct him into tLe saloon, in which the

Empress, surrounded by the officers and ladies of
her household, will be seated ; the presentation of
persons composing the service of honour will take
place immediately. During the stay of H.I.H. the
following persons of the household of the Emperor
shall compose the service of honour of H.1.H.:
—the Marquis de Belmont, chamberlain to the
Emperor ; Baron de Bourgoing, equerry to H. M. ;
and Lieutenant-Colonel Fave, orderly officer to the
Ensperor (these gentlemen receive the Grand Duke
at Marseilles, and accompany him to Paris). A
service for the table, chamber, and stables, will be
prepared for H. I. f. Every time that H. I. H.
gots out, an escort of honour will precede and
follow' his carriag?, unless he shall otherwise order.
Oa the day of the arrival at Paris of the Grand
Duke, the great officers of the crown, the officers
of the households of their Majesties and of their
Imperial Highnesses, and the presidents of the
Senate, the Legislative Body, and the Council of
State will inscrib3 their names in H. I. H.'s visiting
book."
It has been stated that a grand review in honour
of the Grand Duke is to take place in the Champ
de Mars on the 6th ; the troops under arms will, it
is said, be 50,000 in number.
.Bounsz, April 28.—The following were the last
quotations

Cash. fr. c
4i per °tints
3 por Cents 63 95
Bank Shares 4,375
Credit Mobilier 1,310 Roman
Do. Account — Austrian
Belgian 4
Piedmontese (5) 9O -- Home Debt
RAILWAYS—FOR CASH.

End of Month.
—fr.
68 95

fr. c. fr c,
Orleans 1,470 Western
Northern -
Lyons . 1,560 New Ditto -
Mediterranean 2,112A— Grand Central -
Geneva - Sardinian -
Midi - Austrian Corn.

Genoa touching the portion of entrance dues which I
are to be p:tid ins o the royal tr Thu law
fixes the sum at 80.06017 c.: tho coniinuml ocuucil 1

in its hot siltivg:virru,l)y refer e 1 to pay- the tax.
by voting only 90,000 fr.; af,er which the whol
council resigned. It is believed that the Govern-
ment will send a royal coannissoner to take charge
of the munic:pal affairs of the city until the council
be re-organised.

From an official report published by the Moni-
tore Toscano, it appears that the net Produce of
the Tuscan Cuetorus in 1856 was 16,446,691 lire
(13,7415,575-fiance), being 556,851 lire more than
the sum fixed in the budget for that year.