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

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1857

Honour to the brave Rajah of Sarawak ! Ha
has by his last brilliant and daring achievement
set the seal to his heroic reputation—the reputa-
tion of one of the most adventurous and enter-
prising of all the adventurous and enterprising
Englishmen of our generation.

Elsewhere in our impression of this evening
will be found the simple and manly record of
these remarkable proceedings on the part of Sir
JAMES BROOKE, penned by his Excellency himself
in the form of a most explicit and detailed com-
munication. Together with this particularly
straightforward and unostentatious narrative,
there have come to us, happily, the opportune
commentaries of the local journals of Singapore.
Nevertheless, even without the adventitious light
thrown by these last-mentioned advices upon the
recent exploits of Rajah BROOKE in Borneo, it
would be impossible not to recognise in the mere
outline of the "facts" recounted with so much
modest precision by his own hand, conclusive at-
testation of that skill and valour, of that instant
promptitude, and of that perfect self-possession by
which the conduct of this extraordinary man lvs
throughout the whole of these perillous proceed-
ings been pre-eminently distinguished.
What are those. facts? They are worthy of re-
capitulation : I

t Ni as abou) midnigh.: on the 17th-18th Feb.

when some 200 of the Chinese section of the
Borneo-population (having secretly armed them-
selves) stealthily descended the river as far as the
town of Kuchin, ani—surrounding it—made a
sudden and desperate nocturnal assault 'on that
seat of the British Rajah's Government. So ad-
mirably was this murderous adventure contrived,

hat at the moment when the attack commenced

the inhabitants were one and all slumbering.
The bloody work of the insurgent Kungsi began
and ended for that night without one chance of
being in any way impeded, without the slightest
possibility of rousing among the assailed even a
"show" of retaliation. The two Forts (one
above and the other below Kuchin, and both of
them 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. CROOKSHINK) 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
jungle. Mr. NICHOLETS, a guest in the RAJAU's
household was murdered and his corpse burnt in

the ruins of Sir JAMES' BROOKE'S residence. Mr.

WELLINGTON, one of the company's employees, was
'also assassinated, and after assassination was de
capitated I Mr. MIDDLETON, a settler at Kuchie,
had his house set in flames and two of his children
destroyed in the conflagration. His Excellency
himself contrived to elude the grasp of the das-
tardly midnight cutthroats who were in search of
him, by an escape, as the phrase runs, almost
miraculous—certainly one very desperate and ex-
traordinary. A few days previously, feeling in-

disposed, Sir JAMES meditated, it appears, an

excursion for change of air on the Sadoug River
as far as Simunjang. His departure delayed,
however, by unforseen circumstances, the RAJAH
was now compelled by this abrupt nocturnal on-
slaught upon 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. Mean-
while—the flames spreading at Kuchin, the mur-
ders multiplying, the Treasury being sacked, the
Government property being either destroyed or
purloined.

Such was the rebellious outrage perpetrated by
those 200 insurgent Kungsi or Chinese during
that terrible midnight attack of the 17th-18th
February, upon the seat 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 pooulatiou numbering about 4,000 or
1,000 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 to this
sudden revolutionary and sanguinary outbreak
by the intelligence received of the atrocities
then recently perpetrated by their co-barbarians
and fellow-countrymen at Canton, and Whampoa,
and Hong Kong upon the local English Residents.
They determined (as our Gallic neighbours have
it) to evidence a very signal manner their

sympathetic fraternisation with YEH and the other
Miscreant-" Celestials." To accomplish this the
most effectuAlly tlit,y 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 17th-18th February.
But the Raales Retaliation for this
Atrocity ? It was delayed, but it was
onlyc:b.When it came it was terri-
ble—it was complete and overwhelming. Having
returned a few days afterwards to Knehin, to the
amazement of the Chinese, who had fully counted
upon his destruction, lie 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 former occasion, and
baking with him, upon this his second withdrawal
before them, the whole of the surviving Euro-
peans. Thereupon, he moved forward at once
towards Linga—meeting, however, on his way
thither, a steamer (auspiciously called after him-
self, "The Sir James Brooke") fresh from Singa-
pore. The Rajah returned on board that steamer
to Kuchin —swept the Chinese Ruffians out
of the town they had only captured by a
bloody surprise—and Then, with the aid of the
neighbouring Malays and Dyaks, -commenced the

'deadly and terrible work of Retribution. A Re-
tribution, we repeat, the most complete and over-
whelming ! Everywhere the Chinese were pur-
sued and shot down by the Malays, the Dyaks, and
the British. The vengeance paused not until the
ruffian horde was all but annihilated. Uutd 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 t) this statament, " Out of a population of
from 4,000 to 5,000 not more than 2,000 have
escaped, and half this number is 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, set the
seal to his heroic reputation. He has done
more —be 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 arid resolute Englishman.

How now abour, the miserable peace-at-any-
price principles of the so-called (but we exult to
know the euroneously 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-

t isles of this miserable mock philanthropy. It is
to daring and valorous Englishmen like Sir JAMES
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 " to 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
large 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 palpably incompetent !
It was ou Tuesday, the 7th inst., 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,
the 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,—" It
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,
and the various settlements in its vicinity.
The painful lesson was, however, disregarded.
" My Lords" were enamoured of the Transit—
resolved to stick to her " through good report
and through bad report." The damage, which
was occasioned by drifting on the fluke of the
anchor in a fog, was hastily repaired, and the
men and stores again embarked. Some valuable
time had been lost, but what was that to
Sir CHARLES WOOD and his subordinates ?
It would be altogether contrary to offi-
cial precedent if everything proceeded right
in the early stages of a great war, and they were
not the men to disregard " the interests of red-
tapeism." There were also grave mistakes at the
commencement of the Russian contest, and it was
only a fitting tribute of respect to their predecessors
that the ordinary routine should be strictly ob-
served. It is said that there was once a feeling
against employing unfortunate captains, and that
the fact of losing one vessel was not considered
the best possible recommendation for obtaining
the command of another. But it is manifest that
this does not apply to the vessels themselves.
The casualties may have arisen from palpable defi-
ciencies. The damage to the Transit was there-
fore speedily repaired, and she was again des-
patched with troops and stores for the scene of
strife.

The result may easily be anticipated. We are
told that " She has put into Corunna, in deep
distress " This time it was no casualty ! The
bad qualities of the " old tub" were displayed at
the first test. Two days' trial proved her absolute
inefficiency. She was " crank, top-heavy, and
everything bad." " The rigging was never
or anything secured." it was " with difficulty
that the masts were kept from going over the
side," and the crew had "to get tackles across
the deck, from side to side, to brace the rigging
in to save the spars." There were not " one
dozes men on board with dry hammocks, every
seam is her deck letting in water. Extra
grog was distributed in order to enable the men
to endure these hardships." What, then, would
have been their position had she persevered in the
inauspicious voyage ? Perhaps not a single sur-
vivor would have remained to tell the deplorable
tale, or to demand the exemplary punishment of
those whose careless and apathetic indifference
bad occasioned the fearful calamity. There would
have been another item added to the disasters at
sea—another vessel which had departed but
never reached its destination—whose future
history was a blank calculated to inspire
awe and to prove the dangers to which all
are exposed, who venture to sea with but a plank
between them and eternity. The letter from a
passenger in the ill-fated vessel, which will be
found in another part of this day's impression,
and to which we earnestly invite attention, so gra-
phically explains the case, that it is quite unne-
cessary to dwell at greater length on this part of
the transaction. It is manifest that a great
responsibility attaches to the Board, and even to
every individual member, for their reckless dis-
regard of the warnings of experience the calm
indifference with which they placed the lives of
800 gallant soldiers, besides the ship's company,
and the honour and interests of their country in
jeopardy.
Nor was there the slightest necessity for en-
countering so serious a risk. There were many
vessels that might have been made available, the
well-disciplined crews whereof wore paid off and
cast adrift 1 Many of the Mediterranean fleet, too,
would have been just as usefully occupied in con-
veying the troops and stores to Hong Kong as in
cruising idly from port to port. Why should
there be any procrastination, when not only the
lives and property of our fellow-subjects in
China, but . the national honour, was at
stake ? The loss of a single day might occa-
sion irreparable mischief. The vindictive and
malevolent disposition of "the celestials" is now
thoroughly understood. There is no atrocity of
which they are not capable, and they ascribe alt
our shortcomings to fear. A striking example is
indispensable. But Sir C. WOOD and his colleagues
seem resolved that the example shall not be given.
They at least do all in their power to prevent
it. And if the war should happily be brought to a
speedy conclusion it will not be to their zeal or
efficiency that we are indebted for the fact. Great
Britain may still triumph, but it will not be in
consequence, but rather i❑ spite, of their proceed-
ings. We trust that there will be a Parliamentary
investigation into the case. It will be very pro-
perly conducted in the Upper House, many of
whose members can speak from bitter experience
of the undoubted deficiencies and discomforts of
the notorious Transit• transport vessel. They,
however, only lost sight of a naval review—the
90th Regiment row' be prevented from partici-
pating in the Chine:Jo war, through her inefficiency,
aye, and think thienselves fortunate that they Are
sacrificed as victiims at the shrine of official U red
tapistn."

The eve of 'Parliament has come, and the Pre-
mier makes Ivo sign. Sir G. C. LEWIS has spoken,
and Lord Jo RN RUSSELL has spoken, but still no
sign—nothi no but "progress and order"--a pro-
gramme which the absolute Master of France
himself could furnish, as well as an English Mem-
ber of Parliament. But the Times has spoken,
and has mi ide its sign ; the Times, last Monday,
actually ea me out with a leader advocating Par-
liamentar3 Reform To be sure the oracle does
it very g rudgingly for long weeks and mouths
has it be, 3n proo),airaing that no one wanted a
Rtifurm f;ill ; every candidate, where there was a
spark of 'independence, was, indeed, catechised on
the subj ect ; extension of the suffrage and the
B !Hot, sere universal passports to popular favour ;
last ses' lion began, the dissolution took place, the
elections proceeded with universal demand for
refortr,, yet, strange to say, no one wanted it.
A PiALMERSTON Parliament was chosen, but it was
notf)riousIy•PALMERSTON and REFORM, yet, who
wa-ated Reform ? Tory and Whig journals ex-
pr,!,ssed their fears that Lord PALMERSTON would
bo, forced to yield to the pressure ; Radical papers
did not, of course, doubt it, but the oracle scoffed
at the idea. Only so recently as Friday last, I
it hunted poor Lord J. RUSSELL mercilessly, be-