The Sun. — 1859-09-13 (London, England)

THE RECENT MASSACRES IN BORNEO.  A writer irr a contemporary says :—Sir,—Although the importance of Sarawak and the northwest coast of Borneo to British interests in the China Seas may r.ot be acknowledged by the Government of thiv country, and it may be determined to decline the cession of the province from Rajah Brooke, yet it must be admitted that British subjects there resident are entitled to that protection which is exteyded by their Government to their fellow countrymen in all other parts of the world. This protection is the mainstay of British enterprise, and however necessary it may be to place a limit to its extension in semi-civilised or barbarous lands, yet where the residents have become such either with the tacit consent, or at the direct instance of, the Crown, their protection ceases to be a privilege, and becomes a right. Now Sarawak, as a separate State, has been most distinctly recognised by this country, and its importance has been so far publicly acknowledged as to induce many Englishmen to become resident in it. Moreover, a bishop has been appointed nominally to the see of Labuan, which is a pestilential fever. stricken rock unfit for habitation by Europeans, and of very doubtful value as a naval station, but practically upon the express understanding that he should reside at Sarawak, and superint.md the missions of the Church of England in Borneo. In this manner, in the interests of religion and commerce, and in addition to the governing class of Englishmen who are headed by the Rajah, a community has been formed than which none is more worthy of the protectinn of the country. It is, then, a cause for the deepest anxiety that we are told that that community is threatened with massacre; and that, notwithstanding the large force now operating in China, even the shadow of British protection is withheld from it. To prove that the fear expressed is not imaginary, I add an extract from a letter received by the last mail from Sarawak. My correspondent, who is not a person of cowardly or even nervous temperament, writes : "There are sad doings going on here among our neighbours the Dutch. The Malays at Bangarmassim have risen, and are cutting the white men's throats right and left. About 20 Dutch officers and their families have been murdered ; also our poor friend Mottley, his wife, and three children, and four of the German missionaries, with their wives and families, among the Dyaks, have also met the same fate. The Resident at Sautong, too, M. Goffroon, who helped us in the China outbreak, and with whom C. J-- has been frequently in communication from Sakarran, has been murdered. These things are very awful, and come near to us. J-- and the others, though they are very confident that our people will not act so, whatever happens, are, I think, somewhat nervous, as is natural. It is very true that the Dutch have been harsh and grinding to the natives, but I fear that there is a growing spirit of hatred to the -white man and Christians in general." The writer then goes on to lament that no naval protection is afforded them. It is not, however, asked that a British squadron should defend the Government of Rajah Brooke in Sarawak. That Government is founded on tne will, as well as the best interests of the people, and if they desire a change it will cease; but it is asked that the massacre of Englishmen should not be passed over un, noticed, and that a threatened calamity should be averted, if it can be so, as is not doubted, by the occasional visit of a cruiser. I make this representation to you, sir, as a further appeal to the Government to afford that protection to our fellow. countrymen which the facts above related demand, and that promptly. The subject may be passed over with a sneer, and some trite maxim of political economy, but if an impending outrage is invited by the apathy of our rulers, when the blow has fallen a storm of indignation may arise at home to which even a strong Government may not be wholly indifferent. fly. I