COLONIAL.
The general colonial interests of the United Kingdom were flourishing. Extensive reports were published this year by government, which showed that nearly all the colonies were making great and rapid strides on the road of material progress and prosperity.
SARAWAK.
The independent British settlement of Sarawak, in the island of Borneo, was exposed to imminent peril of utter destruction. Sir James Brooke, anxious to restore British influence in the Eastern Archipelago, which the policy of former governments of Great Britain had ignorantly and recklessly sacrificed to the Dutch, established at Sarawak an English settlement, upon which chivalrous attempt he expended a large private fortune, risked life in almost every form, and by undaunted courage, perseverance, energy, and talent, succeeded in his undertaking. The British government, after recognising his position and fostering it, refused to accept its sovereignty for her majesty, or to adopt the means necessary either for forming Sarawak into a colony, or establishing there an ostensible and real protectorate. Sir James Brooke did great things for his country, and met with injustice, and as far as the government was concerned, ingratitude, in return. A concession of Sarawak having been made to him by the prince who had power to make it, the English government recognised him as rajah of the territory, but left him to his own resources, except as an occasional ship of war arrived, and joined with him in some gallant exploit to put down piracy in the neighbouring seas. In the industrial enterprises of the rajah, Chinese immigrants were encouraged to work the mines, and toil in other industrial pursuits. These persons rose in insurrection against the rajah, and brought on a terrible catastrophe of bloodshed and destruction. In waging the war of 1856-7, the Chinese government sent orders to its subjects, emigrants in British settlements, to hold themselves in readiness to obey the commands of their mandarins, and attack the British in those countries whenever summoned to do so. These commands were received with ready obedience, and consequently at Hongkong, Australia, Singapore, and Sarawak, mischief was effected in proportion to the number and relative power of the Chinese. In Australia they could effect nothing except a few trivial but treacherous outrages, which incurred a barbarous retaliation. At Hong-kong the agitation, inconvenience, and danger of the English were very great. At Singapore a terrible outbreak was threatened and expected, but the energy and steadfastness of the English, their success in China, and the bloody defeat of the insurgents at Sarawak, deterred the Singapore Chinese from any combined and vigorous attempt. It would appear that batches of fresh immigrants arrived from Penang and Malacca, and brought orders from their mandarins to rise and attack the English. The Chinese population of Sarawak exceeded 5,000, about one-tenth being children, and perhaps a twentieth women. These settlers lived in communities, were very industrious and very prosperous; they were favoured by the English because of their plodding perseverance, and hard-working habits. They made no complaints, were treated kindly, and were apparently as happy as in their industrial pursuits they were successful. On the night of the 18th of February, marching in a body, the whole Chinese force of the settlement attacked the little capital, set fire to the houses, murdered several English and their servants, endeavoured to seize the person of the rajah, and succeeded in making the bishop captive, burning his valuable library, and committing every sort of depredation. They preserved the bishop unmolested, in the hope of using him, in case of defeat, to make better terms for themselves, or, in case of success, to induce him to act as their negotiator with foreign barbarians! The rajah, and most of the English settlers, escaped to the opposite side of the river, where they concealed themselves in various places adapted to their purpose, until a body of Dyaks (natives of the country) were gathered for their defence. A small British steamer opportunely entered the river, which, with the English residents and the Dyaks, attacked the Chinese, defeated them, slew three-fourths of the men, drove the rest into the interior, burned down their villages, and executed upon them a terrible vengeance. Sir James Brooke, with his usual energy and dexterity, repaired the disaster, and subjected future Chinese settlers to regulations which rendered rebellion too desperate for attempt.
INDIA.
The year 1857 will be ever memorable in the history of India. A mutiny, chiefly of the Bengal army, and a rebellion, chiefly in the Bengal provinces, disturbed the whole country from Cape Comorin to the Himalayehs, agitated deeply the British empire, and excited the attention and astonishment of the world. The progress of commerce, revenue, and prosperity in every form was of course interrupted. Nevertheless, during a portion of the year, and over a large area, the usual operations of trade were continued. While a brilliant career of material improvement and commercial advancement was developed by our Indian empire, the event burst forth which deluged the Bengal provinces, and Central India, with blood, and appalled the world. It is now our duty to give a brief record of that terrible event.