them comprehend that they were citizens, with the duties of citizens.  It certainly was no easy task to awaken much of the sentiment of lofty patriotism in the minds of those whose only common memories were of lawless misrule and oppression.  Every possible effort has been made in this direction.  The struggle has been, not to plant an English colony, but to create a Bornean state.  The laws are not English, nor built upon English precedents.  They are simply the old Bornean statutes, made conformable to the principles of equity, and administered with just regard to the customs and traditions of the people.  The offices of government are filled to the least possible degree with foreigners; while native chiefs and even reclaimed pirates are associated with them, and thus habituated to all the forms of a civilized state.  Mr. Brooke, with a rare courage and wisdom, has always trusted for his safety to the good-will of his native subjects.  He has never been sustained by mercenary bands.  At a time when piratical violence was most threatening, when disorders were yet rife in his own state, and when his subjects but poorly appreciated his benevolent purposes towards them, his whole English force was twenty-four men.  It is pleasant to add, that this confidence was not misplaced.  A younger generation is now springing up, with larger views of life, and with a better appreciation of the workings and value of equitable government.  To sum up all in a brief sentence, it may be said with truth that the administration has been marked by rare sagacity, firmness, and comprehensiveness of view, and that it has been crowned with success.

In 1845, Mr. Brooke came for the first time into official relations with the British government, by accepting the office of confidential agent in Borneo.  We have already alluded to his warm love of his native country.  As early as 1841, he had expressed a willingness to sacrifice his large outlays, and to relinquish all his rights and interests to the crown, if a guaranty could be given that piracy would be checked and the native races protected in all their proper rights and privileges.  He accepted gladly, therefore, a post which promised to increase his power to benefit his people, and entered upon its duties with vigor.  Immediately upon his appointment, he was requested to make investigations as to the existence of a harbor fit for the shelter and victualling of ships bound from Hong-Kong to Singapore.  He reported that Labuan, a small island north of Borneo, was in every way suitable; that it was about equidistant from the two parts; that it had a fine harbor, or rather roadstead; that it was healthy; that it abounded in coal of the best quality; that, finally, the Sultan stood pledged to convey it upon reasonable terms.